The Hays High Indian girl’s soccer team closed out the regular season with their ninth straight win yesterday at home against Salina Central. Hays High’s Taylor Herman tied the game at one in the 32nd minute with her 17th goal of the season on an assist from Lauren Murphy. Four minutes later Murphy kicked in the game winner. The Indians 13-3 record is the best in school history. Seeding meetings for Regionals will be held tomorrow.
Category: Sports
TMP Baseball Wins 19th Straight
FHSU Advances In MIAA Tournament With Win Over Missouri Southern
Sixth-seeded Fort Hays State knocked off the No. 3 seed Missouri Southern by a score of 9-6 on Thursday afternoon in the opening round of the MIAA Baseball Tournament Championship at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan. The Tigers moved to 27-22 overall with the win and advance to the four-team double-elimination format that starts on Thursday. Missouri Southern ended its season at 32-19.
Steve Johnson Postgame Interview
Coach Johnson post game Interview
Game Highlights
FHSU Game Hightlights
With the win, Fort Hays State now plays the top seed Central Missouri on Friday at 11 am. The winner advances to Saturday and the loser will play an elimination game at 6 pm against the loser of No. 2 seed Missouri Western vs. No. 4 seed Washburn.
Fort Hays State jumped on top 1-0 on a Mace Krol RBI double off the center field wall in the third inning, but Missouri Southern took its first lead in the bottom half of that inning, taking advantage of a passed ball that set up a two-RBI single with runners at second and third.
The turning point of the game for the Tigers came in the sixth. Trailing 2-1 with the bases loaded, Chris Santoscoy hit a two-out grounder to third base and JC Ochoa eluded a tag at third base to allow the Tigers to tie the game 2-2. Nash Smith followed with a two-RBI single to give the Tigers the lead back at 4-2.
The Tigers tacked on in the seventh with three more runs. Krol hit his third double of the game and then moved to third on a wild pitch. Brandon Hoefler hit a ball to nearly the left field warning track that the fielder dropped and he motored all the way around to third on the play. Hoefler still picked up the sacrifice fly on the play as Krol would have easily scored. With Hoefler at third, Ochoa hit a blast to left center field over the home bullpen for a two-run homer and extended the FHSU lead to 7-2.
FHSU starter Shawn Lewick finally ran into trouble in the seventh, but Kyle Leroy entered with the bases loaded with one out and limited the damage to just one run in the inning. The run scored on a balk called by the home plate umpire on Leroy’s unorthodox pickoff move.
The Tigers pushed their advantage to 9-3 in the eighth when Brandon Hoefler came through with a two out two-RBI single. He led FHSU in RBI for the game with three.
That would be enough to hold up the rest of the way. Leroy surrendered a solo home run in the eighth and then was responsible for the two runs that scored in the ninth after Brett Macari entered to get the final two outs of the game.
Lewick moved to 7-4 on the season with the win, while Cody Griebling took the loss for Missouri Southern, finishing his year at 9-4.
– FHSU Sports Information –
Five Tigers Land All-MIAA Baseball Honors
The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association released the All-MIAA Baseball Team on Thursday (May 10). Five Fort Hays State players earned honors, led by first-team selections Ryan Busboom and Brett Macari. Nash Smith (second team), Shawn Lewick and Mace Krol (honorable mention) also earned honors.
Busboom earned first team honors in the outfield, a position he converted to this year after playing third base at Barton (Kan.) Community College last year. The Cortland, Neb., native is the top offensive player in the MIAA, leading the conference in home runs (16), RBI (64), total bases (138), slugging percentage (.762), and hits (71) at the end of the regular season. He entered the final week of the season leading the conference in all the triple crown categories, but his batting average dipped to .392 after the final weekend and now ranks fourth in the MIAA in that category. Busboom is also just one off the conference lead in doubles with 17 and ranks in the top 10 in runs scored and on-base percentage. As of May 8, Busboom ranked seventh nationally in home runs and RBI and eighth in slugging percentage and total bases. Busboom was one of three players to earn a unanimous selection to the first team.
