Larks win again at season finale

By NICK McQUEEN

Hays Daily News

WICHITA — To this point in the 73rd annual National Baseball Congress World Series, teams still alive are forced to take it one game at a time.

They follow that cliche right down to the final out. If not, they go home.

The Hays Larks followed that philosophy Thursday at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, needing just one big inning to get the job done in a 5-2 win over the Junction City Generals.

“To this point, that’s all you want to do,” Hays manager Frank Leo said. “You have to take it one game at a time. We’re used to that in the summer, but we have to take it one game at a time.”

The Larks put up five runs in the first inning against the Generals to advance to today’s 10 p.m. elimination game with Jayhawk League champion Derby. The Larks are already guaranteed a top-six finish, but didn’t finish Thursday’s game like they wanted, giving up two Junction City runs in the ninth inning.

“When you have that five-run lead, it’s always tough to add runs to that,” said Larks third baseman Clayton Karst, who drove in two of the Larks’ five runs with a single in the first inning. “It wasn’t finding the way through like it was in that first inning.”

Karst recorded one of Hays’ nine hits. All of the Larks’ runs in the first inning were unearned off Junction City starter Joe Sawicki, who faced the Larks for the second time this summer. The Generals battled their way back through the elimination bracket after an early loss and exited with a 5-2 tournament record. Twice in the run, they came from behind for late-inning wins.

In the first inning, the Larks got back-to-back base hits from Tyler Barnett and Mike Brownstein. Barnett came around to score when Rich Michalek reached on a throwing error and Brownstein scored when Ricky Angel reached on a fielding error.

Barnett, Brownstein and Eric Morrison each had two hits for the Larks.

Hays (38-18) got another solid outing from its starting pitcher. A last-minute replacement for Gary Pierpont, Fort Hays State University graduate Bobby Lewton pitched 71â„3 scoreless innings, scattering nine hits without a walk.

Lewton (7-1) last pitched July 25 in a win over Dodge City.

“I’m surprised by it a little, just because of the time off,” Lewton said. “But my changeup was great tonight, and I just kept throwing that and my two-seamer. I made enough pitches and the defense made enough plays to keep them from scoring.”

Four pitchers have seen limited action out of the bullpen through five games.

“Bobby Lewton gave us exactly what we needed. He gave us good innings in that ball game,” Leo said. “He’s a control guy and that’s Bobby Lewton. He’ll give up some hits, but he’ll make pitches when he has to.”

Pierpont (5-2) didn’t feel ready to make the start. He warmed up in the outfield and is the probable starter tonight.

Steven Mazur came on in the eighth for Lewton, but couldn’t shut down the Generals. He allowed both runs on three hits before A.J. Dunn finished the ninth for a save.

“A.J. is pretty good. He’s got two pitches that he can go after you with. You have to do what you have to do. Tonight, he just went after it,” Leo said.

NBC Notes

— Before the start of Thursday’s game, Brownstein was leading the tournament with nine runs scored. He scored once against Junction City. He was also tied for the lead in stolen bases with six, including one Thursday.

— The Larks were in seventh place in hitting heading into Thursday’s game at .310 and were leading the tourney in stolen bases with 17. They pushed that number to 20.

— There are some questions surrounding the roster for the Havasu (Ariz.) Heat, the team the Larks lost to in round three to drop to the elimination bracket. Rumors started on the NBC message boards that eight of Havasu’s players were not on the roster for the entire summer and were added after qualification for the NBC tournament. Tourney rules allow for five roster additions. The Heat organization is claiming it did nothing illegal. The NBC has yet to rule anything officially, but said teams will have to fax an official roster next year after qualifying.

Sports reporter Nick McQueen can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 128 or by e-mail at

nmcqueen@dailynews.net.