A baseball schedule in February can be like a model at a fashion show – constantly changing.
That has been the case for Barton baseball this season. In fact, only two games have been played when they were originally scheduled.
A change was made again this week as weather continued to play havoc with the Cougars’ schedule.
Home games slated for Wednesday against McCook – the second time Barton tried to play its home opener this season – were cancelled.
Added to the schedule was a doubleheader Thursday against Highland.
The Cougars were able to slip in that twinbill with Highland that served as the home opener and the first on the new artificial surface on the infield.
Barton swept those contest with the Scotties, winning the opener 10-0 and taking the nightcap 13-3 on a cold, windy afternoon at Lawson-Biggs Field.
Barton is now 5-1. Highland is now 0-6.
Barton scored five times in the second inning of the opener and added four more in the sixth to end the game one inning early due to the run-rule.
Three extra base RBI hits provided the scoring in the second. Harrison Denk doubled in Chandler Kelley and Chandler Bloomer. Andrew Stewart hit a 2-run homer that plated Denk and Noah Geekie tripled in Nolan Riley to make it a 6-0 contest.
Charlie Peyla also had an extra base RBI in the sixth, driving in Riley with a double. Tyler Bandiera and Bloomer each had RBI singles in the sixth with Bloomer’s ending the contest.
Zach Curry threw five 3-hit innings to pick up the win.
It was a similar story in the nightcap as well with Barton ending the game in the sixth. The Cougars scored 10 runs over three middle innings on the way to the win.
Bandiera, who homered in the second, drove in two more in the third with an RBI double. Riley belted a 2-run homer in the fourth.
Riley kept his big day going by driving in two more in the fifth on a single. The game ended in the sixth when Jeb Sauer drove in Billy Coleman on a sacrifice fly.
Easton Smith pitched into the fifth pick up the win, allowing one earned run on two hits.
More changes were made to the schedule for this weekend. Doubleheaders against Western Nebraska set for Saturday and Sunday at home were crossed off the schedule.
In its place are twinbills against Carl Albert on Sunday and Monday at Lawson-Biggs. First pitch Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m. and Monday at noon.
Barton 10, Highland 0
Highland 000 000 – 0 3 5
Barton 150 004 – 10 9 1
Schrock, McClanahan (3), Milligan (5) and Fiene; Curry, McClure (6) and Bloomer. W – Curry (1-0). L – Schrock. 2B – Burt, Bond, Highland; Denk, Peyla, Barton. 3B – Geekie, Barton. HR – Stewart (1), Barton.
Barton 13, Highland 3
Highland 001 020 – 3 2 3
Barton 113 521 – 12 11 2
Gottula, Arnett (2), Bond (4), Seetin (6) and Torres; Smith and Rhienheimer, Carpenter (6). W – Smth (1-0). L – Gottula. 2B – Bandiera, Stewart, Denk, Barton. 3B – Geekie, Barton. HR – Riley (1), Bandiera (1), Barton.