Macari is now a two-time All-MIAA selection after earning an honorable mention nod last year at relief pitcher. The Andale, Kan., native earns first team honors this year after being tops among the MIAA saves leaders in ERA (1.44), WHIP (0.80) and opponent batting average (.174). He enters the MIAA Tournament with seven saves, just one off MIAA leader Travis Unthank of Central Missouri who has eight. Macari ranks second all-time in saves at FHSU with 19 after recording 12 last year, which was third-best in a single season at FHSU. Macari is 4-1 in 25.0 innings pitched with 22 strikeouts. Three of his four wins came when he entered with FHSU tied or trailing. He finished all 16 games he’s played in this year.
Smith is now a three-time All-MIAA selection in the outfield, earning second team honors for the second consecutive year. Smith, who is one of the top offensive players in FHSU history, is having another great year. At the end of the regular season slate, the Jewell, Kan., native is tied for the MIAA lead in doubles with 18 and ranks second in runs scored (52), total bases (117). He is tied for second in home runs with Mace Krol, each with 10. Smith also ranks in the top 10 in slugging percentage, RBI, hits, and on-base percentage. Smith was also an honorable mention selection as a sophomore in 2010.
Lewick earned honorable mention honors as a starting pitcher. As the ace of the Tiger rotation, Lewick enters the MIAA Tournament at 6-4 overall with a 3.72 ERA. He has three complete games to his credit, along with 65.1 innings pitched and 53 strikeouts. In his six wins this year, Lewick allowed just one run five times and two once. All of his losses were in games that the opponent scored unearned runs (three of those games the opponent scored two or more unearned runs). The senior from Pretty Prairie, Kan., is in his first and only season with the Tigers after transferring from Kansas State University.
Krol, like Lewick, is in his first and only year with FHSU after transferring from Nicholls State University. He earned honorable mention honors as a designated hitter. Krol is hitting .321 with 11 doubles, 10 home runs and 38 RBI. He is tied for second in the MIAA in home runs with teammate Nash Smith. He also ranks in the top 10 in the MIAA in slugging percentage and total bases. Krol is a native of Nickerson, Kan.
-FHSU Sports Information-
Chen Wins First Game as Royals defeat Red Sox
Chen, the Royals’ opening day starter, picked up his first victory of the season Wednesday night as Kansas City held off the Boston Red Sox 4-3.
Alcides Escobar drove in the go-ahead run as the Royals solved Jon Lester for the first time in a while. Jonathan Broxton worked around a leadoff single and walk in the ninth inning for his seventh save in eight opportunities.
The Royals were winless in Chen’s first six starts this year, although he had been pitching deep into games.
“You try not to think about it,” Chen said. “You try not to let it bother you, but at the end of the day you have no wins and it’s almost the middle of May.
“I know I’ve been pitching well. I didn’t worry. I didn’t try to do too much. I trust my stuff, my teammates. Today was a huge win. Even though it’s in the win column for me, but I feel like the whole team contributed.”
The Royals finished 4-3 on their homestand against Boston and the New York Yankees. The Red Sox have lost seven of eight.
Chen (1-4) gave up three runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out five and walking none.
“That’s the first time in a long time I felt like we were firing on all cylinders, facing a guy that’s been extremely tough on us,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.
“Clutch hitting, clutch pitching. I thought Bruce threw a tremendous game. They had seven hits and five were off the end of the bat or jam shots that just found holes or hit the line. And to get four runs off Jon Lester was huge. It was good to finally beat him. He’s a guy who has handled us for a long time,” he said.
The Royals beat Lester (1-3) for the first time since Aug. 8, 2006. The left-hander came into the game with a 5-1 record and 1.30 ERA in seven career starts against Kansas City, including a no-hitter in 2008.
