By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

The Hays Senior Legion squad seized control of the Class AAA Zone 7 Tournament behind an offensive surge rarely seen this season.

In the first round of the zone Tuesday night, Hays defeated Dodge City 23-3 and set a season-high in runs scored. On Wednesday, against a better team in Salina, the Eagles defeated the Falcons 11-6.

Hays, 2-0 in the zone play, plays Salina in the legion championship today at 4 p.m. at Larks Park. The Eagles, who will start Dave Klaus (3-2), have to win one game while Salina has to beat them twice.

The offense has been at the forefront of the wins.

The 34 runs marked the second-highest output in back-to-back games and the third time this season the Legion scored in double figures in two straight games.

But Tuesday's and Wednesday's performances were a little more impressive.

The previous two-game high was 39 runs against Russell, a team that plays in a smaller classification than Hays. The first two occasions that the Eagles scored at least 10 runs also came versus Russell.

Now, the offense is producing against bigger teams - and in postseason play.

On Wednesday, eight starters collected one hit, while seven scored at least one run. Leadoff hitter Matt Malott, a Bethany signee, finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored, two RBI, a walk and a double.

Sam Rohleder went 2-for-3 with a walk and a hit by pitch, while his brother, Tom, and Kelton Rule also reached base four times. Travis Budke and Justin Klaus were on base on three occasions.

Four players had two RBI, including Tom Rohleder, who tacked on a RBI single in the seventh inning. He fouled off several pitches and worked the count before he laced a single to center.

"As even as the summer has gone on, a lot of them instead of going up and swinging at that first pitch, they are waiting a little bit," Legion head coach Mike Jenner said. "Tom, especially. He likes to take his big cuts, but he is starting to discipline himself a little bit where he will wait on a ball.

They all do a real good job and has the summer has gone on, they have gotten better at it," he added.

Comparable teams?

While none of his players have reached the Senior Legion state tournament before, Jenner took the 1997 and 98 squads to state in his first stint as head coach. Now, Jenner, in the first year of his second stint, has a chance to do it again.

The 1997 team finished second with a 32-24 overall record, while the '98 squad took fourth and finished 32-20. The Legion has not made it to state since 2004, but the 08 version (27-14) is one win away.

Jenner said his current team is similar to the 97-98 teams.

"Heart-wise and talent-wise, they are really pretty comparable," Jenner said. "These guys do it not so much on power, like the team I had in 1997 and in 98. They are not real enthusiastic about a lot of things.

They are not real rah-rah guys, but you get them between the lines and they do the right things and they get it done and they have done it all summer."

The 2008 squad has played consistent baseball all season, including a 3-3 finish at the Pueblo (Col.) tournament and a 3-2 mark at the Blue Springs Wood Bat tournament.

"We have played some very tough non-Legion teams getting ready for this and now I think it is paying off," Jenner said. "You have seen some very quality pitching this year and are used to pretty much anything."

Pitching on full rest

Unlike multiple teams in the playoffs, Jenner's staff isn't running on fumes. Helped by the 23-3 blowout in Game 1, Rule just had to work four innings. Jesse Hart, who pitched for the Junior Legion all summer, worked the final nine outs.

"What really helped was Jesse Hart being able to throw three innings and save some arms," Jenner said.

"He did a really good job," Logan Downing added.

On Wednesday, Salina needed four pitchers, while Hays used just two (Downing and Travis Budke). Klaus (3-2) can go on full rest today, while reliever Malott also can be fully extended.

"We still have Malott fresh," Jenner said.

If needed, Jenner said Rule can go three to four innings, putting the Eagles in a much better situation than many other teams.

S. Rohleder available at third

Sam Rohleder, who earned second Class 5A all-state status at third base in the spring for Hays High, has been moved to first this summer after he experienced some arm problems.

Rohleder, though, is available to play third - but cannot pitch after closing for the 17-5 Indians.

On Wednesday, Rohleder played third for the first 3Ôªø1âÑ3 innings before starter Travis Budke was removed. Then, Rohleder went to first and Budke, the usual third baseman, moved back to third.

Malott, the normal right fielder, could play third (he took groundballs there after Tuesday's game), but Sam Rohleder, even with the pain, can play there if needed.

"Especially when Travis is on the hill, I like to have (Sam) over there," Jenner said. "We have Malott play over there a couple of times, but with Matt, it is not fair to him. He is an outfielder. Sam is good over there and he knows when he has to le it go and when he can save his arm on throws. He is pretty smart about that."