Trojans advance to Wichita

The Colby Community College baseball team advanced to the NJCAA Region VI Central District playoffs after taking down Independence Community College in the best of three opening round series over the weekend at Young Memorial Field. The Trojans won 10-3 Friday and 17-9 Saturday.

The early innings of Friday's game remained scoreless. However, Colby's Matt Coutney and Jason Evans hit back-to-back solo home runs in the fourth off Independence pitcher Christian Goshen for a 2-0 lead.

The Pirates countered with a run in the sixth, but the Trojans pulled away with three in the bottom of the inning. Colby added five more in the seventh on a solo home run by Drake Kirkwood and a grand slam by Christian Roduner, who drove in six runs on three hits.

Colby starting pitcher Logan Hofmann got the win. He went eight innings, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out five.

Saturday's contest saw the Trojans jump out 8-0 after three innings, but the Pirates' offense got going and closed the gap to 8-7 by the time they finished hitting in the seventh. Colby responded with eight in the bottom half. The bullpen shut the door and the Trojans held on for the series win.

Enok Perez had four hits, including a home run. Andy Leader and Kirkwood also homered.

Colby's playoff run continues at 10 a.m. Friday against Seward County Community College in Wichita's Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The Trojans won three of four over the Saints in head-to-head completion this season.