The Hays Eagles used a six run third inning in grabbing a 9-5 victory over Pittsburg in the AAA American Legion Championship in Manhattan on Saturday. Hays led 1-0 after the first inning when Riley Kaus scored from second on a dropped fly ball on the infield. Pittsburg led 2-0 in the bottom of the third where the Eagles fireworks began.
Austin Unrein led off the inning with triple, Casey Sebrook walked, and Riley Kaus single bring Unrein home to tie the game at 2. Hayden Hutchison the loaded the bases with no out on a walk. Pittsburg changed pitchers and the first pitch from VJ Piccini was lined into the outfield for a two rbi single. Hays again loaded the bases and Unrein at bat for the second time in the inning hit a two out two run single. Hays led 7-2 after three innings.
Pittsburg responded back with a run in the fourth and two in the fifth bring the score to 7-5. Hays couldn’t score in the fourth through seventh innings. Then in the bottom of the eighth, Jarrett Sanders beat out a throw to first base with two outs to load the bases and Zack Legleiter brought in two runs with a double giving the Eagles the final margin 9-5.
Josh Heifner(11-1) took the victory over five innings, giving up five runs on eight hits. Layne Downing saw his first action of the tournament throwing three innings of one hit ball and Austin Unrein ended the game with a scoreless ninth.
Hays is 45-8. Pittsburg falls to 32-15.
Hays for the first time in the tournament out it their opponent 14-10. The Eagles had two errors and stranded eight runners. Pittsburg had just the one fielding error leading to a first inning run and left 13 runners on base.
Hays moves on to the Mid-South Regional in New Orleans, LA to take on the Tennessee champion on August 9th.
Coach Brad Kelly: