Broncos trip up Larks
July 27, 2003
By The Hays Daily News
EL DORADO -- The Hays Larks will have to go through the losers' bracket to win the National Baseball Congress Midwest Regional.
El Dorado rallied for two runs in the eighth inning Saturday night to hand Hays a 6-5 loss at McDonald Park.
Hays (37-9) will play Nevada (Mo.) in an elimination game tonight at 9. Ryan LaMotta (5-0) is the probable starter for the Larks.
Against El Dorado, Hays scored three runs in the seventh, capped by a two-run homer from Craig Cooper, to take a 5-4 lead.
El Dorado chased Hays starter Landon Harper in the eighth after a single and sacrifice bunt. Larks closer Jim Miller (1-2) got a strikeout for the second out, but gave up a single to Scott Pittinger to score the tying run.
Pittinger attempted a steal of second, and was called safe in a disputed play. He then scored the go-ahead run on a single.
"It was a great ball game," Hays manager Frank Leo said. "It was disappointing to let it slip away."
Broncos closer Dave Haehnel got the final three outs for a save. The win went to Chris Appuhn, the third El Dorado pitcher.
Harper worked 71/3 innings, giving up five runs on 10 hits, with no walks and two strikeouts.