Hays Post Sports
Arkansas City - Hays High never led in their 11-1, five inning loss on Wednesday to Maize South in the 5A West regional opener.
The Mavericks struck for two runs in the bottom of the first inning for a lead they would never give up. Maize South threatened in the second and third inning with five baserunners but were turned away from the scoreboard.
Hays (12-14) plated their lone run in the top of the third. Shae Augustine was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Jaylee Summers reached on an error following her sacrifice bunt attempt. The Indians advanced to second and third with nobody out but managed just one run. Adalie Kippes knocked in the run with a ground out to make the score 2-1.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the fourth when the Mavericks erupted for six runs on five hits. Two of the hits were for extra bases and an 8-1 lead.
Maize South capped the game in the bottom of the fifth with three runs for the 11-1 run-rule victory.
Hays managed just three hits, one each by Jayle Summers, Avery Raymer and Laine Becker.
Maize South went on to win the regional tournament with a 7-5 victory over host Arkansas City, a team the Mavericks had lost to twice earlier in the season. They will enter the state tournament with a 21-7 record.