Legion makes state
By NICK McQUEEN
One of two things was going to happen in the sixth inning of Thursday's championship round of the Class AAA Zone 7 Legion baseball tournament at Larks Park. Either the Hays Eagles were going to lose and get run-ruled, forcing an elimination game. Or they were going to get the bats going and win the game -- and title.
The latter was the case, eliminating all doubt the Eagles belong in the state tournament next week in Pittsburg, a feat not accomplished since the 2004 season. The Eagles put up some astonishing numbers along the way.
Hays (28-14) blasted out seven hits (five for extra bases), and put up 14 runs in the sixth inning alone, turning a 6-1 deficit into a 17-7 run-rule victory after eight innings over the Salina Falcons.
"I think we were just a little tired of it," said Eagles right fielder and winning pitcher Matt Malott. "I think we figured we were either going to lose and get run-ruled or do something right there.
"The leadoff guy got on, and it just went from there. No one wanted to stop," he added.
Second baseman Justin Klaus led off the sixth with a double to right-center, the first of 18 batters for Hays against three Salina pitchers. The Eagles posted 51 runs in three wins, and scored in double digits in three straight games for the first time this season.
The long inning also kept reliever Malott off the mound long enough to keep cool in the 100-degree heat.
"It didn't look like it out there after the game, but we're real excited," Malott said. "But we're just really worn out. It feels good to get there. Neither team got to go to state this spring, so to come out here and do it this way is just incredible."
Most of the Legion team played two seasons ago when the Junior Legion took third at the state tournament. Legion coach Mike Jenner is taking his first team to state since the Eagles qualified in 1998. In 1997, his squad took second in Pittsburg, Jenner's first team to qualify for a state tournament.
"Those guys are good,"¬ Jenner said of the Salina team Hays had to beat twice this week to advance. "They are a well-coached team and hit the heck out of a fastball."
In Thursday's game, it looked as though Salina (27-18) had things going its way. Starter Tyler Benton, who left after giving up six runs in the sixth, allowed Hays baserunners, but the Eagles were unable to capitalize. Meanwhile, Hays starter David Klaus surrendered four Salina runs through the first 1Ôªø1âÑ3 innings before being replaced by Matt Maskus in the second.
"Dave has been one of those pitchers this summer where he's either been on right away, or you know right away, he's not," Jenner said.
Maskus gave up one more run to give Salina a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning before Malott came in with the bases loaded and got a groundout to end the inning. Malott (5-4) pitched 3Ôªø1âÑ3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits with three walks, a hit batter, and one strikeout.
Jay Sanders, who had a 2-for-4 day with three runs scored, led off Hays' fifth with a triple to right-center, and Malott drove him in to score the Eagles' first run.
"(Salina) is one of the better teams in the state," Malott said of the defending state champs. "They're right up there with the Blue Valley team, who we'll probably see again."
Salina was able to plate another run off Malott in the seventh inning on a two-out, RBI triple from Conner Martin. Malott gave up a single in the eighth, and began to tire in the heat.
"It could have been better at the end," Malott said. "I should have been able to finish it out, but (Kelton Rule) came in and did a great job and finished the inning in a good way."
Rule recorded the final two outs before Hays put the finishing touches on the run-rule win with an RBI each for brothers Thomas and Sam Rohleder in the eighth. Sam Rohleder capped the game and a 5-for-6 effort at the plate with the winning hit, driving in Austin Klaus.
"It's the best time of the year to be hitting the ball," Malott said. "We all came together in zone after playing not so well before the tournament.
"We knew we had to put everything together to get to state," he added.
Salina failed to make the state tournament for the first time in four years. Salina was the 2007 state champion, and it will be only the fourth time the team has missed a state tourney since 1990.
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