HAYS - The Hays Larks scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to rally from a two-run deficit and beat the Denver Cougars 4-3 to clinch the Rocky Mountain Baseball League title Friday night at Larks Park.
Sean Cooper's squeeze bunt with the bases loaded scored Palmer Hutchison with the game-winning run and ran the Larks (19-6, 19-6 RMBL) wining streak to seven games.
Camerson Pehrson opened the ninth with walk, Corbin Truslow followed with a single then a walk to Hutchison loaded the bases.
Grant Lung drew a walk which scored Pehrson to pull the Larks within a run. Max McGuire's sacrifice fly tied the game and set up Cooper who successfully laid down a bunt to score Hutchison on a squeeze play.
Jacob Ensz pitched four scoreless innings in relief and picked up the win. Ensz (2-0) allowed one hit with two strikeouts and a walk.
Starter Drew Buhr gave up three runs in the second, only one of them were earned, on two hits with three strikeouts and four walks over five innings.
The Larks continue the three-game series with Denver Saturday night at 7 p.m. You can hear the game following Kansas City Royals baseball on KAYS (94.3-FM, 1400-AM).