Dodge Sweeps Seward on Sophomore Day

By Brock Kappelmann May 4, 2025

Phil Lee

LIBERAL, Kan. – The Seward County Community College baseball team was swept by Dodge City Community in a doubleheader slugfest, 15-12 and 16-14, at Brent Gould on Saturday. The Saints ended the regular season, losing three of four games to drop the series to the Conquistadors.

Seward will open the Region VI Playoffs at Cowley Community College in a best two-out-of-three series with games on Wednesday, Thursday and if necessary, Friday. The Saints finished conference play at 13-19 and 26-29 overall.

Before the games, the Saints recognized seven sophomores and the Wade Johnstone Award recipient. The sophomores honored were Nathan Hopkins, Kotaro Wakui, Kaden Juarez, Adam Mendoza, Logan Tice, Aldo Ostos and Jacob Urias. Brooks Kappelmann received the Wade Johnstone Award.

 

GAME ONE

Seward tried to claw back from a big deficit against Dodge City only to fall short in a 15-12 loss in the opener. The Saints gave up 14 runs in the first three innings and could not recover.

The Saints trailed 14-7 after three innings, but kept on plugging away with two runs in the fourth and three runs in the fifth to narrow the margin to 15-12. Dodge City added its final run in the fifth.

Seward threatened in the ninth with runners on first and second and the tying run at the plate, but could not come through in the end.

Hayden Ramage and Brooks Barber each had three hits and two RBI and Kotaro Wakui and Ryan Toddalso each chipped in with three hits for the Saints.

 

GAME TWO

The Saints battled back and made it close, but could not overcome an early barrage by the Conquistadors and dropped a 16-14 decision in the nightcap.

Dodge City scored seven runs in the second inning to take a 7-3 lead and never looked back. Seward closed the gap to within a run at 11-10 after scoring two runs in the third inning and five runs in fourth. Dodge City answered back with a six-run fifth inning to expand its lead to 16-10. The Saints got to within 16-14 with four runs over the sixth and seventh innings, but was held scoreless the rest of the way.

Brooks Barber 4-for-6 with three RBI and Jacob Urias drove in four runs for the Saints, who also got three hits each from Kotaro Wakui, Hayden Ramage, Ryan Todd and Grant Cox.