Larks bounce back, win twice
July 2, 2003
By The Hays Daily News
NEVADA, Mo. -- The Hays Larks haven't had much experience battling back from a loss this season.
But each time Hays' summer-collegiate baseball team has faced adversity, it's answered right back.
And Tuesday's doubleheader on the road against the Nevada (Mo.) Griffons was no exception.
Hays won Game 1 against its Jayhawk League rival 2-0, then followed with a 7-2 win in the second game. Hays lost 6-4 at the El Dorado Broncos the night before.
After each of the Larks' losses this summer, Hays has bounced back with wins.
"That's why these guys are professionals," said Hays manager Frank Leo. "They go out and do their thing. They make plays when they have to, and we have guys step up on the team and get things done. We don't have to rely on one person. It's somebody different every time that helps get it done."
Tuesday's sweep helped the Larks improve to 8-3 on the road this summer. Hays is in the midst of a seven-game road trip, including wrapping up a three-game series with Nevada with a single game tonight. Tom Hottovy (3-0) is the probable starter.
"Coming into the road trip, we knew it would be a tough swing for us," Leo said.
The Larks' starting pitchers were the difference against the Griffons. Landon Harper and Ryan LaMotta gave Hays (20-3 overall, 13-3 Jayhawk) a pair of complete-game outings, saving arms in the bullpen.
"We're really equipped tonight to go out and get after them," Leo said about the final game of the series against Nevada. " ... It was really big for both of those guys to give us outings like that."
Mark Lyons gave Harper all the support he would need in the opener by leading off the game with a home run, his first of the year. A solo homer by Seth Fortenberry in the fourth -- also his first -- capped the scoring for Hays.
Harper (4-0) did the rest. He allowed five hits, walked none and struck out one.
"Landon set the tone in Game 1," Leo said. "It was similar to what he did against Liberal early this year. That helped get us going, helped set the tone."
LaMotta (3-0) followed suit in the late game. He allowed two earned runs on three hits, with one walk and nine strikeouts.
With Hays leading 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Griffons loaded the bases with two outs. LaMotta hit a batter to allow Nevada (18-8, 8-7) to pull within 3-1. But he followed with a strikeout to end the inning.
Hays struck for three runs in the sixth -- including a two-run homer by Lyons, his second of the day and second of the summer -- to take a 6-1 lead.
"We had a big answer in the sixth," Leo said. "We keep continuing to do things late in ball games to help us win."
Aaron Batlle led the way at the plate by going 2-for-4. He still leads the Larks in hitting, batting .413 for the season.