By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

WICHITA -- The Hays Larks had trouble against left-handers during the regular season. It's a trend that has continued through their first two games in the National Baseball Congress World Series.

On Tuesday, Hays scored seven times off San Diego Waves' right-handed starter Casey Edelbrock and tallied three more runs against two right-handed relievers en route to a 10-0 victory.

Three days later, the Larks faced Southern California Fire left-hander Nick Ramirez. Ramirez went five shutout innings and permitted four hits, all singles. Hays lost, 9-0, and moved into the NBC losers' bracket.

"He was mixing it up," center fielder Brandon Eckerle said. "He had a changeup that looked like a fastball."

In the regular season, Hays batted .272 against left-handers versus a .287 mark against righties.

In 2007, the platoon split was reversed, with a .286 mark versus lefties and a .281 average against right-handed pitching.

Generally, the Larks start seven to right right-handed hitters (Eric Roof and Joe Huwer are the only two left-handed batters on the team).

Several of the righties haven't had success against left-handers. Eckerle (.214) and Kevin Hennessey (.226) have struggled.

Only Rich Michalek (.486), Mike Brownstein (.421) and Billy Boockford (.364) are over .300.

Larks manager Frank Leo believes the fewer at-bats against lefties is a factor. Hays has 342 at-bats against southpaws versus 1,201 against righties.

In 2007, the split wasn't as pronounced, with 444 at-bats versus lefties and 1,204 against righties.

"Left-handers give a lot of teams fits. There is something about lefties, particularly ones that can change speeds and get you out in front," Leo said. "You don't see a lot of left-handers through the course of the year. You don't get a chance to adjust to them. Obviously, we didn't adjust today."

Ramirez's fastball-changeup combination kept Hays off-balance all game.

"He had us out in front," Leo said.

He struck out just one but spread six ground ball outs and two infield popups among his 15 outs.

"(Ramirez was) making us swing at his pitches," Eckerle said.

Hauptman works deep

Larks starter Casey Hauptman delivered another deep outing Friday night. Hauptman, who entered 5-1 with 55 innings pitched (second-highest on the team), went 6 2/3 innings and permitted six runs (three earned) in taking the loss.

Hauptman, who has with the lowest walk rate of any Larks pitcher, continually pounded the strike zone all game. He tossed just 81 pitches and threw over 75 percent strikes.

He allowed 11 hits against no walks. Gunner Glad's homer over the left-center field fence in the second inning was one of the few times he allowed hard contact.

"I thought Casey battled," Leo said. "He made pitches when he had to try to keep us in the game in the early innings. Yeah, they got to him, but outside of the home run off of Casey, I don't know if there were very many hard hit balls."

The Larks committed several errors, including one each by Boockford and Eckerle. Hauptman also had trouble corralling a bunt down the first-base line and couldn't make the play at first.

"I am pleased with how Casey competed today," Leo said.

Jayhawk League update

Friday wasn't a good day for the four Jayhawk League teams in the World Series. All four lost -- and all four lost in succession. After Hays lost 9-0 to Southern California, Liberal, Nevada (Mo.) and Derby all lost in succession.

Liberal, which upset defending champion Havasu (Ariz.) Heat, 6-3, in the first round, was shut out by the Vienna (Va.) Senators, 3-0.

Nevada, in another winner's bracket game, lost 4-1 to the Beatrice (Neb.) Bruins. Derby was eliminated early Friday morning. The Twins faced Havasu and lost 2-0.