EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
Luke Steward gave up a first-inning grand slam to the Derby Twins in the NBC World Series opener for the Bee Jays, and the Twins made it stick by handing the Bee Jays a 9-6 loss.
That’s how the NBC World Series started for the Bee Jays, and it appeared Liberal would have a short stint when the Bee Jays fell behind 6-0 to the San Diego Stars in the second game of pool play before a mad rally late led to an 11-7 win.
After giving up a first-inning grand slam in their tourney opener, the Bee Jays allowed another run in the second inning and trailed 5-0.
The Bee Jays broke through in the fifth with a pair of runs to cut the lead to 5-2, but the Twins got to middle reliever Kage Ralstin in the sixth for three runs to push the lead to 8-2.
The Bee Jays continued to make the game competitive with a run in the sixth and three in the seventh to cut the lead to 8-6.
But the Twins added an insurance run in the eighth, and the Bee Jays couldn’t push another run across the plate in a 9-6 loss.
Ben Merriman homered for the Bee Jays in the loss, and Ryota Kusumoto and Joel Roberts each had doubles.
Brooks Kappelmann pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Bee Jays and didn’t allow a hit while striking out one.
The Bee Jays again had a slow start against the San Diego Stars Sunday when the Stars pushed four runs across the plate in the second inning and two more in the third against Bee Jay starter Hunter Phillips.
In the fifth inning the Bee Jays had two runners on base with two outs before a single and a wild pitch allowed two runs to score, and Robert Orr followed with a three-run home run to cut the Stars lead to 6-5.
The Bee Jays took a 7-6 lead with two runs in the seventh, but the Stars were able to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth.
But the Bee Jays broke through with four runs in the top of the ninth to take an 11-7 lead, and Logan Wade pitched a scoreless ninth inning to secure the win.
Ryan Figueroa pitched three innings of relief and came away with the win despite suffering a temporary stomach ailment on the mound.
Had the Bee Jays lost to the Stars, today’s game against the Boulder Collegians would have been an elimination game with the winner advancing and the loser ending the season.
Now, the Bee jays are still alive to win the pool but could still fall shot of bracket play depending on the outcome of their game with the Collegians and the game between the Twins and the Stars.
If the Twins defeat the Stars, Liberal advances to bracket play no matter what happens against the Collegians.
If the Stars beat the Twins and the Bee Jays defeat Boulder, the tie breakers will decide the one-two-three order.
If the Stars beat the Twins and Liberal loses to the Collegians, Liberal will be eliminated form the tournament.
The Stars and Twins play at noon today while the Bee Jays and Collegians will play at 8:30 p.m.
All games are available on YouTube and NBC World Series.
