HAYS – The Hays High Indians used two great pitching performances Saturday to win the Western Plains Diamond Classic championship Saturday at the Hays High Field. Sophomore Blake Schmidt threw a no-hitter in his varsity debut as the Indians pulled away late to beat Life Prep Academy 8-2 to close out pool play. Dylan Dreiling followed with a complete game shutout in a 9-0 win over Manhattan in the title game.
The third place game between Great Bend and Life Prep was cancelled due to weather.
The Indians (13-3) have now won their own tournament 15 times including the last two in its 39 year history.
Dreiling scattered seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in the title game and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. The win avenged Hays' loss to the Indians on Friday and ended Manhattan's (14-3) 12-game win streak.
HHS took the lead for good in the title game with three runs in the third inning. Carson Spray's RBI single up the middle drove in the first run. Following a Dalyn Schwarz walk, Ben Krannawitter singled to left scoring Spray. Dawson VonFeldt added a sacrifice fly scoring Schwarz.
The Indians broke the game open with a five-run sixth. Krannawitter started the rally with a one-out RBI single to left. Garrett Wellbrock drove in Krannawitter with a single to right. Dalton Dale then hit a three-run homer over the evergreens beyond the left field fence. HHS would add another run in the seventh on a double play to close out the scoring.
Blake Schmidt helped the Indians advance to the title game with a no-hitter against Life Prep Academy. The sophomore worked around six walks and four hit batters thanks in part to some sparking defense.
Life Prep scored two runs in the fifth to pull within 3-2 but the Indians answered with a five-run fifth highlighted by Dylan Dreiling’s bases-loaded triple to blow the game open. Garrett Wellbrock doubled to right scoring Dreiling.
Hays High closes out their regular season with a doubleheader at Ulysses Tuesday then plays Liberal and Garden City in a triangular Friday at Hays High School.