Johnson was both dominant and masterful in the Pointers’ 2-0 win over Greenwood in the opening game of a 5A-West doubleheader at Iverson Riggs Field at the Field of Dreams complex. He also improved to 5-0 with his third complete game win of the season.
“Connor’s the type of guy who’s not going to lose very often, if ever,” Van Buren catcher Tanner Callahan said. “I was calling pitches, and he was throwing ‘em."
Johnson threw 57 of his 77 pitches for strikes and was overpowering early with seven strikeouts through Greenwood’s lineup the first time.
"He has a change that he throws real well, but they were late on his fastball," Callahan said. "When he threw his curveball, they couldn't hit it."
With those early strikeouts, though, came 42 pitches through three innings before a three-pitch fourth inning.
“The first couple of innings, I struck out quite a few,” Johnson said. “I got my pitch count up, but that inning I was just trying to throw strikes and make them hit it. I knew the defense would make the plays.”
The game featured two college-bound pitchers with Johnson, who will pitch at the University of Central Arkansas next season, going up against Greenwood’s Landry Jurecka.
Jurecka, who signed with Kansas State in February, allowed just a lone earned run, walked two and struck out eight for the Bulldogs (6-5, 2-4). He closed strong, striking out the side in the sixth and finishing with 58 strikes in 87 pitches.
Van Buren (11-4, 4-2) scratched across single runs in the first and third innings.
Haden Roark scored from third on a delayed steal in the first. Then in the third, he singled and eventually scored on Easton Reichard’s two-out double.
That lead was all Johnson needed.
“That gave me a lot of confidence,” Johnson said. “Whenever you pitch ahead, it gives you confidence and have a little leeway instead of pitching from behind where you think you have to be perfect. I know my guys are going to score runs.”
Johnson had a perfect game through five innings until Dylan Strozier singled to open the sixth inning. Johnson finished with nine strikeouts and pitched to just one batter over the minimum 21, relying on mostly on his fastball.
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