By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post Sports
WICHTIA - Hays used a five-run fifth inning to erase a four-run deficit and defeat Shawnee Heights 7-6 in the 5A State quarterfinals Thursday at Eck Stadium.
The Thunderbirds struck early, scoring in four of the first five innings. Two runs in the bottom of the first inning gave them the early lead. The Indians ended the inning with by throwing a runner out at home on an attempted double steal.
Hays took back one of those runs in the top of the third. Kal Lonsdale was hit by a pitch to open the inning. A Carter Graham sacrifice fly to right field scored Lonsdale for a 2-1 game. Heights added two more runs to their side of the scoreboard. Like in the first inning it was a two-out hit that provided the runs for the Thunderbirds resulting in a 4-1 lead.
Heights went up 5-1 with a single run in the fourth which followed the Indians' third error of the game.
Hays finally broke through in the top of the fifth inning. Landon Hardman led off the inning with a single and stolen base. Johnny Cano reached on a walk with one out. He and Hardman both advanced on a pair of passed balls. Hardman scored on the second to make the score 5-2.
Jalen Smith reached on error, which Cano scored on, and Graham legged out an infield single to load the bases. Ian McGuire provided the big blow of the inning. A two-out double to that rolled to the left field wall scored three runs for a 6-5 Hays lead.
The Thunderbirds again scored with two outs. This time a triple followed by a passed ball tied the game at six after five innings.
Jalen Smith has been no stranger to big hits late in games. He drove in the game winning run of the regional semi-final two games ago. Thursday afternoon he provided the go ahead hit that scored Lonsdale who led off the inning with a single and stolen base.
Graham and the Hays defense did the rest over the final two innings. Heights led of the bottom of the sixth with a single. That runner was erased with the team's 22nd double play of the season. Three fly ball outs in the seventh inning pushed Hays to the second day of the state tournament.
Graham (5-2) threw all seven innings for the victory. He allowed six runs, two of which were earned, on six hits. He struck out two and walked four on 101 pitches.
Hays (19-8) has won three straight elimination games by one run. Shawnee Heights (21-8) has a four game winning streak snapped.
The Indians advance to play St. Thomas Aquinas Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. The game can be heard on 96.9 KFIX. It will also be streamed on Hays Post.