Hays Post Sports
Hays, KS - Hays High ended the 2025 Diamond Classic with a 2-2 record after beating Life Prep and losing to TMP.
Hays High 6, Life Prep 5
It was an improbable comeback in game one that led the Indians to a one run victory. Hays trailed the Fire of Life Prep 2-0 after four innings. Life Prep (12-15) scored on a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly for the first advantage.
They added a single run in the fifth with an RBI single for a 3-0 edge.
Hays got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth when Landon Hardman led the inning off with a single and later scored on a fielder's choice for a 3-1 game.
The runs were earned back in the top of the sixth by Life Prep. The Fire led off the inning with a pair of singles and later scored. The final run was scored on a wild pitch for a 5-1 score.
Hays went down in order in the sixth. The Indians were down to their final strike in the bottom of the seventh before Jalen Smith put a ball in play and reached on an error. Carter Graham followed that up with a walk. Brett Rhoades singled and Trace Jacobs did the same to score Smith.
Life Prep made a pitching change and Hays waited the new pitcher out as he couldn't find the strike zone. Bennett Smith walked to drive in a run and Ian McGuire was hit by a pitch to score another. Hardman was walked on a 3-2 pitch count to tie the game. Kal Londsdale on his first start of the season was hit on a 1-2 pitch count to score Smith for the 6-5 victory.
Johnny Cano (4-1) pitched the seventh inning for the win. Carter Graham went six inning. He allowed six hits, five runs, three earned with two walks and three strike outs.
Hardman, Graham and Cano each had two hits.
TMP 5, Hays High 2
TMP (19-5) scored three runs in the first inning without recording and hit on their way to a 5-2 victory over the Hays High Indians.
Three walks, a hit batter and a fielder's choice led to a 3-0 first inning lead for the Monarchs. Starting pitcher Brett Rhoades recorded one out before giving way to Johnny Canon in relief. Cano and the Indian defense held TMP scoreless over the next four innings.
Hays (13-8) however couldn't figure out Carson Lyles. The TMP starting pitcher worked all seven innings for the victory. The Indians had just one baserunner through the first four innings.
Hays threatened in the fifth with two on and one out but couldn't score. TMP notched a run in the top of the sixth on three straight singles from Connor Breit, Isaac Purinton and Jacob Seib for a 4-0 lead.
The Indians managed two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Johnny Cano singled then Jalen Smith drove him in with a double. Carter Graham singled home Smith for a 4-2 game. Brett Rhoades reached on a single but was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice on the next at-bat. As base running error on a pop up to right field resulted in a double play and ended the inning.
TMP added an insurance run for Lyles (3-1) in the top of the seventh after Grant Nehls singled and later scored on a wild pitch for the final of 5-2.
Lyles allowed seven hits and two runs while walking one and striking out six in the victory. Cano went five and two-thirds innings before being lifted on pitch count on the combination of game one and two. He allowed six hits and one run. Cano walked two and struck out four. Trace Jacobs allowed one run on one hit and two walks in the seventh.
Graham recorded two hits for the Indians. Grant Nehls and Connor Breit had two hits each for TMP.
Hays will finish the regular season with a trip to Liberal for a single game on Thursday and then host Junction City for a doubleheader on Friday.