BY JIM MISUNAS
When Great Bend coach Roger Ward sees the Hays Larks, it brings back all the memories of playing summer baseball for the Larks.
It was all good Thursday night when Ward renewed acquaintances with longtime Hays Larks coach Frank Leo.
Shutout relief for 42/3 innings by Matt Nedved and George Austin locked down a 5-3 Bat Cats victory over the Larks at the Great Bend Sports Complex. Hays will seek revenge when the teams meet Friday night at Hays.
The showdown between the two programs developed into an instant classic with a “Little League home run,” spectacular Bat Cats defense, three errors and a crucial balk by the Larks.
The Bat Cats roared to a 4-0 lead, thanks to a series of Larks’ misplays.
Bat Cats sparkplug Kyle Gates singled and raced around the bases when Hays pitcher Brayden Luikart threw a fourth-inning groundball by Connor Allen halfway to his home state of Missouri. Allen rumbled around the bases and scored when the relay throw was also thrown away.
A double steal by Riley Silva and Alex Rodgers enabled Silva to trot home on a fifth-inning balk. Rodgers scored on a Gates single for a 4-0 lead.
Bat Cats starter Ian Lanik recorded the first 15 outs, thanks to a dazzling double play from second baseman Hunter Gotreaux and shortstop Raithen Malone. Lanik and catcher Connor Allen both played baseball at Barton Community College.
“I was aggressive with the fastball,” Lanik said. “They were swinging the bats. Our defense kept me in the game. Having Connor Allen behind the plate made me comfortable.”
Hays ended Lanik’s night in the sixth inning. Jack Torosian and Austen Jaslove delivered RBI singles to score Ben Fierenzl and Hunter Rosson. Torosian scored on Tyler LaRue’s fly ball for a 4-3 score.
Hays native Brady Kreutzer secured hometown bragging rights with a clutch RBI single that scored Simon Larranaga in the sixth inning for a 5-3 Bat Cats lead.
Barton’s Nedved worked 22/3 innings of shutout relief. He retired Fierenzl and Rosson to strand two baserunners in the seventh inning. Centerfielder Rodgers saved the ballgame with a diving catch on a Jaslove eighth-inning fly ball. Nedved struck out LaRue and Cade Brown to finish in style.
Austin from Northeast Texas Community College recorded the final three outs in the ninth inning.
The first 41/2 innings took 50 minutes. The next two innings required an hour. It was that type of night.
Hays Larks 000 030 000 – 3 8 3
Bat Cats 002 210 00x – 5 9 1
Luke ter Beek, Luikart (4), Puett (5), Grimsley (6), Parker (7) and LaRue. Lanik, Nedved (6), Austin (9) and Allen. W—Lanik, 1-0. L—Luikart, 0-1. SV—Austin. 2B—BC—Mustow; H—Jaslove.
