Hays Post Sports
NEWTON – Leadoff hitter Lane Sparks had three hits and walked twice, Lorenzo Rios drove in two runs and the Hays Larks took advantage of 11 walks and three Newton errors and defeated the Rebels 9-3 Thursday night at Klein Scott Field.
The Larks (2-0) scored three in the fourth to take the lead for good. Taber Stokes drew a leadoff walk, moved to third on an error then scored on Ray Jesse’s groundout. Sparks reached on an error, advanced to third on a wild pitch then stole home to put the Larks up 4-2. Thomas Lyssy capped off the inning with an RBI single to left which scored Trent Baker.
The Larks pushed the lead to 6-2 when Baker drive in a run with a sacrifice fly to right in the fifth. They blew it open with three in the sixth. Rios had a two-run double and Stokes a sacrifice fly.
Sparks scored in the top of the first on a Jackson Babcock groundout. Newton scored two in second to take the lead but the Larks quickly tied it up in the top of the third when Lyssy scored on a Dylan LaRue groundout.
Nick Gray (1-0) allowed one hit and no runs with four strikeouts and no walks in three innings of relief and picked up the win. Starter Keevyn Goss allowed two runs on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts over three innings. Jordan Stribling allowed one run on two hits in one inning of relief. Trent Baker pitched the final two scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts and no walks.
UP NEXT
The Larks will host the Dodge City A’s on Saturday for their home and Rocky Mountain Baseball League opener. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Larks Park.