By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

It took a total of nine innings on Tuesday afternoon for Hays softball to sweep Liberal. Both teams had played road games on Monday, with Liberal making the their second trip in two days.

Game 1: Hays 17, Liberal 1 (Four innings)

Liberal opened the game with a single run in the first inning. It would be their last of the game. Hays responded back with one of their own in the first inning and then three in the second to grab the lead for good. Hays ended the game after scoring 13 runs in the bottom of the fourth. The decisive runs came on a two run home run by Albany Schaffer to invoke the run-rule.

In the decisive fourth inning Hays sent 15 batters to the plate with all nine scoring at least one run. Madison Prough and Kacie Brous each scored three runs, Tessa Stickel, Albany Schaffer, Kylie Brown, and Shannon Schumacher each scored two. Brous was also 3-3 at the plate while Schaffer also recorded three hits and drove in four runs.

Kaitlyn Brown took the four inning victory allowing just two hits, walking five and walking two. Brown evens her record out at 3-3.

Coach Erin Wagner

Highlights

Game 2: Hays 12, Liberal 2 (Five innings)

Game two started the same way the first game did with each team scoring a single run in the first inning. Hays took the lead in the bottom of the third scoring two. The Indians did the rest of the damage in the fourth, scoring five runs then added four runs in the fifth. All of the nine runs in the final two innings came with two outs.

Hays also won the game in a most unusual fashion, scoring three runs on a passed ball that never left the infield. A pitch got away from the Liberal catcher allowing Albany Schaffer to score. In an effort to throw out Schaffer, the catcher’s throw went under the glove of the pitcher into foul territory where the first baseman also missed played it allowing Nicole Dinkel and Kylie Brown to score for the final margin.

Kylie Brown, Mackenzie Fagan, and Kacie Brous led the way with two hits a piece. Schaffer, Dinkel and Brown each scored three runs. Brown also drove in four runs.

Jaysa Wichers struck out eight and walked just one four her fourth victory of the season.

Hays improves to 8-8 on the season and 4-2 in Western Athletic Conference play. Hays will finish the season at Garden City May 10th.

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – It had been nearly two weeks since the Hays High softball team played a competitive game. Thursday the Indians rattled off 25 runs and 34 hits in victories of Salina-Sacred Heart and Thomas More Prep-Marian iat the TMP Sports Complex.

Hays 9, Sacred Heart 4
Freshman pitcher Jaysa Wichers gave up single runs in four different innings but limited the damage in each inning to pick up her third win of the season. Hays struck for three runs in the first and four runs in the third to take a firm hold of the game at 7-4. Wichers allowed six hits and four runs while striking out seven and walking just three.

Hays pounded out fourteen hits with six players collecting multiple hits, led by Kaitlyn Brown with three. Tessa Stickel, Albany Schaffer and Brown each scored twice, while Nicole Dinkel drove in two runs.

Highlights

Hays 16, TMP 10
TMP took a 2-0 lead after the first two innings, scoring on two passed balls. Hays then erupted for six runs in the top of the fourth sending ten to the plate. In the inning, the Indians recorded six hits and a walk before the second out was ever recorded.

The Monarchs got a single run back in the bottom of the third on a two out RBI double by Bailey Lacy, scoring Emily Schulte. Hays got the run back in the fourth when Nicole Dinkel scored on a wild pitch. Hays loaded the bases in the fourth inning but was held without another run when Bailey Lacy induced a ground out after replacing starting pitcher Alison Helgit.

The Indians pushed their lead as 13 following a five run sixth innings, again putting ten to the plate. This time Hays scored five runs on five hits highlighted by a two-RBI double from Albany Schaffer and a RBI double from Nicole Dinkel. Hays took a 16-3 lead after the top half of the sixth inning.

TMP needed four runs to stave off the run-rule to end the game. The Monarchs scored seven. Indian’s freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Brown cruised through five innings allowing just three runs on three hits. However in the sixth inning she walked four while TMP collected four hits capped by a two-RBI triple from Brianna Romme. Brown though settled down and retired four of the next five batters to give Hays the 16-10 win. Brown picked up her third win of the season.