Escobar’s double in the fourth Irving Falu, who led off the inning with a double, to put the Royals ahead 4-3.
Lester’s pitch count rose early with a 38-pitch first inning, but 12 of those were after center fielder Marlon Byrd’s error led to three unearned runs.
Lester was pulled after 108 pitches and five innings, giving up four runs on six hits and a walk.
In the first inning, Byrd misjudged Johnny Giavotella’s two-out liner and the ball ricocheted off his glove as he jumped for it. The misplay allowed Billy Butler, who had walked, to score.
Brayan Pena then hit a two-run double to left-center that Cody Ross nearly caught. Ross had his glove on the ball, but it came loose and hit the wall. Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine debated Ross held onto the ball long enough — the umpires held a conference on the field, but did not change the ruling.
“It hit his glove, then popped out and bounced off the wall,” Valentine said. “It’s not a catch unless you get it out of the glove voluntarily.”
“The ball on Marlon really took off on him. It was tough on Jon — they scored three runs. Cody went a long way, caught it and popped out of his glove. He’s frustrated. He battled. He wanted to go out and pitch the sixth.”
Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run double in the Boston third, driving in Byrd, Ryan Sweeney and Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia’s single extended his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games.
— Associated Press —
INTERVIEW: Kansas Football Coach Made Stop in Hays
The University of Kansas Athletic Department and head football coach Charlie Weis are barnstorming across the state of Kansas on Wednesday to talk with alumni and supporters. We got Weis’ thoughts on the University of Kansas and what to except from the football program this season and beyond under Weis and his staff.
Segment No. 1
Charlie Weis – 1st Segment
Segment No.2
Charlie Weis – 2nd Segment
Butler’s 3-run Shot Lifts Royals Over Red Sox
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Billy Butler isn’t the fastest guy on the base paths by any stretch, so the chances of him hitting into a double play are pretty good if he puts the ball on the ground.Maybe that’s why he was so keen on popping a pitch over the outfield wall instead.
The lumbering designated hitter’s three-run shot in the eighth inning Tuesday night boosted the Kansas City Royals a 6-4 victory over the Red Sox, putting them in position to finish a seven-game homestand against Boston and the New York Yankees with a winning record.
“The way things have been going, we haven’t been coming back in games. Hopefully that gets us going,” Butler said. “Hopefully we can feed off that.”
Chris Getz and Humberto Quintero also drove in runs for the Royals, who overcame another lousy performance by their starting pitcher to pick up a confidence-boosting win.
Daniel Bard (2-4) walked Jarrod Dyson and Alex Gordon to start the eighth before giving way to reliever Matt Albers. His third pitch to Butler was right in his wheelhouse, and Butler sent it soaring into the fountains beyond the left-field wall.
It was his sixth homer of the year.
“It was huge,” Royals manager Ned Yost said afterward.
Kelvin Herrera and Jose Mijares (2-1) had kept Kansas City in the game after Danny Duffy lasted just 4 1-3 innings. Jonathan Broxton worked the ninth for his sixth save.
“It was my worst outing of the year,” Duffy said. “My teammates had my back the whole time and Billy hit that bomb, I was the happiest guy in the world.”
Dustin Pedroia had two RBIs and Kelly Shoppach also drove in a run as Boston lost for the sixth time in seven games, two of those defeats coming in extra innings.
Bard ended up with a memorable line: He gave up five runs on six hits and four walks, while also throwing a wild pitch and getting called for two balks during the same at-bat.
“It was really weird,” he said. “I can’t remember the last time I balked in my life, ever. I don’t think I’ve done it in the big leagues.”
Boston rookie Will Middlebrooks followed up his two-homer, five-RBI game in the series opener with a double in the second inning, joining Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter as the only players since at least 1920 to record an extra-base hit in each of their first five major league games.
