Kade Parker held the Newton Knights to just two runs over nine innings as the Hays Eagles advance to the third round of the “AAA” American Legion State Tournament.

Brad Kelly Postgame Interview

The Hays Eagles scored first in the bottom of the first when Cole Schumacher stole home putting the Eagles up 1-0.

Newton tied the game at one with a solo homerun in the fourth but Hays answered with one of their own in the bottom of the inning taking a 2-1.

A sacrifice fly by Connor Rule in the fifth inning gave Hays a 3-1 lead.

Newton made it 3-2 with a run in the sixth but Hays added a run in the eighth on a Marcus Altman RBI single putting Hays up 4-2.

Cole Schumacher was 2-for-2 with a run and two stolen bases and Marcus Altman finished 2-for-4 and one RBI.

Parker allowed just two runs on 10 hits in a complete game victory. He struck out six and walked just one to move to 5-3 on the season.

The Eagles are 32-8 on the summer and will play Pittsburg Friday evening at 5pm after their 14-3 run-rule win over Emporia in the late game Thursday.

The winner advances to the state championship game on Saturday.