Larks to play tripleheader after rainout

By NABIL SHAHEEN

Hays Daily News

After Wednesday's torrential rains postponed the Hays Larks' doubleheader against the Nevada (Mo.) Griffons at Larks Park, the teams decided to conclude their four-game Jayhawk League series today with a rare tripleheader.

“This the first time we have done it,” said Frank Leo, in his 23rd year as the club's manager. “It's going to be new territory so you don't know how it's going to go or how it's going to play out. One thing that's fortunate is that our schedule has been spread out a little bit so I think we'll be in good shape. But, again, we're in unchartered water so until we get into the thick of it we won't really know.”

The first game is tentatively scheduled for 3 p.m. today at Larks Park.

“We really have no choice,” Leo said this morning. “It's that or play a doubleheader and concede the Jayhawk League (title).”

Hays (25-12 overall, 17-11 Jayhawk) needs to sweep Nevada (26-20, 12-17) to win its fourth straight Jayhawk championship. League leader El Dorado finished its regular season at 20-12 in the Jayhawk.

The Larks won Tuesday's series opener 2-1 and were scheduled to have a doubleheader Wednesday and wrap up the series with a single game today.

The decision to play three today was ultimately that of the Griffons, who have been in town since Monday and financially could not swing staying another day.

“It gives us less time to prepare,” Leo said. “We're just going to have to keep a strong mental approach today. It'll be even across the board on both sides. We've gotta try to keep our focus and maintain that for a full day of baseball.”

Leo said that Jeff Mandel (2-4) was the probable starter for the first game. The other two starters will be game time decisions. Mandel and Chris Ofat (4-1) were the scheduled starters for Wednesday night's doubleheader.

“We can't look ahead as having to get through three games,” Leo said. “You look at it one game at a time, try to corral that energy to Game 2 and you get into a Game 3 situation, adrenaline is going to take over pretty good.”

Winning that fourth straight league title is important, Leo said.

“Your back is against the wall,” Leo said. “We battled hard in July, we battled for it and it came down to the last day of the season. It'd be a pretty sweet win for the league title if we can get it done this way.”

Today is the last day of the regular season for the Larks as they prepare for the National Baseball Congress World Series, which start Saturday in Wichita. The NBC tentatively has Hays' first game scheduled for Monday night at 7:30.

This scheduling is based on the Larks finishing second in the league race. Should they win the title, their first game would actually be played 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Sports writer Nabil Shaheen can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 130, or by e-mail at nshaheen@dailynews.net.