McPHERSON - For a second weekend in a row, the HBC Hammer 18U baseball team finished runner-up at a tournament. After winning both of their pool play games Friday then winning their first two bracket games Saturday, the Hammer lost 8-2 to the Kansas Curve in Saturday night's title game.
In the title game, the Hammer (15-7) scored twice in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead, but the Curve (23-5-2) answered with three in the third and three more in the fifth. They closed out the scoring with a run in the top in the top of the seventh f0r the final margin.
Both teams had four hits but the Curve took advantage of seven walks, three hit batters and three Hammer errors to avenge a 12-10 loss to Hays in Friday's pool play.
Dalton Dale (1-1) allowed seven runs (two earned) on four hits with five walks and five strikeouts and suffered the loss.
In the semifinals, the Hammer rallied from a 7-2 deficit to beat the Olathe Owls 8-7 in eight innings. Hays scored four in the bottom of the sixth on two-run doubles from Will Cadoret and Garrett Wellbrock to tie the game.
After a runner was placed on second to start extra innings, Garrett Wellbrock worked around a walk and hit batter which loaded the bases but got a flyout to end the inning to keep the game tied. Wellbrock singled to open the bottom of the eighth. Dalton Dale followed with another single to left which scored Tyson Jimenez from third with the game-winning run.
Garrett Wellbrock (5-1) allowed three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and one walk over seven innings of relief for the win.
Hays scored in every inning and beat E3 Freedom out of Fort Scott 10-2 in five innings to open bracket play Saturday morning. Garrett Wellbrock went 3-for-3 with three triples and two RBIs. Dalton Dale also hit a triple and drove in three runs. Gage Porter added two RBIs.
Tyson Jimenez (3-0) allowed one earned run on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks and picked up the complete game victory.
Hammer 16U in Hutchinson
The Hammer 16U went 1-2-1 at the Perfect Game Wood Bat Championship in Hutchinson. They lost 4-3 to 316 Elite McBratney and 12-0 to The Show 405 Baseball on Friday. Saturday they tied the AASA Athletics 2-2 and beat the Midwest Braves 10-2 but failed to advance to Sunday's bracket play.
The 15U Hammer did not play this weekend.