HAYS – Life Prep Academy scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to retake the lead and beat the Hays High baseball team 6-3 in the final game of the Western Plains Diamond Classic Saturday at Hays High School. The Fire went 4-0 to win the title and have now won 14-straight games. The Indians finshed 1-3.
After the Fire (20-7) scored two in the top of the first, the Indians (10-8) answered with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth to take a 3-2 lead. Garrett Wellbrock drove in Dylan Dreiling with the first run on a groundout to first. Carson Spray tied the game with a two-out single to center which scored pinch-runner Brett Schumacher. Wellbrock then put Hays up 3-2 when he scored a squeeze play with two outs.
Life Prep got the lead back for good with three the next innings. The first came on a sacrifice to tie the game 3-3. They took the lead following an error on a grounder to third then added the final run on a two-out single the center
The Fire tacked on an insurance run on a throwing error in the seventh.
Life Prep starter Ethian Samaniego held the Indians to three runs on three hits with three strikeouts and four walks over four innings. Maestro Saunders pitched three scoreless innings of relief and picked up the win.
Toby May allowed one earned run on four hits with one walk and took the loss in relief in his varsity debut after starter Carson Spray allowed two runs on four hits over four innings.
The Indians close out the regular season Tuesday at home against Ulysses.
Saturday’s Diamond Classic scores
Manhattan 10, Wichita Trinity 0
Life Prep 10, Wichita Trinity 0
Manhattan 3, Great Bend 0
Life Prep 6, Hays 3