EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
After an emotional win over Dodge City Tuesday in a come-from behind 9-8 extra inning thriller, the Redskins only played three innings against Hays in the regular season finale Thursday in a 20-1 loss.
Having used pitching resources against Dodge City Tuesday, and starting an ailing Marco Alonso against Hays, the Redskins struggled mightily in the second inning and allowed 14 runs.
Alonso tossed a scoreless first, but his condition worsened as the game advanced, and he gave up five runs in the second inning before he was replaced by Eathan Hernandez.
But Hernandez couldn’t get an out while allowing four hits and a walk and giving up six more runs.
Kye Morris stepped in to get the final two outs of the second inning but not before allowing three hits and three more runs, and Hays had a 14-0 lead.
The Redskins couldn’t answer in the bottom of the second, and Blayden Betts took the mound in the third.
But Betts struggled with location, and while he did not allow a hit he gave up four walks and an error also happened while he was on the mound. With one run already across the plate and another walked in, Betts was relieved with the bases loaded, and Bren Kappelmann came in to try to get the final out. But the first batter Kappelmann faced sent a shot over the left field fence for a grand slam. Kappelmann gave up one more run before recording the final out, and the Redskins trailed 20-0.
Liberal had a pair of hits in the third and was able to push a run across the plate, but left two stranded, and the game ended by run rule, 20-1.
Liberal (8-17) ended the season as the 13th seed in the Class 6A West Division and is likely to face Maize (18-8).
