Larks start strong
Jun. 4, 2007
By RANDY GONZALES
Hays Daily News
Manager Frank Leo got his first look at the 2007 Hays Larks on Sunday night.
He liked what he saw.
The Larks, Hays’ summer-collegiate baseball team, swept a nonleague doubleheader from the Denver Cougars, winning 8-4 and 14-6 in their season opener at Larks Park.
“It’s going to be on-the-job training,” Leo said. “I’m pleased with what I saw tonight.”
The Larks banged out 12 hits in the opener and had 11 hits in the second game. Hays had seven hits go for extra bases, and displayed some speed, too, stealing seven bases on the night.
“I think it will be a good lineup,” Leo said. “We’ve got some guys who can swing the bat, some guys who can run the bases.”
It all started at the top of the order. Mike Brownstein and Tyler Barnett batted 1-2, and each played shortstop in one game and second base in the other.
Brownstein tripled to lead off the first in Game 1, and later scored. He lined a double off the fence in left-center in his next at-bat to drive in a run and later scored, then was robbed of an RBI and extra bases when his drive to left-center in the fourth was flagged down on the warning track. Barnett singled twice in the opener and hit a sacrifice fly.
In Game 2, Barnett was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and was on base four times. Brownstein hit an RBI single and scored twice. Barnett stole two bases in each game and Brownstein swiped three bases on the night.
“Brownstein and Barnett is a tough combination,” Leo said.
Sean Finley, a redshirt freshman from Missouri, contributed from the bottom of the order. Finley hit a pair of doubles in the opener, driving in three runs and scoring one.
In Game 2, Finley hit a two-run double in Hays’ seven-run first inning and made a diving catch in left field in the fourth.
“Finley is a redshirt guy that needs to get some at-bats,” Leo said.
Hays starter Justin Randa had control problems in Game 1. Randa allowed two hits in three-plus innings, but walked seven, with two strikeouts. The left-hander gave up a three-run homer in the fourth and was replaced one batter later by right-hander Bobby Lewton. Lewton worked three scoreless innings to pick up the victory.
“Randa made quality pitches when he had to,” Leo said. “He could have made things easier on himself.
“Bobby’s a guy who hits his spots,” Leo added.
A.J. Dunn worked the seventh, giving up a run.
Hays got a run in the first on Barnett’s sacrifice fly, and added five in the second. In the Larks’ second, Finley hit an RBI double, Rich Michaelek added a run-scoring single, Brownstein doubled in a run and Barnett singled in two more.
The Larks scored two in the fifth on Finley’s two-run double.
In Game 2, Denver starter Spencer Roberts gave up seven runs in the first without recording an out. Roberts hit a batter, walked three and gave up two doubles before being lifted. Two-run doubles by Dusty Washburn and Finley were the big blows in the inning.
Hays (2-0) added six runs in the third, with RBI singles from Ryan Lush, Brownstein and Barnett, and a two-run single from Ricky Angel.
The Larks added an unearned run in the fifth on an error by Denver (5-4).
Hays starter Gary Pierpont went the first three innings, not enough to qualify for the win. Reliever Eric Rose gave up one run in two innings to pick up the victory. Brock Nehls finished up, working two innings. He surrendered a three-run homer in the sixth.
Hays entertains Denver in a 5:30 p.m. single game today at Larks Park. Mark Tanner is the probable starter for Hays.
Sports editor Randy Gonzales can be reached at (785)628-1081, Ext. 130, or by email at
rgonzales@dailynews.net.
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