Larks split DH with Dusters
July 22, 2004
By The Hays Daily News
ELKHART -- After busting loose with 50 hits and 34 runs in their series with the Dusters, the Hays Larks were finally contained when they lost the second half of a doubleheader with Elkhart Wednesday night.
Hays won the first game 14-3 but dropped the second one 4-2.
Jeff Mandel pitched a seven-inning complete game with six strikeouts and one walk but had plenty of support from his offense in the opener, including a six-run performance in the final inning.
Aaron Batlle and Kevin Russo led the way with 3-for-4 and 3-for-5 performances, respectively. Russo had another extra base hit with a double to left field in the fourth inning. He had a game high four RBIs in the win.
The second game ended the Larks' six-game win streak as Dusters pitcher Gilbert DeLaVera went all seven innings, giving up just three hits and fanning eight batters.
The only extra base hits in the game were home runs by the Larks' Russo and the Dusters' Andrew Leal and Mike Dunn.
With Nevada, Mo., coming to town next week, the Larks need to win all four of those games and El Dorado to lose its game tonight against Liberal in order to gain at least a share of the Jayhawk League title.
The Broncos swept Liberal Wednesday night in a doubleheader — 13-5 and 5-0 — ending their regular season with a league record of 20-11.
Hays is currently 16-11 in league play.
Next action for the Larks will be Tuesday when they play host to the Griffons at Larks Park. This will be the last series of the regular season before the NBC World Series begins July 31 in Wichita.