Larks offense struggles in loss

Loss sets up key series in league play

By The Hays Daily News

A 2-0 loss Sunday to close out a five-game series with the Joplin (Mo.) Slashers has set up a key week in Jayhawk League play for the Hays Larks. Hosting El Dorado in four games and Nevada (Mo.) for six games this week, the Larks are in third place in the league standings after dropping three of five to the Slashers over the weekend.

Hays (24-13 overall, 19-12 Jayhawk) will play El Dorado today at 7:30 p.m. at Larks Park in the series opener. The Broncos (25-13, 22-13) have moved ahead of the Larks into second place, by one game, after taking six games from league bottom feeder Dodge City over the weekend.

Derby (27-9, 24-8) still holds the lead in the league and Nevada is in fourth place at 24-15, 17-15, with Liberal in fifth at 16-17. Liberal hosts Derby in two doubleheaders Tuesday and Wednesday.

In Sunday’s loss, Hays starter Richard Timbrook (3-2) pitched into the eighth inning, giving up just two home runs to the Slashers in the loss, one in the sixth and one in the eighth inning before being relieved by Steven Mazur. A.J. Dunn pitched the ninth.

Hays, which has dropped five out of its last seven games, managed four hits off Joplin starter Ryan Harden, who went the distance for the win. Eric Morrison collected two of the Larks’ hits. Joplin (12-25, 11-22) shut out the Larks out twice in the series and had a 3-2 win Friday. Hays’ two wins were 13-1 and 3-2.

In the late game Saturday, Steven Mazur (3-2) got two outs to get the win over Joplin. Hays broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning on an errant throw by Joplin’s second baseman while attempting to turn a double play. Tyler Barnett scored from third base on the play. Barnett went 2-for-4 in the game with two runs scored. Dusty Washburn and Sean Finley each drove in a run. Hays starter Jarrad Watkins went 61â„3 innings.

Before Tuesday’s scheduled 6 p.m. doubleheader against El Dorado, the game sponsor for the night, Hays Medical Center and Dreiling-Schmidt Cancer Center, will be conducting free skin cancer screenings. Pepsi is also sponsoring Tuesday’s games.