Larks run out of magic

7-30-04

By NICK McQUEEN

Hays Daily News

It appeared as if “Larks Magic” would come through again for Hays' summer collegiate team.

In a rare tripleheader against the Nevada (Mo.) Griffons on Thursday at Larks Park, it looked as if the Larks were going to rally to win Game 2, and keep their hopes alive for a fourth straight Jayhawk League title.

But a bizarre ending overcame the club's patented “Larks Magic” to send Hays down to defeat.

Hays took the opener, 7-5, but suffered a 2-1 loss in the second game to end its title hopes.

The Larks took out their frustration in Game 3 against a makeshift Griffons pitching staff consisting of a first baseman, a second baseman and a catcher. Hays tallied 12 hits and closed out the regular season with a 15-0 win.

Hays (27-13 overall, 19-12 Jayhawk) finished a half-game behind El Dorado in the final league standings. The difference was a Larks' rainout at Elkhart earlier this month that was not made up.

Hays will play in the National Baseball Congress World Series at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Wichita's Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The Larks will play the winner of Saturday's game between the Wichita Dawgs and the Greenwood (Miss.) Vikings.

Nevada (27-22, 13-19) scored the go-ahead run in Thursday's pivotal second game on a balk call against reliever Matt Rainey in the top of the seventh inning.

“It's a tough loss,” Hays manager Frank Leo said. “It was unfortunate. Matt thought the umpire called time and he didn't. It's just an unfortunate part of the game.”

In the Larks' seventh, Tyler Wasserman singled with two out, then pinch-runner Gabe Marchant stole second and advanced to third on a wild throw. Warren Schaeffer swung at a two-strike pitch that hit him, and the ball rolled toward the backstop. Schaeffer dashed to first base and Marchant scurried home with the apparent tying run.

But after huddling together, the umpires ruled Schaeffer struck out, and it was a dead ball at the plate. The run was waved off, and the game was over.

Larks' fans sat in stunned silence after the rare ruling.

“That's a call you probably don't see very often,” Leo said. “Listening to their reasoning I guess it was a good call. It would be a dead ball normally.”

Chris Ofat (4-2) took the loss in Game 2.

In Game 1, the Larks got a two-run homer from Nolan Reimold in the seventh to grab the win. Reimold also had a two-run single earlier in the game.

Stephen Marek (1-0) relieved starter Jeff Mandel in the top of the seventh to get the Larks out of a jam, then picked up the win after Reimold's game-winner that just cleared the wall in left field.

“I think everybody gave it all they had,” said Aaron Batlle, who was one of three returning players from last year's championship team. “It was kind of tough in that second game for that balk call (to) decide the league championship.”

In Game 3, the Griffons chose not to use what little pitching they had left, and the Larks' hitters took advantage against position players taking the mound. Nevada will play Tuesday night in the World Series.

“This was a long day,” Leo said. “We were out here at 10 this morning trying to get the field ready to go. They deserved that third game to be something like that to go out and have some fun.”

Batlle and Seth Fortenberry, another returning player from last season, combined for eight RBIs and four runs scored in Game 3. They each hit home runs.

Joseph Edens (5-1) was the winner in relief, pitching two innings.

Sports writer Nick McQueen can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 130, or by e-mail at nmcqueen@dailynews.net.