For a second consecutive season, Hayden Hutchison has been name the Player Of The Year in the Western Athletic Conference.  The Neosho County Community College signee batted .589 with 26 runs scored.  He also hit three home-runs, batted 24 runs in and walked 18 times.

As a pitcher Hutchison finished the year with a 0.57 ERA, allowing just nine total runs, three of which were earned over 47 innings of work.  He walked just six while striking out 36.

Chandler Rule and Layne Downing were also named to the first team.

Rule, a FHSU signee, had a career season batting .379, 18 runs scored, 8 doubles and two home-runs.  Rule also batted in 27 runs.  He also appeared in two games as a pitcher.

Downing, a junior, .338, with 25 RBI, 13 runs score, 5 doubles, two triples, and three home runs.  As a pitcher Downing posted a 1.37 ERA and 2-1 record.  Over 19.2 innings of work he allowed just seven hits and eight runs, three of which were earned.

Dan Bittel, Chance Pitcock, and Kade Parker were the only three players in the conference named to the Honorable Mention team.

The Hays High softball season came to a close at Eisenhower High School in Goddard, as the Indians fell to Maize South by the final score 9-3.

The Indians fell behind 2-0 early and then gave up six runs in the bottom of the third.

Hays staged a rally with a two RBI double by Katelyn Schumacher in the top of the fifth after Haley Wells scored on a passed ball.

Hays’ season ends at 12-9.

Madison Prough took the loss giving up eight runs over four innings.  Maize South collected 11 hits, Hays hit five times.

Abby Maska Postgame

 

Hays High senior Chandler Rule will play baseball for the Fort Hays State University Tigers next season.  Chandler follows his brother Kelton to FHSU, who just finished his senior season for the Tigers.

Rule earned honorable mention honors from the Western Athletic Conference following his sophomore season.  He then split time at catcher his junior year.  The summer following his junior year, Rule severely broke his ankle in the fourth game of the season.  Rule made it back to the Indian’s football lineup for the last three games, then dedicated himself to getting ready for his senior baseball season.

Rule is batting .414 this season and .331 for his career.  Overall Chandler has raised his career average 36 points this season alone.  His career best season also includes eight doubles, 25 runs batted in  and 16 runs scored.

Rule is projected as a first baseman for the Tigers, the same position he took over this year as a senior.

The Indians baseball team finishes up the season this Friday in Junction City for make-up games.  With a sweep, Hays will lock up at least the two seed in regionals and host a three game tournament next week.

Rule is the third Indian to sign out of this class.  Hayden Hutchison and Daniel Bittel signed with Neosho County and William Jewell respectively.

Coach Frank Leo Coach Frank Leo

Chandler Rule Chandler Rule

April Johnson has been big part of the recent success of the soccer program at Hays High.  A fierce competitor and selfless player, Johnson signed with Hutchinson Community College on Tuesday morning.

The Indians finished the 2012 soccer season with a fourth place finish.  This year they are 13-2 this season.  Hays will finish the season Thursday at Salina Central before regional play next week.

Coach Chris Michaelis: Coach Chris Michaelis

April Johnson: April Johnson

Daniel Bittel has played a lot of baseball.  On Friday in the Hays High cafeteria, he committed to playing on the collegiate level for William Jewell.  Bittel has started for Frank Leo and the Indians since his freshman year.  After taking over in center field, the now senior has never looked back.

Bittel has always wanted to play baseball past high school, but made the decision to pursue the dream full force after his sophomore season by focusing solely on baseball and no other sports.  Bittel has been part of two state appearances for the Indians and was part of the summer legion team that won a state title in 2012 and played in New Orleans for the regional tournament.

Bittel says the William Jewell coaching staff have him projected as an outfielder.

At Hays High School, Bittel has scored 62 runs and is three runs from entering the top ten all-time in career runs scored.

Comments from coach Frank Leo Coach Leo

Comments from Daniel Bittel  Daniel Bittel

 

The Hays High Indians boys and girls basketball teams each had two players honored by the Western Athletic Conference at the end of the season.

