HAYS – Ellinwood pitcher Tyler Stuhlsatz threw effectively, but four unearned runs cost the Eagles in a 4-1 opening loss to Hays-Thomas More Prep. The Monarchs swept Thursday’s doubleheader 17-7.
TMP 4, ELLINWOOD 1 (G1) – Stuhlsatz was brilliant with eight strikeouts, but two defensive plays cost the Eagles. Stuhlsatz struck out Jace Wentling for the potential third out, but the baseball escaped catcher Alek Brack. Nick Helget singled home Wentling for a third-inning run.
Ellinwood’s Gage Hosman walked and scored on a fifth-inning stolen base for a 1-1 tie after five innings.
A two-out sixth-inning proved costly. Caden Morgan and Bryce Conner scored on a two-out error and Wentling’s single scored Joseph Mindrup for three unearned runs.
TMP 17, ELLINWOOD 7 (G2) – Bryce Conner drove home three runs and Wentling and Mindrup had two RBIs apiece for the Monarchs (6-2). Caden Morgan and Mark Rack each delivered three hits.
Ellinwood (0-8) scored a season high seven runs. Brack, Bryan Jaske, Mason Moore and Koy Behnke drove in first-inning runs as Parker Scheck, Brack, Stuhlsatz and Jaske scored runs. Stuhlsatz drove home Scheck on a grounder after Scheck’s second-inning double.
Ellinwood’s Mason Moore scored on a fifth-inning error and Behnke scored on Trey Schofield’s single.
Ellinwood 000 010 0 – 1 1 2
TMP 001 003 x – 4 8 1
Stuhlsatz and Brack. Wentling, Rack (6) and Morgan, Wentling (6). L—Stuhlsatz. 2B—TMP—Irvin
Ellinwood 410 02 – 7 10 3
TMP 252 35 – 17 12 2
Scheck, Brack (2), Jaske (4), Moore (5) and Jaske. L—Scheck. WB—E—Scheck; TMP—Conner. 3B—TMP—Mindrup
