Hays Post Sports
WICHITA – The Alaska Goldpanners scored in each of the second through fifth innings to build a 4-0 lead, then pulled away with four runs in the seventh for an 8-3 victory over the Hays Larks Tuesday night at Eck Stadium to claim Pool D at the National Baseball Congress World Series.
The Goldpanners finished pool play 3-0, earning a first-round bye into Thursday's quarterfinals. The Larks dropped to 28-8 overall after finishing 2-1 in pool play and will open single-elimination bracket play Wednesday against the Seattle Cheney Studs.
Hays broke through in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Hutch Russell before adding another run in the eighth on Tanner Norman's sacrifice fly. The Larks scored their final run when Taber Stokes reached on an error.
Hank Brown (2-2) took the loss for Hays after allowing four runs on eight hits over four innings. He struck out five and walked one. Colin Nailbauer and Cole Fenton each surrendered two runs in relief, while Ty Parker closed the game with two scoreless innings.
Rayner Beene and Tanner Norman led the Larks with two hits apiece. Norman and Russell each drove in a run.
Up Next
The Larks begin single-elimination bracket play Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. against the Seattle Cheney Studs at Eck Stadium. The winner advances to Thursday's quarterfinals to face the Lonestar Baseball Club.
Tuesday's Results
12pm - Tess’s Army 4, San Diego Stars 1
3pm - BTL Hornets 7, Great Bend Bat Cats 6
6pm - Alaska Goldpanners 8, Hays Larks 3
8:30pm - Santa Barbara Foresters 7, Liberal Bee Jays 2
Wednesday’s Bracket Play Schedule
12pm - Tess’s Army vs.
Austin Gold Sox
3pm - BTL Hornets vs Seattle Blackfins
6pm - Hutchinson Monarchs vs. Liberal Bee Jays
8:30pm - Hays Larks vs. Seattle Cheney Studs