Grizzlies roll to 12-1 Region VI opening day win over Dodge City

Butler (44-2, 26-0) rolled to a five-inning, 12-1 run-rule victory over Dodge City in the opening round of the Region VI Tournament hosted at Legends Parks in Dodge City, KS. 

The Grizzlies made quick work of the team host Conquistadors, as they put up a four spot in their first at bat taking a 4-0 lead. Butler tacked on a pair of runs in each of their next two at bats while holding the Conqs scoreless. Another four spot in the fourth would eventually put the game away.

Maddie Redman picked up win number 20 on the season pitching a solid three innings giving up no runs of just three hits, no walks and six strikeouts. Kelcie Kippes finished off the game pitching the final two innings giving up one run (unearned) off one hit, no walks and three strikeouts. 

Madie Young had a great start to her postseason going 3-3 at the plate with four RBI's and three runs scored. Young hit a triple, a homerun and stole two bags. Hannah Knox was a perfect 2-2 in the contest driving in two runs on her first inning two run homerun. Gentry Shepherd and Anna Icenhower both also hit homeruns in the game. Shayna Espy finished with a double and two RBI's.

Butler is one of the best offensive teams in the nation landing inside the top ten in a handful of categories. The Grizzlies are 2^nd in batting average as a team sitting at .442 on the season and are 2^nd in the NJCAA in runs scored this season with 553. Fourth in total hits at 577 with 131 of them doubles putting them at 2^nd in the NJCAA. They have hit 92 homeruns for 8^th place, driven in 512 runs for 2^nd place and are 3^rd as a team in on base %.

Butler has three hitters inside the top five in batting average this season. Madi Young is currently in 3^rd hitting .561, Shayna Espy in 4^th at .558 and Emily Adler hitting .554 for 5^th.

Madi Young is top five in the entire NJCAA in a number of categories:

1^st – Runs scored (99)

1^st – Doubles (30)

2^nd – Stole Bases (53)

3^rd – Batting Avg. (.561)

4^th – Hits (87)

4^th – On Base % (.617)

Shayna Espy is inside the top 10 in four separate categories:

4^th – Batting Avg. (.558)

4^th Doubles (23)

7^th – Triples (7)

7^th – On Base % (.594)

NEXT UP: The No. 2 seeded Grizzlies will play No. 3 seed Garden City on Saturday, May 8^th at 11:00am in the second round of the Region VI Tournament from Legends Park in Dodge City, KS. Winner will play the winner of Colby/Hutchinson at 3:00pm on Saturday, May 8^th. Winner of that game will advance to the championship game on Sunday, May 9^th at 12:00pm.