Marlon Byrd and Shoppach added back-to-back two-out singles to drive in Middlebrooks, who felt tightness in his left hamstring and left the game between half innings. Duffy proceeded to walk Mike Aviles and Pedroia to give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead.
Kansas City answered with three runs in the bottom half of the second inning.
Eric Hosmer singled and Jeff Francoeur drew a walk before Mike Moustakas grounded out to second base, hustling down the line to avoid the double play. That’s when Bard was hit with his first balk, which allowed Hosmer to score and sent Moustakas to second base.
Bard argued vehemently with plate umpire Tim Tschida to no avail.
The young right-hander really got riled up when he stepped off the rubber and tried to chase Moustakas back to second base. Bard was hit with another balk, allowing Moustakas to reach third, and the mistake proved critical when Getz’s single tied the game.
“They probably get one or two either way,” Bard said. “I just tried to settle back in. I knew I was still making good pitches. I wasn’t going to let that take me out of my game completely.”
Quintero’s two-out base hit gave Kansas City the lead, but the plodding catcher — with one career stolen base — ended the inning when he was thrown out trying to swipe second.
Duffy could have used some more support the way he was going.
Pedroia knotted the game in the fourth with a single, and the Red Sox pulled ahead in the fifth thanks to more erratic pitching and some lousy Kansas City defense.
Adrian Gonzalez doubled and Nick Punto walked with one out, and Duffy was yanked for reliever Kelvin Herrera. He got Ryan Sweeney to ground into what should have been an inning-ending double play, but Getz threw wide of Hosmer at first base, allowing Gonzalez to score.
The Red Sox remained in front until Butler’s game-changing homer.
“I’m just going to let Big Bill do what Big Bill does,” Yost said, “hit one in the gap — and he did a little more than that.”
– Associated Press –
HHS Baseball Sweeps Liberal
The Hays High baseball team bounced back from their loss to Goddard in the title game of the Western Plains Diamond Classic with a pair of run-rule win in Liberal Tuesday. The Indians defeat the Redskins 10-0 and 13-3, both in five innings. Hays improves to 18-2 and 6-0 in the Western Athletic Conference. They close out the regular season with a makeup doubleheader in Dodge City Friday.
Game 1: Hays 10, Liberal 0 (5 innings)
Tyler Wooldridge pitches a complete game four-hitter, striking out five while walking none to move to 4-0.
Hayden Hutchison went 3-for-3 with a double and four RBI.
The Indians led 3-0 then scored two in the 4th and five in the 5th to blow the game open.
Game 2: Hays 13, Liberal 3 (5 innings)
The Indians jumped out to a 12-0 lead after 3 1/2 innings.
Josh Heifner allowed three runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings for his second win of the season (2-1). He allowed 3 runs on 6 hits while striking out six and walking three.
Austin Unrein had three this and three RBI’s. Jake Sedbrook also drove in three while Hayden Hutchison had two doubles.
HHS Softball Splits In Garden City, Loses WAC Title
The Hays High softball team comes up short in their bid for a share of the Western Athletic Conference title after splitting their doubleheader in Garden City Tuesday. The Indians win the opener 6-2 but lose the second game 4-3 and finish the regular season 18-2 and 6-2 in the WAC.
Game 1: Hays 6, Garden City 2
The Indians trailed 2-0 before scoring three in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh.
Hays tied it on a Paige Lunsford single then took the lead on a Makenzie Flaska single.
Katelyn Schumacher, Shea Briggs and Hannah Hearld all had two hits in the game with Schumacher driving in two.
Hannah Hearld picks up the win (12-1), allowing just one earned run on three hits while striking out four and walking one.
Game 2: Garden City 4, Hays 3
Paige Lunsford’s three-run first inning homer gave the Indians the early lead. The Buffs scored one in the first them tied the game with two unearned runs in the third.
Garden City took the lead for good on a fifth inning solo homer off of Makenzie Flaska who takes the loss in relief.
