The Hays Larks open their 2022 season Thursday night on the road against former Jayhawk League foe Great Bend.
This marks the 77th season of Hays Larks baseball and the 40th as manager for Frank Leo who guided the summer collegiate team to a 32-8 record and 4th place finish at the NBC World Series last summer.
The Larks return seven players from that 2021 team and have another who played with them in 2020. Among the returners are local products Dylan Dreiling and Palmer Hutchison.
Dreiling just completed his senior season at Hays High and was named the 5A Player of the Year by the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches. The Tennessee commit hit .359 in 13 games last summer. Hutchison just completed his third season at Kansas City, Kansas Community College. He hit .276 in 36 games last summer for the Larks and led the team with 12 doubles.
The two are joined by catcher Brady Evans, outfielder Leo Jiminian, pitcher and first baseman Cade Brown and pitchers Hunter Parker, Luuk ter Beek. Brady Rose played for the Larks in 2020 and is also on the roster.
Thursday's game will be played at the Great Bend Sports Complex as the Bat Cats shuffle between that facility and Barton CC until upgrades at Al Burns Field.
Admission is once again free all summer at Larks Park beginning Friday against the Bat Cats.
This will also mark the Larks third season as a member of the Rocky Mountain Baseball League where they've won the league championship the last two seasons. They will be joined in the league by former Jayhawk League rivals Liberal and Dodge City.
2022 L arks Schedule
June 2 at Great Bend Bat Cats*, 7pm
June 3 vs. GREAT BEND BAT CATS*, 7pm (Big Brothers/Big Sisters Night)
June 4 vs. BOULDER COLLEGIANS*, 7pm (Military Appreciation Night)
June 5 vs. BOULDER COLLEGIANS*, 7pm
June 7 vs. DODGE CITY A's, 7pm
June 10 at Gameday Saints, 8pm
June 11 at Denver Cougars, 2pm
June 12 at Colorado Roughriders*, 5:30pm
June 13 at Gameday Saints, 8:00pm
June 15 vs. COLORADO ROUGHRIDERS, 7pm
June 16 vs. COLORADO ROUGHRIDERS, 7pm
June 17 vs. COLORADO ROUGHRIDERS, 7pm (First Responders Night)
June 18 vs. DENVER COUGARS, 7pm (Foster Family/McKids Night)
June 19 vs. DENVER COUGARS, 7pm (Stand Up 2 Cancer)
June 21 vs. KANSAS CANNONS*, 7pm
June 22 at Liberal BJ's, 7pm
June 23 at Liberal BJ's, 7pm
June 25 vs. DODGE CITY A's*, 7pm (Legends Night)
June 26 at Dodge City A's*, 7pm
June 28 at Dodge City A's, 7pm
June 29 vs. JUNCTION CITY BRIGADE*, 7pm
July 1 at Fort Collins Foxes, 6:15pm
July 2 at Boulder Collegians*, 6:60pm
July 3 at Colorado Roughriders, 5:30pm
July 4 at Colorado Springs Outlaws, 1:15pm
July 6 at Dodge City A's, 7pm
July 8 vs. COLORADO SPRINGS OUTLAWS, 7pm
July 9 vs. COLORADO SPRINGS OUTLAWS, 7pm (Larkstoberfest)
July 10 vs. COLORADO SPRINGS OUTLAWS, 7pm
July 12 at Kansas Cannons*, 7pm
July 14 vs. FORT COLLINS FOXES, 7pm
July 15 vs. FORT COLLINS FOXES, 7pm
July 16 vs. FORT COLLINS FOXES, 7pm (Educators Night)
July 17 vs. COLORADO TRIBE*, 7pm
July 18 vs. COLORADO TRIBE*, 7pm
July 19 vs. DODGE CITY A's, 7pm
July 21 vs. LIBERAL BJ's. 7pm
July 22 vs. LIBERAL BJ's, 7pm
July 23 vs. DENVER COUGARS, 7pm (Pack the Pantry Night)
July 24 vs. DENVER COUGARS*, 7pm
July 26 vs. Gameday Saints, 6pm (Host Family Night)
July 27 vs. Gameday Saints, 7pm