By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
HAYS - Hays High hosted Great Bend in a key Western Athletic Conference doubleheader on a picture perfect Tuesday. Both teams came in state ranked with Great Bend at #7 and Hays at #8 according to the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches.
Game 1: Hays 4, Great Bend 0
Nolan Dreher faced just one batter over the minimum in a complete game 4-0 shutout.
Dreher hit the first batter of the game with the first pitch of the game. He would be in control rest of the way. The Panthers stranded the lead off runner and it would be their only runner left at the end of any inning.
Hays struck for three in the bottom of the first. A triple by Tiger Johnson drove in Cooper Sanders and Johnny Cano for a 2-0 advantage. Lex Lummus knocked in Johnson with a single and a 3-0 score.
The Indians left two runners on the bases at the end of the first and three more at the end of the second. Hays loaded the bases with two outs but could not take advantage.
Hays flashed the leather behind their starting pitcher to limit the opportunities for Great Bend to score. Hays turned a double play in the third inning to eliminate a lead off single. Haselhorst threw out a Panther trying to steal to end the fourth. The Indians then picked off a runner in the fifth.
Hays added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Ian McGuire drove in Carter Graham for a 4-0 edge.
Dreher(3-0) retired the final inning on three pitches. He threw just 73 pitches in the seven inning complete game. Carson Umphries (2-1) took the loss for Great Bend.
Game 2: Hays 5, Great Bend 4
Hays High completed the sweep with a come from behind 5-4 win over Great Bend in game two.
Great Bend scored two in the second and one in the third inning for a 3-0 advantage. The Panthers recorded just two hits in the two innings but three walks and was hit by a pitch.
Hays finally scratched a run across the plate in the fourth. Johnny Cano led off the inning with a double. He later scored on a Tiger Johnson ground out and a 3-1 score.
Hays went from trying to get runners on the base paths to four crossing the plate in the fifth. Carter Graham led off the inning with a triple then scored on a bunt single by Ian McGuire. Corbin Werth was hit by a pitch. Following a passed ball Cooper Sanders laid down a bunt on a squeeze play that scored McGuire. The Indians ran the same squeeze play and Johnny Cano brought in Sanders for a 4-3 lead. Johnson drove in the final run for Hays on a sacrifice bunt and a 5-3 score.
The Panthers knocked in a single run in the sixth but didn't have anybody aboard when Carter Graham ended the game on a strike out.
Graham(2-0) earned the win in relief. He pitched four innings of one run ball. Hunter Herrman took the loss for Great Bend.
Hays improved to 9-1 on the season and is 6-0 in conference games. Great Bend falls to 8-3, 2-2.
The Indians are home on Friday when they host Clay Center.