Abby Dart is regarded as one of the best pitchers in the state of Kansas.  Thursday versus TMP she showed why.  Dart allowed just one hit and walked four batter in a 6-0 shut-out win of the TMP Monarchs.  Those numbers though were not the most eye popping.  Of the 21 outs in the seven inning game, 20 of them came from strike outs.

Bailey Lacy was the only player to record a hit in game one when she opened the second inning with a double.  Lacy was also the only out that was not via a strikeout when she popped out in the fourth.  Alison Helgit held Garden City to just six runs on five hits.  Just two of those runs though were earned as the committed four errors in the loss.

In game two, Garden City put up seven runs in the first five innings before TMP scored.  The Monarchs notched two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth for the final 7-3 score.  TMP had the bases loaded in the sixth inning with nobody out, but managed just the one run.  Allison Helget, Emily Schulte, and Anna Gottchalk each scored a run in the loss.  TMP was held to just three hits in the second game.

The Monarchs fall to 1-3 on the season.  They will play Colby on Monday.

In just the second game of the 2017 season, Grant Coffman put on a pitching performance that will go down in Hays High history.  Coffman faced 21 Russell Broncos and retired all 21.  That is perfection.  He used just 61 pitches to create the seven inning masterpiece.  Five Broncos were retired by strikeout, eleven from ground outs and five via fly outs or lineout.  Only seven at-bats went past three pitches.

The effort was backed by six runs from the Indian’s offense in the 6-0 victory.  After being held scoreless in the first three innings, Hays scratched across a run in the fourth inning.  What proved to be the go-ahead and winning run also came from Coffman.  Singling with one out, the game’s starting pitcher stole second base, moved to third on a ground out, then scored on a wild pitch.  The Indians would not score again until the bottom of the sixth inning when they scored five additional runs.

Coffman’s perfect game followed a Tyrone Wynn and Cole Murphy combined shutout victory in game one against the Broncos.  Wynn picked up the victory throwing five innings allowing four hits and just one walk while striking out seven.  Cole Murphy pitched the sixth in the 10-0 run rule victory.

Hays led just 1-0 through the first four innings when the Indians struck for seven runs.  During the fifth inning, 12 batters went to the plate collecting six hits and three walks.  The Indians added two more runs in the sixth to end the game.

Hays opens the season at 2-0 and returns to action on Tuesday as they open Western Athletic Conference play against Dodge City at Hays High School.

By JEREMY McGUIRE
Hays Post

Hays High 1, Andover Central 0 2OT

McPHERSON, Kan.-For the second straight night the Hays High Lady Indians’ Soccer Team found themselves playing extra soccer at the 11th Annual McPherson Invitational Tournament. This time they finished the match before it headed to penalty kicks.  With 2:25 remaining in the second overtime Lanie Schmidt was in the right place at the right time as a Sydney Sulzman cross from the right side deflected off the goalie and Schmidt punched it in for the game winner.

It was a rough match for both teams as yellow cards were handed out like candy including to some unlikely candidates for Hays High.  Just over 11 minutes into the second half the head referee warned both teams which made the tension pretty thick in McPherson.  The Lady Indians would play strong down the stretch to pick up their second straight win.

Hays High takes 5th Place with the victory and improves to 3-1 on the season.  They will travel to Dodge City on Tuesday to open up Western Athletic Conference play against the Red Demons.

SILAS HIBBS INTERVIEW

By JEREMY McGUIRE
Hays Post

Hays High 4, Salina South 2

MCPHERSON, Kan-It took the Hays High Lady Indians’ Soccer Team two overtimes plus penalty kicks to outlast Salina South 4-2 in the consolation semi-finals at the McPherson Invitational Tournament.  After trailing 1-0 early Hays High fought back with a game tying goal in the 57th minute by Sydney Sulzman on an assist from Maddie Keller. The two teams were scoreless the rest of regulation.

They battled hard in the two five minute overtime periods which were also scoreless.  That sent the match to penalty kicks which were dominated by Hays High.  Lanie Schmidt, Courtney Molleker and Tressa Becker all scored on their attempts while the Lady Cougars connected on only one.

Hays High improves to 2-1 on the season and will play Andover Central in the 5th Place game at 4pm Friday in McPherson.

McPHERSON, Kan. – The Hays High girls’ soccer team lost 3-0 to Maize South in the first round of the McPherson Invitational Tuesday night in McPherson.

Maize South broke a scoreless tie on header off a corner kick with 27:12 to play. The goal was followed by a a nearly hour lightning delay.

The Indians play again Thursday at 4pm.