Larks roll after slow start
July 24, 2003
By The Hays Daily News
EL DORADO -- Things didn't start out well for Tommy Hottovy.
It wasn't that good for the Hays Larks in general.
But after a shaky first inning, Hays' summer-collegiate baseball team settled into a groove and rolled past the Wichita Titans with a 14-1 win in eight innings. Wednesday night's game at McDonald Stadium was the Larks' opener at the National Baseball Congress Midwest Regional.
After Wichita held the Larks scoreless in the top of the first, the Titans took an early lead with a run in the bottom half of the inning.
Wichita's leadoff man reached on a bunt single, then advanced to second on a throwing error by Hottovy. After back-to-back strikeouts, the runner stole third and scored on a throwing error by Hays catcher Adam Cox, putting Hays (36-8) in an early hole.
"They scored on a couple errors, one was a tough play," said Hays manager Frank Leo. "Tommy really settled in and was on top of his game after that inning."
In the top of the second, Hays got things rolling offensively. Cody Ehlers led off the inning with a walk and scored on Aaron Batlle's home run to right field -- his fourth of the season -- to give the Larks a 2-1 lead.
Hottovy struck out the side in the second before Hays tacked on four runs in the third.
Dan Schwartzbauer walked to lead off the inning, then stole second. He scored when Pete Maropis singled to left. Maropis eventually stole second with two outs before Batlle walked. Cox doubled to left to drive in Maropis before Randy Curtis singled back up the middle to score Batlle and Cox, giving Hays a 6-1 lead.
Hottovy struck out the side again in the third. He would retire nine of the final 10 batters he would face, allowing only a leadoff walk in the fifth.
Hottovy (6-1) struck out 13 and walked one in six innings. He allowed one unearned run on one hit -- both in the first inning.
"He was a little upset that he had the throwing error that led to the run," Leo said. "That got him fired up a little bit, and he settled in nicely. He stepped up and got the job done."
Hays added two runs in the fourth, single runs in the sixth and seventh and four more in the eighth to end the game early.
Craig Cooper went 2-for-6 with a run scored and an RBI, and Curtis was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Batlle drove in two runs. The Larks finished with 14 hits, including five for extra bases.
"Almost everybody that played got a hit," Leo said. "Everybody contributed."
Bryan Engle finished with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit while walking one and striking out two.
Hays was scheduled to play the Salina Blue Jays at noon today in the tournament. Salina was a 3-1 winner over Newton in other first-day action. Chris Ofat (4-0) is the probable starter.
A victory over Salina would put the Larks in the semifinals of the winners' bracket with a 6 p.m. game Saturday against an undetermined opponent.