Coach Erin Wagner

 

Hays tallied 20 hits in the victory and capitalized on six Monarch errors. Madison Prough led the way with four hits. Tessa Stickel, Nicole Dinkel, and Kaitlyn Brown each at three. Brown ended the night with six base hits total which equaled the number of hits she had through the first ten games of the season.

With the victory Hays is now 6-6 on the season. TMP beat Sacred Heart 3-2 in nine innings in the first game of the night. The two losses drops Sacred Heart to 7-7 on the season. With the split TMP is 11-5.

Dustin Armbruster

Sometimes it takes one day to help find your path. For Hays High senior Nicole Dinkel, it was one really good day in 2015. Dinkel participated in a softball showcase and had a day where she did everything well and seemed to hit every pitch sent her way. That was enough to catch the attention of the coaches at Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kansas.

Tuesday, just a few hours before taking the diamond versus Colby, Dinkel signed her national letter of intent to play for the Thunderbirds. Another deciding factor for choosing Cloud County was the school’s strong biology programs which Dinkel plans on entering.

Nicole Dinkel

First year head coach Erin Wagner said that while not a vocal leader Dinkel does lead with her work ethic, always taking extra reps and showing up to the voluntary workouts and practices.

Coach Erin Wagner

Dinkel is a career .342 hitter with 49 hits, but is having one over her best seasons to date batting 13-30 for a .433 average. She is one of only three hitters on the team to record a home run this season and has tallied four in her career. Dinkel also leads the team in steals (12), walks (6), hit-by-pitch (3), tied for the team lead in runs (11) and has struck out second fewest times this year (2).

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – With all the school options over multiple sports that Hays High senior Keith Dryden had to choose from, he made his decision to run track for the Fort Hays State University Tigers. Monday at Hays High, he signed is national letter of intent to make it official.

Keith Dryden

 

The multi-sport athlete was a receiver and defensive back in football, starting guard in basketball and this spring is excelling in sprinting events for coach Randall Rath’s Indians. Rath believes despite having the top 4A times in the 100 meters and 400 meters and being one of the four legs on the 4×100 meter relay, the 200 meters might be his best event. It is a race that he hasn’t run much yet this season, but will start doing so in meets starting this week.

Coach Randall Rath

 

Dryden stated two big reasons for his choosing FHSU. The first reason is the love that he has for his family. Dryden’s older sister Ashli competed for the Tiger’s track team, with Keith saying he has always looked up to his sister and watching her compete for FHSU helped sway his decision. The second reason allowed him to stay in the city of Hays, a place that he likes and wanted to remain so he could be close to his family.

Dryden has run some of the top times in the state this season with a 100 meters time of 10.49 seconds, 22.23 seconds in the 200 meters and 50.89 seconds in the 400 meters.

By Dustin Armbruster

It was a long process but, after a number of school visits, it is done. On Tuesday, Albany Schaffer made her decision official, signing to play volleyball for the University of Louisiana-Monroe.

Schaffer goes down as one of the best to play in the history of the Hays High volleyball program. She holds the school record for digs in a single season with 542 her sophomore season. She also holds the second, third and fourth spots on that list, as well. Despite missing seven matches her senior season, she still finished with 508 digs for the second spot. 482 digs her junior year ranks third while her freshman campaign led to 367 digs to land fourth on the list.

Albany Schaffer

Schaffer was twice named the Western Athletic Conference player of the year, earning the honor in 2014 and 2015. She was also named Honorable Mention as a sophomore. Schaffer was named to the All-State Honorable Mention team following her senior season.

Schaffer heads to Monroe, La., to join the Division 1 program as a DS/Libero. The Warhawks went 14-18 last year and compete in the Sun Belt Conference.

Christin Nunnery

Hays High finished 29-8 this past season. Schaffer joins three other seniors to sign with collegiate programs for volleyball. Kylie Brown and Madison Prough both signed with Fort Hays State University. Taylor Groen-Younger will play at Pratt Community College.

Dustin Armbruster

It wasn’t the collegiate sports path that Haley George imagined herself on after high school. The multi-sport athlete and dancer signed her national letter of intent this week to compete for the Kansas State rowing team.

