The Hays High School baseball team had to bounce back after two tough losses against the Clay Center Tigers on the road, and they did just what they had to do, combining for 24 runs on the day and getting two wins against Dodge City on Tuesday, April 22.
Game #1: Hays 13 – Dodge City 3
The first game had the bats going early, as the game was tied 3-3 after the first inning, but the Indians went up with seven runs in the next two innings to take a lead that they held onto for the rest of the game.
Dodge City only had two hits in the whole game and could not quite get back in it. Hays High added two more runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth to get the run-rule victory.
Hays High had many notable performances in game one. Senior Johnny Cano led the Indians in runs and RBIs with three each, and two other players finished with multiple RBIs. Senior Carter Graham, junior Brett Rhoades and senior Landon Hardman each had two runs and hits. On the day, Hays High had 10 hits and nine RBIs, and the pitching did not allow any earned runs and combined for five strikeouts.
The Red Demons only had two hits, one by Reis Ochs and the other by Max Gonzales.
Game #2: Hays 11 – Dodge City 6
In Game 2, the Indians wasted no time, scoring all 11 of their runs in the first three innings. Against two different Dodge City pitchers, every Indian batter put the ball in play, and Hays High also had 15 hits in the first three innings.
Dodge City did give up, though, as they tried to come back scoring four runs in the fourth inning and could only score two more in the final inning, as Hays High got the win in the game and the doubleheader and got the sweep of the season series.
Senior Carter Graham was the leader for Hays High in every batting category with three runs, hits, and RBIs. Junior Brett Rhoades also finished with three hits, and there were five additional players for Hays High with multiple hits, and the Indians combined for 17 hits total. The Indians pitching also had a big game with only four hits and two earned runs allowed, and they also had six strikeouts.
All of Dodge City’s players that accounted for their six runs and four hits got one each.
The two wins improved Hays High’s conference record to 7-1, and after suffering two losses in the De Soto Invitational against Spring Hill and Piper on April 25, the Indians currently sit at 8-6 on the season. The Indians are back in action on Thursday, May 1 for a doubleheader at home against Liberal.
