Hays Post Sports
Hays, KS - Hays High completed a three game season sweep of Garden City with a 13-0 run-rule victory at home on Friday evening.
The victory propels the Indians to the Western Athletic Conference championship with one game remaining. The Indians final league game will be at Liberal on May 15th.
Hays (11-6, 10-1) scored all of their runs over the first three innings. The fireworks started with a pair of runs in the first inning followed by six in the second and five in the third.
The runs in the first inning came with two outs. A Brett Rhoades triple scored Tiger Johnson. Rhoades then scored on a single by Trace Jacobs.
All but one of the six runs in the second inning also came with two outs. Landon Hardman drew a walk to open the inning and then scored on Johnny Cano's triple. Cano then scored on a wild pitch to make the score 4-0.
The two-out rally continued with Garden City (5-11, 2-8) miscues. A pair of walks was followed by a Buffalo error for a 6-0 game. Jalen Smith scored on a passed ball and then Bennett Smith scored on a single by Ian McGuire for an 8-0 score.
Cano walked to open the five run third inning. Back-to-back doubles by Johnson and Carter Graham pushed the Indian advantage to double figures at 10-0. Graham scored on a Bennett Smith single and Jalen Smith scored the final run on a passed ball.
Four of the Indians' nine hits were for extra bases. The Indians drew eight walks and were hit by two pitches.
Carter Graham (3-2) pitched four innings for the victory. He needed just 46 pitches and faced 13 batters. Graham allowed one hit, walked one and struck out one. Ian McGuire pitched a scoreless fifth inning allowing one hit.
Hays hosts Diamond Classic next Thursday, Friday and Saturday. As of posting of this story the games will be played at Larks Park due to the construction at Hays High School. Hays High will host TMP on Thursday evening to open the three days.