The Eagles (15-4) rallied for an 8-5 win over Iola in the semifinals, scoring two in the fifth to take the lead then adding single runs in the sixth and seventh. The game was intense throughout after a controversial out call at the plate in the first and a crash play late in the game that resulted in an Iola player getting ejected and an Indian coach getting tossed earlier in the game.
Hays took the lead for good on Brady Kreutzer’s two-run double that scored Gage Porter and Ben Krannawitter who both reached on errors. Brayden Dreher drove in a run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly and Dalton Dale’s single scored a run for the final margin.
Iola threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Following a leadoff triple from Ryker Curry, Bradyn Cole flied out to left fielder Jack Fields who threw Curry out at the plate trying to score. Curry crashed into Eagles catcher Remington Cox and was ejected for not sliding and crashing into the catcher.
Dale had three of the Eagles eight hits and drove in two. Kreutzer finished with three RBIs.
Garrett Wellbrock (4-2) allowed two earned runs on eight hits with one strikeout and three walks in the complete game victory as the Eagles overcame six errors to advance to the title game.
Hays held a slim 4-3 lead in the title game before scoring a run in the fifth, two in the sixth and five in the seventh.
Dalton Dale had three hits and drove in two runs. Ben Krannawitter, Brady Kreutzer and Jack Fields all added two hits and Garrett Wellbrock drove in three runs.
Carson Spray (4-0) allowed three runs on four hits over four innings. Brady Kreutzer allowed one unearned run over the final three innings and picked up the save.