Good night turns bad for Larks
July 22, 2003
By RANDY GONZALES
Hays Daily News
It started out as a night to remember for Randy Curtis.
It ended up as a night to forget for one of the newest members of the Hays Larks.
Curtis just joined the team after playing this summer for the Topeka Capitals, whose season is over. He started in left field Monday night, and hit two singles and a grand slam homer in his first three at-bats, as Hays took a big lead over the Wichita Braves at Larks Park.
But Curtis then failed to get a hit his last three times up, with the go-ahead run in scoring position each time.
The Braves rallied to tie the game in the sixth inning, and then won it with a run in the 10th. Wichita's 7-6 victory put a damper on the Larks' final home game of the season.
The Larks were dismal at the plate with runners in scoring position, going 2-for-18 and leaving 11 runners on base.
"I was disappointed with our offense," Hays manager Frank Leo said. "With runners in scoring position ... we didn't get it done."
The Larks, who last week wrapped up their third consecutive Jayhawk League title, didn't have the same fire in them.
"Last home game, you should have more intensity," Leo said.
Hays (35-8) scored two runs in the second, with Kade Boyer singling in one run and later scoring on a wild pitch.
Wichita (27-10) tied the game with two runs in the third off Hays starter Ryan LaMotta. Terry Blunt led off the inning with a homer to right field, and Bryan James doubled and scored on a single by Orlando Mijares.
The Larks loaded the bases with one out in the fourth for Dan Schwartzbauer, who popped out. But Curtis followed with a long homer over the wall in right to clear the bases and give Hays a 6-2 lead.
"The home run with Curtis was big," Leo said.
The Braves got a run in the fifth on an RBI singe by Mijares, then chased LaMotta with three runs in the sixth to tie the game.
Josh Bickel, who plays for Fort Hays State University, led off the sixth with a home run. A walk and an error put the tying runs on base, and LaMotta was lifted after striking out Adam Ewy for the first out of the inning.
Another Larks newcomer, 6-foot-6 sidearming right-hander Mike Snapp, replaced LaMotta to make his first appearance for Hays.
Snapp got a groundout for the second out, but then walked a batter to load the bases. James followed with a two-run single to make it 6-6.
"He hasn't pitched against anybody (this summer)," Leo said of Snapp. ... He looks like he's going to be tough on right-handers."
Hays wasted scoring opportunities in the sixth, eighth and ninth to send the game into extra innings.
With one out and runners on second and third in the sixth, Curtis popped out to short, and Cody Ehlers struck out after a walk loaded the bases.
An error gave Hays a runner in scoring position with one out in the eighth, but Schwartzbauer lined out to left and Curtis struck out to end the threat.
A two-out walk followed by a single gave Hays a chance in the ninth, but Mark Lyons struck out.
The Braves finally broke through in the 10th against Larks closer Jim Miller, who was working his third inning. Matt Baty doubled with two outs and scored on Blunt's double just fair down the right-field line.
Ben Tinius led off the Larks' 10th with a single and stole second. But Jerod Goodale and Schwartzbauer struck out, and Curtis grounded out to the first baseman to end the game.
Right-hander Steve Lienhard, the third Braves pitcher, got the win. He allowed two hits in two innings, with one walk and five strikeouts.
Miller (1-1) gave up three hits and one run in 22/3 innings, with one walk and five strikeouts.
LaMotta surrendered six runs on 10 hits in 51/3 innings. He walked one and struck out nine.
Hays will open play in the National Baseball Congress Midwest Regional on Wednesday in El Dorado. The Larks will play the Wichita Titans at 9 p.m. Left-hander Tommy Hottovy (5-1) is the probable starter.
NOTES: Hays finished 22-3 at home, and 20-3 at Larks Park .... Curtis wore white shoes in his Larks' debut. ... Boyer, who turned 22 Monday, had "Happy Birthday" sung to him after the game over the loudspeaker. ... Fort Hays pitcher Scott Chew also is on the Braves' roster. ... Leo said Hays has one roster spot still open, and will look to fill it with the best available player, either a pitcher or position player.