By KLINT SPILLER

kspiller@dailynews.net

Hays High School baseball coach Frank Leo said his squad is supposed to take advantage of what opponents give his team.

Hays High did just that in Saturday's 12-0 (five innings), 9-1 doubleheader sweep of Garden City at Indian Field. The Indians moved to 11-1, and 4-0 in Western Athletic Conference play.

The Indians took advantage of walks and got hits when needed to earn the run-rule in the opener.

"We took advantage of what they gave us, and you've got to do that," Leo said. "If they are going to give you something, you've got to take advantage and put them away."

Indian pitcher Hayden Hutchison (4-0) shut out Garden City (5-8, 0-4), but it wasn't as pretty as Leo would have liked.

Hutchison gave up three hits and two walks and struck out two, but he fell behind in the count with several batters.

"He did OK, but we are going to see a better Hayden," Leo said. "He's got to get back to where he was (early in the season) and get ahead of hitters."

Hays High got five of its runs in the third inning, when Garden City junior starting pitcher Edgar Montoya (0-2) allowed a hit and four walks before being relieved.

Montoya gave up a total of eight runs, six walks and six hits in two innings, but junior relief pitcher Isaiah Rodriguez didn't have much better luck, allowing four runs and five hits in the remaining two innings.

"They put themselves in a hole and walked a lot of guys," Leo said.

Hays High senior second baseman Riley Kaus led the Indians at the plate in Game 1, hitting two doubles and a triple and collecting two RBIs and two runs.

It was junior center fielder Dan Bittel who put the Indians over the run rule.

He hit a two-out home run over the left field wall scoring two and putting the Indians up 11-0. It was the only home run of the game and his first of the season.

"I like those inside pitches," Bittel said. "It was a ball I like to hit, and I just hit it well."

The Indians definitely took advantage of their plate appearances, as seven Hays High batters hit better than .500 in the opener.

"We step it up a level in WAC play to get that WAC (title) again," Bittel said. "It is important to us. It is a goal."