Sophomore Brady Werth was named Player Of The Year averaging 14.5 points and 7 rebounds this season.  Werth also blocked 71 shots this season for the Indians who finished 14-8 after winning just six games a season ago.  The Indian’s year finished in Topeka at the 5A state tournament, qualifying for the first time in ten seasons.  Werth collected four double-doubles and scored 20 or more points on five occasions, including a career high 28 versus Garden City.

Junior Lane Clark was named to the WAC second team.  Clark averaged seven points and three assists per game.  Clark made a team high 29 three pointers.  Clark twice scored 20 or more points this season, including at 6-7 three point performance in a career high 22 point game versus Junction City.

Dodge City won the Western Athletic Conference

Senior Katelyn Schumacher was named to the All-WAC first team for a second consecutive season.  Schumacher averaged 12.8 points and 7.4 rebounds for the 9-11 Indians.  The KU softball signee scored in double figures 12 times and collected four double-doubles this past season.

Senior Taylor Herman was named to the WAC second team.  While Herman didn’t have one stat that stood out, she was solid in every category averaging 5.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks per game.  Herman fourth and fifth over the past two seasons in single season blocks at Hays High. 

Garden City won the Western Athletic Conference

 

WAC 1^st Team

Brady Werth, Hays – POY

JJ Lewis, Liberal

Bo Banner, Garden City

Jace Larson, Dodge City

Ethan Henderson, Great Bend

 2^nd Team

Lane Clark, Hays

Matt Goedeken, Dodge City

Shaphan Gross, Dodge City

Tristen Naninga, Garden City

William Ross, Liberal

Coach Of The Year – Dennis Hamilton, Dodge City

 

 WAC 1^st Team

TarynTemple, Garden City – POY

Katelyn Schumacher, Hays

Jai Chapman, Liberal

Morgan Harwood, Great Bend

Jamie Bernbeck, Garden City

2^nd Team

Ciera Lampe, Dodge City

Alexis Sanchez, Dodge City

Taylor Herman, Hays

Johna McClelland, Garden City

Taryn Stueder, Great Bend

Coach Of The Year – David Upton, Garden City

The Hays High Indian’s boys basketball team won six games last year….that’s right six.  This year they celebrate as sub-state champions and are heading to Topeka for the 5A State Tournament after beating Liberal 73-64 on Saturday night.

Hays never trailed in the game and the game was never tied.

Derek Bixenman hit a three to start the game and Hays led 11-2, in part to four consecutive turnovers by Liberal to start the game.  Leading by 11 late in the first quarter, Liberal’s Blake Stout canned a left corner three at the end of the first quarter bringing the score to 16-8.

The Indians pushed the lead to 12 in the second quarter but a 8-0 J.J. Lewis run brought Liberal within four at 21-17.  Hays responded with a 12-5 run capped with a Lane Clark layup to lad 33-22.  But William Ross banked a three pointer to beat the half time buzzer.

Hays once again pushed the lead to to 12 in the third quarter, but Liberal stormed back with a 10-0 run getting within two at 43-41.  That would the closes the Redskins would get all night.  Hays pushed the lead up to 9 before Lewis got an offensive rebound and scored with one second left in the third quarter cutting the lead to 51-44.

Each team would go on small runs in the fourth quarter, Liberal got with in five at 55-50 before the Indians scored a Brady Werth free throw and then four points on one possession to go up 60-50 with 5:00 remaining.

Liberal then scored six points in the next 55 seconds to get within four, but couldn’t get any closer.

Hays used a 9-0 run to go up 13 points and hit just enough free throws down the stretch to preserve the 73-64 win.

Hays shot 59% (26-44) from the field and 4-14 on threes.  Liberal was 40% (19-47) and made 9 of 21 three pointers including four in a row at one point.

Each team made 15 free throws, Hays on 28 attempts – Liberal on 29 attempts.

Just 14 turnovers on the night for Hays High and 21 for Liberal.

Hays put four in double figures.  Adam Deterding and Lane Clark scored 16 each.  Derek Bixenman had 15 and Brady Werth scored 12.

Liberal was led by JJ Lewis with 22.  William Ross made five three pointers on his way to 18.  Blake Stout scored 12.

