Going into Wednesday’s doubleheader at the Great Bend Sports Complex, Roger Ward knew his team had a challenge on its hands.
In the opposite dugout, Larned’s baseball team had qualified for the past two high school state tournaments and last two American Legion state tournaments.
It was a battle between two teams that have a good chance to advance from their respective zones later in the year and advance to state tournament play.
The teams had seen each other before this season in tournament action, with Great Bend winning. But the teams left the field Wednesday with a split of two very entertaining games.
Great Bend (22-8) rallied late in the opener to win in extra innings, 7-6. The Chiefs lost the finale by a 6-5 score.
“We knew it was going to be a tough match up,” Coach Ward said. “But we are not playing up to ability right now. If you feel like you are playing good and you lose, that’s fine. But when you leave things on the table, it’s tougher.”
CHIEFS 7, LARNED 6 — The Chiefs fell behind in the opener following a grand slam by Larned’s Isiah Perez in the first inning. Great Bend spent the rest of the game in pursuit. Evan Skelton was hit by a pitch and Mason Schartz and Landon Erway walked before Perez’s homer. Landon Erway and Perez forced home runs on bases-loaded walks in the fourth inning.
The Chiefs trailed 6-3 heading into the seventh inning. Brady Michel doubled home Bryce Lytle and Konner Ireland after back-to-back walks by starter Evan Skelton. Four times they were down to their final strike. But the Chiefs evened the score when Jaxx Hillman walked and scored on an Larned error after Hunter Hanzlick’s two-out single.
The Chiefs won the game in the eighth inning when Bryce Lytle walked, stole two bases and scored on a wild pitch off reliever Isiah Perez. Jared Maneth and Kyle Lang drove in the Chiefs’ first two runs. Payton Mauler’s double drove in Kody Lang.
“We just kept clawing and stayed in it,” Coach Ward said. “Our pitchers we brought in kept us close and Anson Hall did a great job. We had no reason to win that game, but somehow we found a way.”
Hall picked up the win in relief, pitching the final 4.1 innings and allowing just one hit and no runs.
LARNED 6, CHIEFS 5 — In game two, it was Larned that prevailed in the close contest. Larned took control in the middle innings. Perez singled home Mason Schartz in the first inning. Evan Skelton’s bunt scored Larned’s second run. Alex Barger’s third-inning groundball scored Jon Herter. Barger, Martin and Carson Smith scored runs in the fifth inning.
The Chiefs had their chances, leaving the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth innings but could not get the game tied.
Hall ended the second game with three hits and a pair of stolen bases. Brady Michel drove in three runs. Michel and Konner Ireland each had two hits and doubles.
Michel drove home Ireland in the first inning. Michel singled home Bryce Lytle and Ireland in the third inning. Hillman scored on Brady Maneth’s fifth-inning groundball. Hall scored on Maneth’s bases-loaded sixth-inning walk.
Michel was good on the mound, going the final 2.2 innings allowing one hit and striking out six.
The Chiefs will head to Hays this weekend for the Wild West Fest. Great Bend will play Colby at 9 a.m. Friday then take on Garden City at 3 p.m. Saturday Great Bend will end pool play against the Northern Colorado Roughnecks. Bracket play will start Saturday night and wrap up Sunday.
CHIEFS 7, LARNED 6
LARNED ab r h bi
Evan Skelton 3 1 1 0
Mason Schartz 2 1 0 0
Landon Erway 1 1 0 1
Isiah Perez 3 1 1 5
Jon Herter 4 0 0 0
Tyler Stelter 4 0 0 0
Alex Barger 3 0 0 0
Dalton Bright 3 1 2 0
Carson Smith 4 1 2 0
TOTALS 27 6 5 6
CHIEFS ab r h bi
Bryce Lytle 1 2 0 0
Konner Ireland 2 1 0 0
Brady Michel 3 0 1 2
Jared Maneth 3 0 0 1
Jaxx Hillman 3 1 0 0
Hunter Hanzlick 4 0 1 0
Kody Lang 3 2 1 0
Kyle Lang 4 0 0 1
Payton Mauler 4 1 2 1
TOTALS 27 7 5 5
Larned 400 200 00 — 6 5 3
Great Bend 002 100 31 — 7 5 0
2B—Michel, Mauler. HR—Perez. HBP—E. Skelton, Lytle. SB—Lang, Mauler, Lytle 3. PB—Stelter. LOB—Larned 7, GB 9. E—Stelter, Herter, E. Skelton.
Larned ip h r er bb so
Skelton 6.2 5 6 5 8 3
Perez 0.2 0 1 0 2 1
GB ip h r er bb so
Reif 2 1 4 4 5 3
Smith 1.2 2 2 2 3 2
Hall 4.1 2 0 0 1 2
LARNED 6, CHIEFS 5
LARNED ab r h bi
Evan Skelton 2 0 0 2
Mason Schartz 4 1 1 0
Landon Erway 3 0 0 0
Isiah Perez 4 0 1 1
Jon Herter 4 1 2 0
Tyler Stelter 3 0 2 0
Alex Barger 4 1 0 1
S Martin 1 2 0 0
Carson Smith 4 1 3 0
TOTALS 29 6 9 4
GREAT BEND ab r h bi
Bryce Lytle 3 1 0 0
Brice Kaiser 1 0 0 0
Konner Ireland 4 2 1 0
Brady Michel 4 0 2 3
Jaxx Hillman 2 1 1 0
Jared Maneth 3 0 1 2
Brayden Smith 3 0 0 0
Kyle Lang 4 0 0 0
Jacob Milton 3 0 0 0
Payton Mauler 1 0 0 0
Anson Hall 4 1 3 0
TOTALS 32 5 8 5
Larned 111 030 0 — 6 9 5
Great Bend 102 011 0 — 5 7 1
2B—Ireland, Michel. HBP—Stelter, Martin, Hillman. S—E. Skelton. SB—Hall, Hillman 3. LOB—Larned 11, GB 12. E—C. Smith, Herter, E. Skelton, Erway, Martin, B. Smith. PB—Stelter 2, Maneth 4. Balk—Lytle.
Larned ip h r er bb so
Perez 7 7 5 3 5 7
GB ip h r er bb so
Lytle 4.1 7 6 4 5 1
Michel 2.2 2 0 0 1 6
