Coffeyville Wins Sub-Region, Advances to Region Tourney Beginning May 12

May 7, 2012

The 2012 Coffeyville Red Raven Baseball Team.

Sub-Region Tournament Celebration Video (Coach Martin gets doused)

The Coffeyville Red Ravens defeated Allen County 12-8 on Monday afternoon in the Liberal Sub-Region championship game played in Liberal, Kan. With the win, the 31-28 Ravens advance to the Region VI Tournament in Wichita. The region tournament will begin on Saturday with the championship game scheduled for Monday.

Coffeyville jumped on Allen County for five runs in the first to grab a big, early lead. Allen County nipped Coffeyville starter Mike Neighbors for single runs in the second and third inning to cut Coffeyville's lead to 5-2. Coffeyville answered with three more runs in the third to extend the lead to 8-2. The Ravens would add a run in the fourth to extend the lead to seven, 9-2.

Allen County would get three runs off a tiring Neighbors in the eighth, but Dustin Hurlbutt would put the brakes on the rally by getting three outs while walking one. Coffeyville would get those three runs right back in the bottom of the eighth to take a 12-5 lead into the ninth.

Allen County would rally against Coffeyville closer John Branum for three runs, but it was too little too late for the Red Devils and the Ravens held on for a 12-8 win and the Liberal Sub-Region title.

Neighbors allowed five runs, four earned, and got the win for Coffeyville. Neighbors allowed three hits, walked five and struck out five.

David Espinosa went 3-for-5 with three RBI singles and a run scored to lead the Ravens' offensive attack. Luis Munoz also had three hits in five at-bats and scored two runs. Luke Slagle scored four runs and drove in two. Slagle had a single, two walks and was hit by a pitch. Aric Valencia went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Branum scored three runs, reaching base four times with a single and three walks.

Robbie Hoffman drove in three runs and scored a run. Hoffman was 1-for-5 on the day with a single. Jordan Hodges and Alex Wilson each had a single and an RBI and Cole Webb scored a run and reached base on a hit by pitch.

The Ravens improve to 31-28 on the season. The Ravens have already set school records for conference wins in a season and overall wins in a season.  The Ravens will get a chance to continue the ride starting on Saturday at the Region VI Tournament in Wichita. Opponent and game time will be announced later in the week.

The region tournament winner will advance to the NJCAA World Series scheduled for May 26 through June 3 in Grand Junction, Colorado.