For the first time this season, the Hays Larks have dropped back-to-back games. Wellington starter Derek Fischer held Hays to one run on seven hits in a complete game effort, leading the Heat to a 4-1 victory Sunday night at Larks Park. The loss drops the Larks to 19-5 overall and 13-4 in the Jayhawk League. Wellington wins their third straight and improves to 14-9 overall and 10-9 in the Jayhawk League. The Larks will try to avoid the series sweep in the finale Monday night at 7pm which can be heard on KAY (1400AM) and online at www.hayspost.com.

Frank Leo Postgame Interview

The Heat used a leadoff triple and RBI single to take a 1-0 lead in the first. They would add another run in the third before the Larks cut the lead in half on Brent Gillespie’s RBI single, scoring Clayton Garland in the fourth.

The Larks wasted a chance to tie the game in the sixth. Jake Placzek doubled with one out and moved to third on a Garland groundout. Taylor Peterson was hit by a pitch, but Gillespie flied out to right field to end the threat. The Larks never moved a runner past first base the rest of the way.

Game Highlights

Starter Chandler Hawkins (4-1) suffers his first loss of the season, allowing all three runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking just one.

The Hays Larks used three solo home runs to battle back from an early three-run deficit, but Wellington answered with two in the seventh and one in the eighth and defeats the Larks 6-5 in the first game of their three-game Jayhawk League series at Larks Park. The loss ends Hays’ four-game win streak and drops their record to 19-4 and 13-4 in league play. The Heat improve to 13-9 and 9-9 in league play.

Coach Leo Post Game Interview

Jason Zgardowski (3-1) struggled early, giving up three runs, one earned, in the first inning. The right hander from Midland Community College then held the Heat scoreless until the seventh when they scored twice to break the 3-3 tie.

The Larks lose despite hitting four home runs, giving them seven in their last two games. Jake Placzek’s solo shot in the fourth got them on the board. Brett Lang and Cody Daily hit back-to-back shots in the fifth to tie the game 3-3. Down to their final out, Daily hit a two-run blast to left to pull Hays within a run. Desmond Roberts would ground out to first to end the rally and the game.

Game Highlights

The two play the middle game of the series Sunday night at 7pm. You can hear the game on KAYS (1400-AM) and on-line at www.hayspost.com.

Logan DeRosier and Nick Goza combined on a two-hit shutout and the Larks used three, two-run homers to power their way to a 19-0 victory over the Boulder Collegians Thursday night at Larks Park. The Larks sweep the two-game non-league series and improve to 19-0. Boulder falls to 12-17. The Larks are off Friday before hosting the Wellington Heat in a three-game series beginning Saturday.

Frank Leo Postgame

DeRosier (1-1) allowed just two hits over five innings and picks up the win. Nick Goza followed with two perfect innings of relief in the game called after seven innings.

Desmond Roberts and Brent Gillespie hit a pair of two-run shots in the Larks four-run second. Mackenzie Handel hit a two-run homer in their four-run third. Hays scored seven in the fourth, two on bases loaded walks and another on a bases loaded wild pitch, then added four more in the sixth.

Handel, who had just one hit in his prior 12 at-bats, finished 2-for-5 with a home run and a double and drove in four. Jake Plazcek had four hits and knocked in two. Former Larks player and current assistant coach Dusty Washburn had a pair of doubles and drove in two and is now 5-for-5 over the last three seasons.

Mackenzie Handel Postgame

Notes: Former TMP-Marian Monarch and current Fort Hays State Tiger Nick Hammeke had one of the Collegians two hits with a second inning single… Great Bend native and current Barton CC pitcher Mitch Kottas made the start for Boulder and allowed 11 runs on 10 runs over 3 1/3 innings… The Larks continue their seven-game homestand Saturday with the first of three against Wellington… Saturday’s game is the annual Larkstoberfest/Oldtimers Night. All former Larks players are encourage all former Larks in the area to attend. T-shirts for the old timers will be provided by Phaze 2.  Polka Music provided by Joe Dolezal. Brats, bierocks, noodles and beans and Kuchen will be sold under the Big Tent in the left field corner. Entertainment and food will start at 5:30.

The Larks are off Friday efore opening a three-game series with the Wellington Heat tomorrow. It’s also Larkstoberfest and Oldtimers Night with free admission courtesy of M&D Excavating, Log-Tech and Phaze 2.

Five Hays Larks pitchers combined to allow one run on two hits as the Larks knock off the Boulder Collegians 7-1 in the first of a two-game non-league series at Larks Park Wednesday night. It’s the Larks third straight win and improves them to 18-3 on the season. The two teams close out the series Thursday at 7pm. Admission is free courtesy of Horizon Appliance and Electronics and Crawford Supply.

Frank Leo Postgame

Starter Kyle Krings gave up back-to-back singles to start the game and would walk in the Collegians only run later in the inning. He would leave the bases loaded and proved to be the Collegians only threat as Brandon Anderson, Alex Frey, Ian Bentley and DJ Carr held them hitless over the final seven innings.

Anderson (2-0) gets the win in his first action since June 7th. The freshman from Arizona Western, who is coming back from an arm injury, pitched three innings, striking out two and walking none.

Clayton Garland tied the game in the first with an RBI double and Brent Gillespie gave them the lead for good with an RBI single in the third and would drive in two on the night. Mackenzie Handel and Brett Lang would also drive in runs as the Larks move to 11-1 at home.

Former TMP-Marian Monarch and current Fort Hays State Tiger Nick Hammeke pitched 1 1/3 innings for the Collegians, allowing one run on two hits.

Jeff Chesnut allowed one run over seven innings as he picks up his second win of the season, leading the Hays Larks to a 7-1 victory over Dodge City Tuesday night at Larks Park. The Nebraska product struck out three and walked one moving to 2-1 on the year. Dalton Viner and David Owen each pitched a perfect inning of relief as the Larks move to 17-3 overall and 13-3 in the Jayhawk League.

Frank Leo Postgame

Clayton Garland, Brett Lang and Desmond Roberts all had two hits with Garland and Lang both driving in two.

Jake Placzek gave them a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the fourth. Hays would score three in the fifth on a Mackenzie Handel groundout and a Brett Lang two-run double. Clayton Garland knocked in two runs with a single in the sixth then Zair Koeiman closed out the scoring with a sac fly in the seventh.

The Larks continue their season-long seven-game homestand on Wednesday in a non-league games with the Boulder Collegians. First pitch at 7pm with free admission courtesy of Western Beverage and Emprise Bank.

Jayhawk League scores from Tuesday…
Derby 14, Wellington 3
Liberal 10, Boulder 3

After playing four of their last five in the road, the Hays Larks are back at home Tuesday night to open a seven-game homestand, taking on Dodge City.

The Larks took two of three in Derby over the weekend to move to 16-3 overall and 12-3 in Jayhawk League play where they had a four-game lead over El Dorado entering play Monday.

The A’s sit in last place at 9-11 overall and 4-9 in league play with two of those losses coming at the hands of the Larks. They are coming off a good weekend, winning two of three in El Dorado.

Seven o’clock start at Larks Park with free admission thanks to Insurance Planning and Commerce Bank.

A reminder that you can hear fall three of the Wellington games this Saturday, Sunday and Monday on KAYS (1400-AM) and streamed live on https://www.hayspost.com/14-kays-stream/. Admission to Sunday’s game is free courtesy of Eagle Radio.