By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
WICHITA – The Hays Larks pitchers struck out a season-high 19 but they were held to their second lowest hit and run total of the season and lost 9-2 to the Five Tool (TX) Kraken in the first round of bracket at the 89th National Baseball Congress World Series Wednesday evening at Eck Stadium. The Larks go 2-2 in the tournament and end their season with a 39-8 mark. The Kraken, who went 1-2 and finished third in their pool, advanced to Thursday’s quarterfinals where they will play the Kansas Cannons.
The Kraken loaded the bases but failed to score in the in the top of the second. They came right back and scored twice in the third. Chase Pendley opened the inning with a single and scored on a Case Pettis single. Josh Livingston was hit by a pitch and later scored on a bases loaded walk by Ashten Wong.
Pettis led off the fifth with an infield single and scored on a double off the bat of Preston Curtis.
The Larks had their best scoring chance in the fifth. Payton Ebbing reached on a two-out infield single for the Larks first hit of the game. Back-to-back walks by Luis Garcia and Trent Baker loaded the bases but Damian Ruiz flied out to center to end the threat.
The Kraken then struck for four in the sixth to build a 7-0 lead. Pettis drove in the first two runs with a single, Curtis added an RBI double then later scored on a wild pitch.
The Larks plated a run in the seventh. Garrett Gruell opened the inning with a single which ended the night for Kraken starter Justin Webster. He scored on a groundout by Ebbing.
Caden Mitchell hit a two-run homer off Jett Lodes in the ninth to give the Kraken a 9-1 lead.
The Larks would add a run in the bottom of the ninth on a Trent Baker single to right which scored Ebbing.
Ben Baker Livington (0-1) who joined the team for the NBC World Series suffered the loss. The Larks co-leader in wins a year ago, allowed two runs on three hits with six strikeouts and four walks in 2 1/3 innings. Preston Tabor struck out a season-high seven but gave up five runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings of relief. Kaleb Meredith, Dylan Hill and Lodes would all strike out two in an inning of relief.
Kraken starter Justin Webster allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts and four walks over six innings.
Ebbing had two of the Larks five hits and drove in a run.
The Denver Cougars are the only remaining team from the Rocky Mountain Baseball League in the tournament after a 6-5 win over the Liberal Bee Jays. The Cougars, who finished third in the RMBL, will face defending NBC World Series champion Santa Barbara Foresters in the quarterfinals Thursday afternoon.