Starter Hannah Hearld goes 4.0 innings and allows three runs on six hits.
HHS Girls’ Soccer Runs Win Streak To Eight With Overtime Win
The Hays High girls’ soccer team ran their win streak to eight with a 2-1 overtime win over Newton Tuesday at the Hays High Field.
Taylor Herrman scored her 16th goal of the season to tie the game in the 52nd minute. Shelby Dinkel scored the game winner in the 93rd minute.
The Indians are now 12-3. They close out the regular season at home Thursday against Salina Central.
HHS Boys Golfers 4th At Liberal Invite
The Hays High boys golf team wrapped up their regular season with a fourth place finish at the Liberal Invitational Tuesday at the Willow Tree GC.
The Indians shot a 339, 48 shots behind first placeDodge City. Nobody for the Indians placed in the top-10. They were led by Lane Clark’s 10-over 82.
The Indians finish third in the final Western Athletic Conference standings. Aaron Stewart was named honorable mention.
Holub Lands on All-Region Second Team
Fort Hays State junior pitcher Maddie Holub picked up another postseason honor on Tuesday, being named to the Daktronics All-South Central Region second team. This is the second All-Region selection for Holub, who was a second team pick in 2010 as a utility player.
Holub was named to the All-MIAA first team as a pitcher after leading the conference and ranking fifth in NCAA Division II in strikeouts with 306. She was twice named the MIAA Pitcher of the Week and won the Louisville Slugger Division II National Pitcher of the Week award for the week of April 16-22. Holub struck out 10 or more batters 16 times this season, including a school-record 16 strikeouts on three occasions. She also threw the fifth no-hitter in FHSU softball history, and first of her career, against Northwest Missouri State on April 17.
After three seasons with the Tigers, Holub has already firmly cemented herself into the record books. This year she set single-season records for strikeouts (306), wins (19) and saves (4) and she currently holds FHSU career records for strikeouts (629) and home runs (27). Holub also led the Tiger offense, hitting a team-high .361 with 57 hits and 10 home runs.
In addition to the All-MIAA and All-Region honors, Holub was named to the Academic All-District team last week and she is now on the ballot to become an Academic All-American.
2012 Daktronics Softball South Central Region
Player of the Year
Kacie Edwards, Central Oklahoma
Pitcher of the Year
Jackie Bishop, Missouri Western St
First Team
C Nathalie Timmermans, Central Oklahoma
1B Emily Kennemer, East Central
2B DeeshanaLynn Tafiti, Angelo State
SS Bailey Vrazel, Texas Woman’s
3B Kacie Edwards, Central Oklahoma
OF Courtney Bingham, Midwestern State
OF Kayce Raines, Central Oklahoma
OF Addison Staley, Texas Woman’s
UT Katie Hines, Texas Woman’s
DP Stephanie Goodwin, Emporia State
P Jackie Bishop, Missouri Western State
P Claire Molina, Angelo State
P Kayla Jackson, Arkansas-Monticello
Second Team
C Kacie Easley, Angelo State
1B Megan Whitmire, Central Oklahoma
1B Tricia Vogel, Emporia State
2B Brittany Weaver, Central Oklahoma
SS Amanda (Mannie) DeCastro, Pittsburg State
3B Elsamartina Apo, Angelo State
OF Bridget Schade, Truman State
OF Morgan Spearman, Angelo State
OF Julie Cross, Oklahoma Panhandle State
UT Katie Welborn, Tarleton State
DP Tiffany Brown, Pittsburg State
P Maddie Holub, Fort Hays State
P Samantha Swanda, Tarleton State
P Emily Brittain, State Mary’s
Early Hole Too Big For Royals To Dig Out Of In Loss To Boston
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jonathan Sanchez had ample opportunity to ponder his start Monday night, and the beleaguered Royals starter came to the conclusion that he didn’t pitch that badly against the Boston Red Sox.
