Hays Post Sports
HAYS – The Hays Larks raced out to an early lead then pulled away late for a 14-4 win over the Collegiate (Colo.) Roughriders in a battle of the first and second place teams in the Rocky Mountain Baseball League Saturday evening at Larks Park. The first place Larks improved to 13-3-1 overall and 10-3 RMBL while the Roughriders fell to 6-9 overall and 3-3 in league play.
The Larks used four hits, two walks and a hit batter to score four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Thomas Lyssy had an RBI single, Jackson Babcock a two-run double and CJ Reid an RBI single.
The Roughriders answered with four in the top of the second but the Larks would take back the lead for good when Lyssy drew a bases loaded walk in the fourth.
The Larks would add three more runs in the sixth on a Trent Baker two-run homer and Brady Kreutzer RBI single which pushed the lead to 8-4.
They blew the game open with a five-run seventh. Kaleb Duncan started the scoring with an RBI single. Baker added an RBI double, Duncan scored on a wild pitch, Babcock and Kreutzer also had runs scoring singles.
Duncan closed out the scoring with an RBI single to left to end the game by run-rule in the eighth.
Baker and Taber Stokes both had three of the Larks 14 hits. Baker drove in three runs with Duncan, Lyssy, Babcock and Kreutzer all driving in two runs.
Brooks Jones (1-0) allowed only one hit in four shutout innings of relief with eight strikeouts and three walks and picked up the win.
Starting pitcher Jordan Stribling allowed four runs on three hits with six strikeouts and five walks.
HIGHWAY ROBBERY
The Larks stole 11 bases in the game. Stokes had four, the most since Damian Ruiz stole four in game one of a doubleheader against the Liberal Bee Jays on July 19, 2023.
UP NEXT
The Larks and Roughriders close out the two-game series Sunday at 7:00 p.m. at Larks Park. Admission is free courtesy of Fade Factory, Callahan Tax & Accountant, Privian Wealth, A&A Coors.