WICHITA – The Hays Larks run at an elusive NBC World Series title came up short after an 11-1 loss to the Cheney Diamond Dawgs in Thursday’s semifinals at Riverfront Stadium. Cheney scored four runs in the third then added three in the fifth and four in the seventh for the seven inning run-rule win.
Wichita State senior transfer Spencer Hynes, who was one of two new pitchers added to the Diamond Dawgs roster this week after two of their players were shut down by their college coaches, held the Larks hitless for the first four innings. Hynes allowed one run on two hits over six innings with eight strikeouts and three walks for the win.
Larks starter Tyler Palmer suffered the loss after giving up three runs on two hits over 2 2/3 innings. Palmer worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first but ran into trouble in the third when Andrew Brautman tripled and scored on a throwing error by catcher Brady Evans on a stolen base attempt. A sacrifice fly drove in the second run and drove Palmer from the game. Dylan Dreiling entered and gave up a two-run homer to Ryan Koval.
George Specht hit a three-run blast off of Dreiling in the fifth top push the lead to 7-0.
The Larks tallied their only run in the bottom of the fifth. Palmer Hutchison reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on Leo Jiminian’s double to left.
The Diamond Dawgs, who have lost in the last two NBC WS title games, took advantage of six walks, three hit batters and three Larks errors.
The Larks (32-8) had hit a NBC best .376 through their first four games but were held to three hits.
Hays is now 0-3 against Cheney at the NBC World Series. The Diamond Dawgs won 2-1 last year and 7-3 in 2017.
Cheney will now play the Lonestar Baseball Club out of Texas in Friday’s semifinals. Lonestar lost 8-0 in seven innings to defending champion Santa Barbara in Thursday’s first game.