Cross country, basketball, track and dancing had filled George’s schedule over years and all of those have led her to Manhattan, Kansas. George said the coach that recruited her to K-State liked the fact she had a background in so many different sports. Listed at 5’11” for basketball, George said K-State coaches were looking for “tall, lanky girls that could build muscle.”

Haley George

But you won’t find George on a rowing machine in Hays anytime soon. She was told by the Wildcat coaches to stay away from it so she doesn’t develop any bad habits. George will also be redshirting her freshman year, something that all of the incoming freshmen do for the K-State rowing team.

George plans on majoring in elementary education with a minor in special education.

By Dustin Armbruster

The Hays High Indians finished the basketball season with 17 wins and a share of the Western Athletic Conference Championship. Monday the Indians were rewarded for their season with three players receiving WAC post-season honors along with coach Rick Keltner earning co-coach of the year honors.

Named Player of the Year in the Western Athletic Conference, Isaiah Nunnery polished off his senior season and outstanding four year varsity career by averaging 16.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.6 steals per game. In a career that spanned 91 games, the final six may have been his most impressive stretch scoring 20 or more in each contest. During that streak Nunnery established a career high of 32 including a school record nine three point field goals against Dodge City on senior night.

The future Fort Hays State Tiger hit 121 three pointers in his careers while scoring in double figures 38 times. His all-around game has him sitting 9th all-time in points (833), 2nd in steals (157), and 3rd in assists (306).

Nunnery was joined on the first team by Garden City senior Jared Koster, Liberal junior Deladris Green, Dodge City senior Dayton McGroarty, and Great Bend junior Kody Crosby.

The Indians landed two more on the 2nd team with Drew Young and Shane Berens each earning the post season nod. Senior Drew Young was second on the team scoring 12 per contest hitting double figures fifteen times this season and seventeen in his career. Young finished his career in 23rd all-time in assists at 143 despite playing in only 46 games while missing the first third of his junior season.

Junior Shane Berens backs up his two-time first team football recognition with a basketball honor. Berens scored 10.6 points per game while leading the team in rebounding at 6.5 per contest. Berens current ranks 22nd all time in rebounds at 283 with a year of school left. He scored in double figures twelve times this season, marking fifteen in his career. Berens also notched three double-doubles in points and rebounds.

Also named to the 2nd team was Liberal senior Tim Fitzgerald, Dodge City senior Noah Williams, and Liberal junior Cade Hinkle.

Coach Rick Keltner was named Co-Coach of the Year with Liberal’s Scott Hinkle. The two teams split their regular season meeting with Hays winning on their home floor 55-54 and Liberal winning on their home court in triple overtime 57-51.

Keltner also collected his 500th career win during the 2015-16 basketball season. Keltner has been head coach at Hays High for 31 years collecting 417 wins and has completed 38 years overall as a head basketball coach.

By Dustin Armbruster

It was a rematch from the 2015 sub-state championship as Hays and McPherson battled for a 4A-1 state tournament berth on Saturday night. Twelve months ago the game was in Hays and the McPherson Bullpups won on their way to an undefeated state championship. In 2016 both teams traveled three plus hours to Ulysses.

Hays scored the first five points of the game then went cold as McPherson used a 11-2 run over the next five minutes. The Indian’s Isaiah Nunnery buried a three at the end of the first quarter to get back within a single point 11-10.

Highlights

McPherson pushed their advantage as high as six in the second quarter following a 8-3 run to start the quarter. The Indians responded back with three consecutive threes to grab the lead back at 22-19 with 4:30 left before half. The two teams swapped the lead twice more with McPherson building a five point lead until Nunnery scored the final points of the half making the score 32-29 in favor of McPherson.

Hays took the lead twice in the third quarter following back to back three pointers from Nunnery to go up 39-36 and then a Laken Jacobs basket gave the Indians a 41-40 lead inside of two minutes left in the quarter. McPherson though reclaimed the lead at 42-41 heading to the fourth quarter.

Hays took the lead four more times in the fourth quarter. The final coming on a steal and lay up by Drew Young at 53-51 with 3:35 remaining. Hays would only score two more points the remainder of the way. McPherson took the final three plus minutes to out score Hays 14-2 and take the win 65-55.

