By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
Hays 8, Goddard 4
The Hays High Indians finished the Diamond Classic with a win and 3-1 record, plus a victory on the official Senior Day. What the Indians needed though was a six run victory to claim the tournament title. Hays High, Salina Central, and Great Bend all finished with a 3-1 tournament record. Great Bend took the team title with at plus 16 runs, Hays High finishes runner up at plus 14 and Salina Central was plus 11.
Highlights
Goddard used a three run second inning to jump up on Hays early. The Lions added a single run in the third to go up 4-0. The chances to score for Hays looked bleak with two outs in the bottom half of the third. Marcus Altman walked and stole a base to get into scoring position for Brayden Delzeit to drive him in for the Indian’s first run. Hays used that momentum to score five runs all with two outs in the third. Hays tied the game on a bases loaded walk by Cole Schumacher and took a 5-4 lead on a single by Dalton Stout. Hays added a run in the fourth and two more in the sixth for the 8-4 victory.
Coach Frank Leo
Palmer Hutchison earned his second career win pitching 5.2 innings in relief of Grant Coffman. Hays is now 11-5 on the year. Goddard used five pitchers in the game and falls to 3-15.
Hays returns to action on Tuesday at Liberal. Regional seedings will come out on Wednesday. Hays will then play their final games of the season in a makeup contest hosting Garden City on Thursday.
Great Bend 6 – Salina Central 1
Salina Central suffered the only loss of the tournament with a 6-1 loss to Great Bend in the second of three games at the Diamond Classic on Saturday. Great Bend scored four runs in the third then took a six run lead with two in the top of the sixth. Salina Central scored their only run in the sixth inning. The Mustangs did get a lead-off single to start the seventh, but the Great Bend defense used a force out and a ground ball double play to end the game.
Great Bend and Salina Central both go 3-1 in the Diamond Classic. Salina Central is 8-8 on the year and Great Bend is 12-4.
Goddard 3 – Life Prep Academy 1
Goddard scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and held on to claim their first win of the tournament Saturday morning. The Lions led off the inning with three consecutive singles and totaled four of their eight game hits in the fourth.
Life Prep answered back with one in the fifth then loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh inning but did not score. For Goddard it is their third win of the season and breaks a streak of five consecutive one run losses.