EMPORIA, Kan. – The Hays Eagles Senior American Legion fell to the Nickerson Panthers 4-3 Wednesday afternoon to open pool play at the Kansas American Legion baseball AAA State Tournament.

Both teams scored two runs in the first inning and would hold the tie going into the fourth until Cole Murphy scored a run on a single by Brady Kreutzer. The Eagles would maintain the 3-2 lead into the bottom of the sixth when a throwing error and a passed ball scored two runs for Nickerson. Hays could not do anything offensively in the top of the seventh and Nickerson walked away with the victory.

Coach Dustin Schumacher

The Eagles were solid on the mound in the game. Cody Peterson gave up two hits on 51 pitches including two strikeouts and a walk in three innings. Trey Riggs went the final three innings giving up two hits with three strikeouts. None of the four runs given up were earned.

Riggs was 1-2 at the plate with two RBIs that came on a double he hit in the first inning to score Will Sennett and Palmer Hutchison. Kreutzer was 1-3 with an RBI.

The Eagles continue pool play on Thursday morning as they take on Topeka at 10am.