Coach Rick Keltner

The game featured 17 lead changes. Hays shot 50% from the field and McPherson 60%. Hays was led by Isaiah Nunnery with 22 points. Drew Young scored 15. Nunnery finishes 9th all-time in scoring, 3rd in assists and 2nd in steals over the course of 91 games. McPherson was led by Ben Pyle with 25. Drew Pyle scored 12 and Jacob Loeker added 10.

Hays ends the year at 17-5. McPherson will defend their state title next week in Salina with a 21-1 record.

By Dustin Armbruster

For the second year in a row, the Hays High Indians opened up play in one of the toughest sub-states in class 4A-1 against the Buhler Crusaders. Hays at 16-4 and Buhler at 15-5 claimed the two and three seed. McPherson entered post-season play at 19-1 as the one seed taking on fourth seeded Ulysses at 6-14.

Hays could not have drawn up a more picture perfect first quarter. Behind 12 first quarter points on four three point field goals from Isaiah Nunnery, Hays ran out with a 19-0 lead after the first eight minutes. Hays pushed the lead up to 21 points on three occasions in the second quarter.

Highlights

Buhler didn’t score their first points until the 6:40 mark of the second quarter on a pair of free throws. The Crusaders missed their first eleven shots before getting a field goal with 4:05 left in the first half.

Hays took a 32-12 lead to the half time locker room. Some where in the locker room momentum shifted.

Buhler stormed out of the half time break with a 8-0 run forcing a Hays time out at 32-20. Buhler ended hitting 10 of the first 13 shots of the second half getting back within two at 36-34. The Crusaders had a chance to take a lead on a three at that point but came up short. Hays ended the third quarter with a Maddux Winter three point play to go up five 41-36.

Like they did in the third quarter, Buhler started the fourth quarter with a run. This time a 6-0 run gave the Crusaders their first lead at 42-41 with 5:34 left in the game. Hays responded to the deficit with a seven point run to go up 48-42 over the next sixty seconds. Buhler twice got back to within a point. With the Indians leading 50-49, Drew Young stuck a three from the top of the key, giving Hays a two possession lead rest of the way.

Coach Rick Keltner

Hays hit just enough free throws and one field goal over the final 1:30 to secure a 60-53 victory. Isaiah Nunnery scored a game high 26. It his his fifth consecutive game scoring 20 or more points. Maddux Winter added ten in the victory.

Hays improves to 17-4 on the year. Buhler ends their season at 15-6. Hays will play the winner of McPherson/Ulysses on Saturday evening for a berth in the 4A-1 state tournament.

By Dustin Armbruster

The Hays High Lady Indians headed out to Ulysses on Thursday night to open post-season play against Buhler. Just one notch in the win column separated the second seeded Lady Crusaders (8-12) and three seed Hays (7-13).

It was a rough first half for the two teams as they combined for 28 points. Buhler scored the first points of the game after 4:10 of play and took a 6-4 lead. The first points for Hays came with 1:55 left in the first quarter. Hays made just 2 of their 14 first quarter shots, but made the 14th to get within a basket at 6-4 at the end of the first quarter.

Highlights

Buhler used the games biggest first half run of 5-0 to build 16-8 lead. Hays scored the final four points of the quarter off baskets from Audra Schmeidler and Savannah Schneider and trailed 16-12 at half time.

Hays pulled within a single point at 20-19 on their first three pointer of the game from Mattie Hutchison. Buhler though responded with back-to-back threes to establish a seven point advantage. Trailing 27-22 entering the fourth quarter, Hays got within two points twice and three once. The last opportunity coming down 32-30 with 4:20 remaining following the second of three Talyn Kleweno fourth quarter three pointers. Buhler then went on their best run of the game, 13-0 over the next three minutes to put the game out of reach.

The Lady Indian’s season comes to a close with the 48-38 loss to Buhler. Hays ends the year at 7-14. Buhler moves into the championship game of sub-state on Saturday and improves to 9-12.

Coach Kirk Maska

Hays was led by the eleven points of Talyn Kleweno. The Indians graduate three seniors from the team, all who played a significant amount of games for coach Kirk Maska. Haley George played in 62 games, Nicole Dinkel 58 and Audra Schmeidler 69.

