TMP blew open a one run game with four runs in the top of the fourth inning on their way to an 8-2 victory over Hays High on Thursday evening. The two teams opened the 42nd Annual Western Plains Diamond Classic.
The Monarchs plated two runs in the top of the first inning to take a lead they would never relinquish. Courtesy runner Jacob Seib scored on a wild pitch for the first run of the game. During the same at-bat Logan Baalmann drove in Carson Liles for a 2-0 advantage.
Ty Schmeidler added to the Monarch lead with a two out double in the top of the third inning that scored Baalmann.
Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the third, the Indians struck back with a two-run home run from Lex Lummus.
The big inning for TMP would be in the top of the fourth. All four of their runs scored with two outs. The Monarchs loaded the bases with a single and two walks. With a pair of strike outs mixed in, the bases were loaded with two outs. Back-to-back Hays errors allowed four runs to score. Three runs on the first error and one on the second leaving TMP with a 7-2 lead.
The Indians had runners in the bottom of the fourth and fifth inning but couldn't push any across the plate.
Braxton Basgall scored TMP's final run when he scored on Liles' single for what would be the final margin of 8-2.
Hays again put runners on in the sixth and seventh innings. The Indians had a run taken off the board in the bottom of the sixth due to runner interference.
TMP scored eight runs on seven hits. Hays scored two runs on four hits. Each team had three errors.
Logan Baalmann was the winning pitcher for TMP throwing all seven innings. He allowed four hits, two runs (zero earned), walked three and struck out six.
Carter Graham took the loss for Hays. He pitched five and one-third innings allowing five hits, eight runs (four earned), walked four, hit two batters and struck out seven. Tanner Boxberger threw an inning and two-thirds of scoreless baseball.
The tournament continues on Friday and Saturday.
Friday
11:00 - Hays v Manhattan
1:00 - Life Prep v Manhattan
3:00 - Life Prep v TMP
5:15 - Brush, CO v TMP
7:15 - Hays v Brush, CO
Saturday
9:30 - Manhattan v TMP
11:30 - Manhattan v Brush, CO
1:45 - Life Prep v Brush, CO
3:45 - Hays v Life Prep