HAYS – It took a vote by the league’s general managers late last night, but the Hays Larks have been declared the Jayhawk League second half champs after their 15-8 win over Dodge City Wednesday night at Larks Park.

With the win, the Larks (35-10, 31-10 JL) increased their lead over El Dorado by 1  1/2 games. The Broncos and Liberal were rained out Wednesday. With the NBC World Series starting on Friday, Jayhawk League commissioner Phil Stephenson declared the Larks second half champs and that decision was upheld after a late night vote by the league’s general managers. The Larks were to make up a rainout with the Broncos Thursday night but that game has been cancelled.

The Larks will host the Athletics (28-18, 26-16 JL) in the best-of-three Jayhawk League Championship Series starting at 7 pm Friday at Larks Park. Game two will be at 7 pm Saturday with the third game if necessary at 7 pm Sunday. The winner of the series is the 2016 Jayhawk League champion.

Garrett McKinzie had three of the Larks 15 hits. Mike Mioduszewski drive in five runs. He hit a two-run homer in the Larks five-run second then added a two-run triple off the center field wall in the seventh. Nate Olinger and Austin O’Brien both drove in three. Olinger’s double in the second scored two runs giving the Larks the lead for good.

Alex Lopez (7-0) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and allowed only one run. He gave up four runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and one walk and picked up the win.