WICHITA – Another close call for the Hays Larks, but for the fifth time in the organization’s history they come up short in the championship game of the NBC World Series. Jacob Patterson scattered six hits over seven shutout innings to lead the Santa Barbara Foresters to a 6-2 win Saturday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Patterson struck out five and walked two in his only start for the Foresters (36-14) who won their sixth title and third in five years.

Game Highlights

The Foresters scored their first five runs with two outs. Lex Kaplan singled and Dylan Paul doubled to give them a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Kyle Isbel’s triple made it 4-0 in the second. Matt Henderson tripled in the fourth to push the lead to 5-0.

The Larks (43-11) had chances in the second when they put two on with one out but Ty Redington and Connor Ross struck out to end the inning. They had two on with one out in the fifth but Michael Burns was picked off second then Nate Olinger struck out to end the threat.

They broke up the shutout in the ninth. After Alex Weiss doubled to lead off the inning, Ty Redington and Connor Ross both drove in runs.

Alex Lopez (8-1) allowed five runs on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings and suffered the loss for the Larks who saw their 10-game win streak come to an end.

Weiss and Ty Redington both had two of the Larks eight hits.

Michael Burns received the tournament’s leading hitter award. Burns led the Larks with a .535 average and had 15 hits in the Larks six games. Keegen Curtis brought home the leading pitcher honor after he recorded 20 strikeouts in his two starts.