To say the pitching over the first two games of the Region VI softball tournament has been good for the Barton Cougars may be an understatement.
The Cougars rode that strong pitching into the winner’s bracket final with a 3-1 win over Colby Wednesday afternoon in El Dorado. That on the heels of a 7-0 win in the opener over Garden City.
Holly Posegate limited the Trojans to just one run while striking out seven batters to advance Barton to the winner’s bracket final against Butler late Wednesday night.
For much of the game, it was a pitching duel between Posegate and Mara Nash of Colby. Nash shutout the Cougars until the bottom of the fifth inning when Barton finally got on the board.
The inning started when Payton Summers reach on an error and Posegate made them pay. The sophomore delivered a double down the left field line that scored Kelsi Doll pinch-running for Summers and give Barton a 1-0 lead.  
Colby would answer in the top of the sixth on a solo home run by Kylee Burnsi for the first run surrendered in 13 innings of the post season by Barton.
Like a defending champion on a mission to make it two straight, Barton responded immediately. Jayden Gonzales belted a 1-out home run to right-center and Brittany Wood followed with a double to center.
Summers gave the Cougars an insurance run when she singled in Kaylie Doll running for Wood after the double.
The Trojans gave Barton a scare in the top of the seventh with a 2-out double and single to put runners on the corner but Posegate got out of the inning there and Barton stayed unbeaten in the double elimination event.
2016 NJCAA Region VI Division I Softball Tournament - East Park, El Dorado(Double Elimination)
Tuesday, May 3
Gm 1 - (1) No. 6 Butler (43-4) received a bye
Gm 2 - (4) Dodge City 10, (5) Seward 5
Gm 3 - (3) Colby 10, (6) Pratt 2
Gm 4 - (2) Barton 7, (7) Garden 0
Wednesday, May 4
Gm 6 – (6) Pratt 10, (7) Garden 6 (Garden eliminated)
Gm 7 – (1) Butler 6, (4) Dodge 0
Gm 8 – (2) Barton 3, (3) Colby 1
Gm 9 – (4) Dodge 3, (6) Pratt 0(Pratt eliminated)
Gm 10 – (2) Colby (41-17) v (5) Seward (26-31)
Gm 11  - (1) Butler (45-4) v (2) Barton (50-6)
Thursday, May 5
Gm 12 10 am – Dodge (21-22) vs Colby/Seward winner
Gm 13 12 pm - Winner Gm 12 vs Butler/Barton loser
Gm 14 2 pm  - Butler/Barton winner vs Winner Gm 13 - Championship
Gm 15 4 pm - (If Needed)
May 11-12 2016 NJCAA District E Championship
Region IX Champion at Region VI Champion
Winner advances to NJCAA D-I Championships at Canyons Complex in St, George, UT on May 18-21.