By Jim Misunas
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

LARNED — Larned’s Landon Erway played the role of Superman against the Mid Central All-Stars.
Erway pitched a complete-game victory, hustled for an inside-the-park homer and tripled home Larned’s game-winning run in a 2-1 baseball victory over the Mid Central All-Stars from Lyons and Little River Tuesday.
Larned left fielder Gage Skelton preserved the 2-1 victory by throwing out Grady Kirkhart at home plate to end the ballgame. Kirkhart’s double scored Jose Arriola in the seventh inning. Dalton Arnold singled with two out, but Kirkhart was thrown out at home.
“We have not played very good baseball at times this summer, but we played high quality baseball that first game,” said Larned coach Chad Erway. “Mid Central had a good bunch of baseball players. We just have not put quality baseball games together.”
Larned’s American Legion baseball team split the doubleheader, losing 10-0 in the second game. Larned (11-9) plays Buhler at Hutchinson Wednesday and returns home July 13 against Dodge City.
Erway raced around the bases for a third-inning home run to center field off losing pitcher Cardall Moore. Erway tripled home Mason Schartz after a fifth-inning single.
Erway and Schartz each had two hits. Johnathon Herter and Brayden Smith each had one hit. Smith had three stolen bases, but was thrown out at home in the sixth inning.
Erway yielded four hits and benefited from solid Larned defense. Second baseman Evan Skelton threw out Kyler Cox at first base in the third inning. Cardell Moore was thrown out on the bases in the fourth inning. Evan Skelton threw out Jeb Sauer in the fifth inning.

MID CENTRAL 10, LARNED 0
Mid Central scored 10 runs on five hits and benefited from seven Larned errors in a 10-run fourth inning off pitchers Herter and Gage Skelton. The inning ended on a double play started by second baseman Landon Erway. Larned turned three double plays in the ballgame.
The first 10 Mid Central baserunners reached base and scored runs in the fourth inning. Dalton Arnold, Dakota Nave, Kyler Cox, Riley Kirkhart, Tyler Edwards and Jeb Sauer were credited with runs batted in.
Erway doubled and Schartz singled for Larned’s base hits. Larned loaded the bases in the first inning, but Isiah Perez grounded into a double play. Two runners reached base in the fourth and fifth innings.
Larned will compete July 20-23 in Class AA Zone at Ellis with Pratt Skyline, Hoisington and Ulysses. The winner qualifies for Class AA State July 27-Aug. 2 at Colby.

LARNED 2, MID CENTRAL 1
Mid Central        000 000 1 — 1 4 1  
Larned               001 010 x — 2 6 2
Moore and Nave. Erway and Stelter. W—Erway. L—Moore.  2B—MC, Grady Kirkhart. 3B—Larned, Erway. HR—Larned, Erway.

MID CENTRAL 10, LARNED 0
Mid Central       000 (10)0 — 10 6 3
Larned              000   0  0 —  0  2 7
Douglas, Harvey (3), Sauer (7) and Nave. Herter, Gage Skelton (4) and Stelter. W—Harvey. L—Gage Skelton. 2B—MC, Cox; Larned, Erway. 3B—MC, Cox.