Neosho hosted Barton County today for the first round of the playoffs at Hudson Field. The Panthers would win game one 3-2, and would also win game two 16-6. Winning both games would secure the Panthers a trip to Wichita for the Region VI Regional Tournament.,

Game one was a pitchers dual all game long. Matt Slauter would pitch nine innings allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out twelve. The Panther offense would start off slow, but would come through in the clutch late in the game. Barton would score first in the fourth inning, scoring just one run on three hits. The Panther's defense would shut down Barton for the next four innings. With the score still just 1-0 going into the bottom of the eighth inning Neosho would need to get a couple runs to win the game. Brady Childs would reach base with a single, Tyler Sutherland would walk, and Levi Ashmore would drive in the first Panther run making the score 1-1 going into the top of the ninth inning. Barton would score one run in the the top of the ninth inning to go ahead 2-1. Ryan Toliver would single, Blake Tomasino would reach on an error, scoring Toliver. With a runner at second, Barton would intentionally walk Bradley Bullock to set up the double play. Brady Childs would come up and smash a ball to deep left center to score Tomasino, and win the game 3-2.

Game two was a little more of an offensive attack by the Panthers, scoring 16 runs in seven innings on 13 hits. Trent Latta would start the second game, but would run into trouble and be taken out after 2.2 innings pitched. Nathan Whitcomb would come into the game in relief and shut down the Barton offense. Neosho Would win the game 16-6 in just seven innings.,

The hot hitters of the day were Brady Childs going 2-4 game one with a big RBI, and Jonah Bride game two going 2-4 with 5 RBI's.,

The Panthers will travel to Wichita to play in the Region VI Regional Tournament on Thursday and will play their first game Friday of this week.,