BY GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
After advancing to the title game but not bringing home the title in their first two tournaments this summer, the third time was a charm for the Hays Senior Eagles as they rallied for a 9-7 win over the Liberal Rattlers to win their third-straight Wild Fest Tournament Sunday at Larks Park.
The Eagles had their title game against Buhler rained out at the Bob Hooper Tournament three weeks ago then lost to Millard North in the finals of the Kansas Grand Slam in Salina last Sunday — and things didn't look very promising against the Rattlers.
The Eagles (17-2) trailed 6-1 entering the bottom of the fifth inning but rallied for five runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie then scored three more runs in the sixth to take the lead.
Liberal tallied a run on a two-out single in the seventh but Javier Bojorquez was thrown out at second by left fielder Dalton Dale trying to stretch the single into a double to end the game.
After starter Carson Jacobs gave up six runs on three hits over 4 1/3 innings, fellow TMP-Marian teammate Brady Kruetzer came in relief to shut the door on the Rattlers. Kreutzer gave up one run on one hit over the final 2 1/3 innings for the win. He also has three of the Eagles six hits and scored two runs.
Dale had two hits and drove in two runs.
After two scoreless innings to start the game, Liberal took the lead with two runs in the third.
The Eagles closed the gap to 2-1 in the bottom of the inning on a Colby Dreiling sacrifice fly, which scored Jack Fields.
The Rattlers scored two more runs in the fourth and two in the fifth for a 6-1 lead.
Liberal starter Garrett Hall held Hays in check until the bottom of the fifth when Fields started the comeback with a leadoff walk. Kreutzer followed with a single then Colby Dreiling walked to load the bases. Brock Lummus followed with a walk to score the first run. A single from Carson Jacobs scored two runs to cut the gap to 6-4. Remington Cox was hit by a pitch to load the bases for a second time in the inning then with two outs Dale singled to left to drive in two more runs and tie the game 6-6.
The Eagles grabbed the lead for good an inning later. Garrett Wellbrock battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a lead-off walk to open the frame. A sac bunt from Fields advanced Wellbrock to second. Kreutzer singled and Dreiling walked to load the bases. Wellbrock then scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball. Lummus pushed the lead to 8-6 with a sacrifice fly to deep right field. Dreiling later scored on a passed ball to give Hays a 9-6 lead.