Hays is now 14-7 on the year.  Liberal finishes the year 7-14.  It was the third win for Hays versus Liberal.

It is the first trip to the state tournament since 2003 for the Indians.  Liberal qualified last year.

Hays will play Thursday in Topeka.

The Hays High Indian’s Preston Weigel capped off an undefeated season winning the 195 pound weight class.  For Weigel it is his second consecutive state title after finishing runner-up his freshman year.  Now Weigel can add the title of Western Athletic Wrestler Of The Year for 2012-2013 to his already impressive resume.  The Junior finished this year at 46-0.

Kyler Myers was honored as a first team selection in the Western Athletic Conference at 170 pounds.

Except for a four minute span, Hays High and Salina South played even.  But over those four minutes the Lady Indians were outscored 11-0 to end the first half, and lost 42-31 in the first round of the sub-state tournament.  Hays and South tied at two, four and nine points before the decisive eleven point run put the Cougars up 20-9 at half time.  Hays pulled within eight points on two different occasions, but never got any closer.

Hays ends their season at 9-11.  Salina South is 15-5 and will host the sub-state championship game on Friday.

No Indian scored in double figures, as Katelyn Schumacher and Janae Gagnon each scored eight points.

The Indians shot 30.3% (10-33) from the floor and made one of five three point attempts.  Salina South was 13-32 (40.6%) from the floor and four of eleven behind the arc.

Hays hit 7 of 14 free throws, South was 12 of 22.

The Indians say goodbye to seven seniors as Janae Gagnon, Taylor Herman, April Johnson, Megan Bird, Kaitlin Gulley, Katelyn Schumacher and Emily Braun all played their final game for Hays High.

Kirk Maska Postgame 2-27-13

HHS GBB Highlights 2-27-13

 

 

The Hays High Indians had two student-athletes sign their national letter of intent on Wednesday in the school cafeteria.

Hunter Gonzales signed with the Garden City Broncbusters to play football.  Gonzales started the first half of the season on the offensive line before an ankle injury slowed him.  Gonzales narrowed his choices to Bethel, Garden City, and Dodge City before making his final decision.

Hunter Gonzales

 

 

 

Adam Deterding inked his letter with the Kansas State Wildcats Track and Field program.  The Wildcats project Deterding as a decathlete.  Deterding is the two time defending champion in each the high jump and 110 high hurdles entering his senior season, and has been a part of three consecutive state team titles.  Deterding considered offers from Oklahoma, K-State, Pittsburg State, Hutchinson Community College and Wichita State.

Adam Deterding

 

Both Gonzales and Deterding are multiple sport athletes and are currently on the Indian’s basketball team.

Ryan Cornelson

The Hays High wrestling team will make a short road trip for the regional tournament this, traveling only to Great Bend for the state qualifier.  Hays returns two state placers from last year’s team this weekend in Preston Weigel and Kyler Meyers.  Ethan Deterding also placed last year, but has been injured since the Bob Kuhn Prairie Classic and won’t be able to return for this weekend.

Wrestling starts at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday with the top four in each thirteen weight classes advancing to the 5A tournament in Wichita next Friday and Saturday.

Hays will compete with Great Bend, Liberal, Maize South, Newton, Salina Central, Salina South, and Valley Center.

The Hays Indians did have a successful season going 20-9 in duals.  The seniors on this year’s team have been involved in 66 dual wins over their four years.

Hear the comments of coach John Halfiger below:

John Hafliger

David Cardinal and Emilio Mitchell each signed their letter of intent today to play college football.

Cardinal, an 5A all-state selection, inked with Pittsburg State University.  Cardinal, the two-time WAC player of the year, rushed for over 2800 yards in his career scoring 38 rushing touchdowns.  He finished with back to back 1,000 plus yard seasons for Hays High as a starter the past two seasons.  Cardinal is slotted as a running back for the Gorillas.

Mitchell, an 5A all-state selection, signed with Hutchinson Community College.  Mitchell hopes to move on to division one football after his time with the Dragons.  KU has already shown interest in Mitchell at either linebacker or safety.  Mitchell ended his two year career at Hays High with more than 115 career tackles.

David Cardinal

Ryan Cornelson

Emilio Mitchell