By Dustin Armbruster

Payton Ruder knows that by signing with Baker University to golf he will be receiving much more than the chance to play 18. Ruder signed his letter of intent on Tuesday morning to golf for the Baker Wildcats out of Baldwin City, Kansas.

Ruder weighed the decision on what college to golf at and attend both on the athletic and academic side as well. He plans on heading into the engineering field. With Baker University’s connections to programs at the University of Kansas as well as opportunities in the Kansas City area, the fit was perfect.

Payton Ruder

Ruder has dropped three strokes per 18 holes off his score from freshman through junior seasons. A three time state qualifier, Ruder had his best season in 2015 firing a 72 and landing in 7th place. Ruder is also the back-to-back defending regional champion. He says though the goal this year is more about getting the entire team to state. Ruder will be the lone senior for this spring 2016 season, a season that got practices underway on Monday.

Coach Mark Watts

Ruder has placed in the top ten 15 times in his career including seven times last spring. He will also look to land on the All-WAC team for a fourth consecutive year after garnering 2nd team honors his freshman season and first team his sophomore and junior year.

But Baker will have to wait. For now Ruder is focused on the spring 2016 season and is glad to have his decision done and out of the way.

By Dustin Armbruster

Hays High headed on the road Friday night to end the regular season against their rivals in Great Bend. Both the Hays boys and girls were fighting for a second place finish the sub-state standings. For the boys it was also a chance to clinch a share of the Western Athletic Conference crown.

Girls Great Bend 62 – Hays 51

Hays scored the first six points of the game only to hit one free throw for the remainder of the first quarter. Great Bend used the scoring drought to out pace the Indians 15-1 for the final six minutes of the quarter and take 15-7 lead.

Highlights

The Indians played the best quarter of basketball over the following eight minutes outscoring Great Bend 21-11. Hays used a 12-2 run to regain the lead at 19-17. The score would be tied three more times before Hays took a 28-23 lead after an Audra Schmeidler three pointer. Great Bend pulled back within two points with a three that bounced in at the half time buzzer.

With a 28-26 half time lead, Hays built their lead up to seven at 35-28 following another three pointer from Schmeidler. Like the first quarter though, Hays High went cold for the remainder of the third. The Panthers ended the quarter on a 19-6 run grabbing a 47-41 lead.

Coach Kirk Maska

The Lady Indians got no closer that five points rest of the way and falls 62-51. Great Bend finished the game on a 8-0 run including a six for six performance from the free throw line.

Hays was led by the career high of 15 from Savannah Schneider. Audra Schmeidler added 10. Great Bend put three in double figures led by Carley Brack with 18.

Hays falls 7-13 overall and 2-6 on the season. Great Bend improves to 12-8 and 6-2. Hays will be in Ulysses on Thursday for sub-state as the three seed taking on Buhler.

Hays looked to have control early in the first quarter versus Great Bend. Hays jumped out to a 9-2 lead over the first two minutes of the game. The Indians led 11-4 when the Panthers came roaring back, finishing the first quarter on a 11-0 run taking a 15-11 lead after one quarter.

Hays trailed by four with 5:00 to go before half time then clamped down on defense. The Indians allowed just three points rest of the way and surged out to a 34-25 lead the half. Hays hit three consecutive three pointers to regain the lead and used that to spark 16-3 run to close the half.

Highlights

Hays never left any doubt of a victory in the second half outscoring the Panthers 16-6 in the third for 50-31 lead. Keith Dryden opened up the fourth quarter with a two handed dunk off a feed from Maddux Winter and Hays cruised for a 69-43 victory.

Shane Berens lead the Indians 22 points and 10 rebounds. The 22 tied his career high. Isaiah Nunnery scored 20, marking the fourth consecutive game Nunnery scored 20 or more points. Great Bend was led by Trey Ibarra with 14.

Coach Rick Keltner

With the victory Hays improves to 16-4 and 6-2 in the WAC, earning a share of the Western Athletic Conference crown. Hays shares the top spot with Liberal. Great Bend falls to 4-16 and 2-6 in conference play.

The victory also notched number 500 hundred in the career of coach Rick Keltner.

Hays will be the two seed at sub-state. The Indians will face Buhler in the first round Friday at Ulysses.