WICHITA – The Hays Larks went toe-to-toe with the defending NBC World Series champs but a couple of key errors on two bunts and a missed scoring opportunity with the bases-loaded in the eighth costs Hays in a 7-5 loss to the Santa Barbara Foresters in Monday’s winner’s bracket semifinal at the new Riverfront Stadium.
The Larks (31-7, 2-1 NBC WS) scored single runs in each of the first five innings and were tied 5-5 heading to the bottom of the sixth when the Foresters (34-7, 3-0 NBC WS) scored an unearned run to take the lead for good. They would add a big insurance run in the eighth after the Larks failed to score after loading the bases with one out but failed to score.
Grant Schmidt drove in the Larks first run with a two-out double to left which scored Zach Henry. After Santa Barbara tied the game with back-to-back two-out hits in the bottom of the inning, the Larks retook the lead with a run in the second. Leo Jiminian walked with one out, stole second then moved to third with the throw from the catcher ended up in center field then scored on a Sam Crowell groundout.
Cortland Lawson singled to open the third. Wyatt Divis doubled then Schmidt drove in Lawson with a single to center but Divis was later thrown out trying to score on a grounder on the infield.
Matt Cavanagh homered with two outs in the fourth to make it a 4-2 game but the Foresters scored three in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-4 lead.
Lawson led off the fifth with a home run to left to tie the game 5-5.
Santa Barbara, who pushed their winning streak to 19 games, opened the decisive sixth with a single to left from Jared Thomas. Seth Stephenson then beat out a bunt when first baseman Grant Lung bobbled the ball. Josh Stinson was also safe on a bunt attempt when pitcher Derek Decolati’s throw to first was first was dropped by second baseman Matt Cavanagh. Leadoff hitter Andrew Kachel hit into what started out as a double play that scored the go-ahead run from third. The Larks turned the double-play into a triple-play when Stephenson tried to score from second and was tagged out in run-down between third and home.
The Larks squandered an excellent scoring opportunity in the eighth. Wyatt Divis led off the inning with a walk. Grant Lung singled with one out then Palmer Hutchison walked to load the bases but Jiminan popped out to second and Crowell struck out.
Derek Decolati (0-2) suffered the loss in relief allowing two runs on three hits over three innings. Starter Hunter Parker allowed five runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings. He left in the fourth after falling on his pitcher shoulder trying to field a bunt. Trevor Munsch pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Parker.
Lawson, Schmidt and Cavanagh all had two hits with Schmidt driving in two runs.
Zach Leach went 3-for-3 with an RBI for the Foresters.
TRIPLE PLAY
The Larks triple-play in the sixth was the team’s first since Jun 28, 2017 in Oklahoma City.
UP NEXT
The Larks will play the winner of Tuesday’s game between the Derby Twins and the Seattle Studs at either 6:00 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
LONESTAR ADVANCES
The Lonestar Baseball Club out of Texas advanced to the winner’s bracket final with an 8-0 win over the Cheney Diamond Dawgs in Monday’s second game.