Despite allowing a three-run homer to Will Middlebrooks in the first inning. And a solo shot to David Ortiz in the third. And being responsible for the first six runs in an 11-5 loss.
“What happened today, I didn’t think I got hit pretty well,” said Sanchez, who was pulled from the game without retiring a batter in the third inning.
“I made a good pitch to the guy who hit the three-run home run. When he hit it, he didn’t know where it was. He got lucky,” Sanchez said. “After that, the home run Ortiz hit and that was it. I pretty much made good pitches.”
Sanchez allowed six hits and issued three walks against the Red Sox, who snapped a five-game skid despite playing 17 innings the previous night against Baltimore.
The former San Francisco Giants starter hasn’t gone past five innings in his last five starts dating to last season, and is at least partly responsible for this fact: Kansas City starters have averaged fewer than five innings per start, by far the worst in the majors.
“Starting pitching sets the tone,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Sanchez once again really struggled to command his fastball. His secondary stuff was decent enough. He got his pitch count way up early. They put four spot on him in the first inning. It was just a struggle for him.”
Middlebrooks added a two-run homer in the eighth inning, when the Red Sox broke open the game, and Dustin Pedroia also went deep as the team piled up 16 hits.
Middlebrooks, called up last week when Kevin Youkilis went on the disabled list, became the first player in Red Sox history with at least one extra-base hit in each of his first four major league games. He also hit a grand slam against Baltimore on Sunday.
“I just tried to carry over the way I started out this year,” he said.
Felix Doubront (2-1) allowed all five Kansas City runs over 6 1-3 innings, giving the Red Sox bullpen a much-needed rest. Boston used up every available arm against the Orioles, forcing left-fielder Darnell McDonald to finish the 9-6 defeat.
Doubront left protecting a two-run cushion with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, but Vincente Padilla got Billy Butler to chop into an inning-ending double-play to preserve the lead, and the Red Sox added four more runs in the eighth to put it away.
Padilla wrapped up the game for the 34-year-old’s sixth career save.
“He did a great job to save me,” Doubront said.
Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine refused to make any roster moves to bolster the bullpen after their marathon at Fenway Park, reasoning that nobody deserved to get sent to the minors.
Doubront wasn’t great, but he gave Valentine enough.
The left-hander got into trouble every inning but the fourth, yet he somehow managed to limit the damage each time. Doubront allowed seven hits and three walks.
Of course, it’s easier to pitch with a lead.
Adrian Gonzalez gave him that with an RBI single in the first, but Middlebrooks piled on moments later when he belted a three-run shot that just skirted the right-field foul pole.
Kansas City got half of the runs back on an RBI groundout by Brayan Pena and a sacrifice fly by Chris Getz, but the Royals repeatedly failed to put together a big inning.
Ortiz homered to right field in the third inning. Kelly Shoppach led off the fourth with his first career triple, chasing Sanchez from the game, and Pedroia greeted reliever Nate Adcock by pounding a two-run homer into the seats in right-center field.
The Royals still trailed 7-4 when Doubront came out for the seventh inning.
He allowed a leadoff single by Pena, and one-out base hits by Alcides Escobar and Jarrod Dyson before getting Alex Gordon into an 0-2 hole. The Royals’ left-fielder managed to work back for a full-count walk, bringing in a run and chasing Doubront from the game.
That’s when Padilla took care of Butler with a chopping double-play groundout.
Boston piled on in the eighth inning.
Pedroia walked and Ortiz was put on base intentionally, and Cody Ross brought them home with a double to center. That’s when Middlebrooks sent a pitch from reliever Tim Collins down the left-field line, the ball bouncing off the opposite foul pole from his first home run.
Boston was on cruise control after that.
“I’m proud of these guys, taking that flight here after that game last night,” Valentine said. “I know we’re talking about small victories, but it’s not easy to do what they did.”
– Associated Press –