March 28, 2024

GCHS and DCHS Baseball Team Take One Win Each on Saturday

Dodge City, KS (westernkansasnews.com) It was safe to say both Garden City Head Coach Bill Wilson and Dodge Coach Zach Shipley were disappointed with their team’s performances in Saturday’s doubleheader from Demon Field.  At least both teams ended the day no worse off than when they started.

Garden won the first game 8-1, while Dodge ended the second game early on a run rule 13-3 in six innings.  The Buffaloes are now 6-6 overall and 3-3 in the WAC, while the Demons are now 7-3, 1-1 in conference play.

Game One Highlights

A pair of three run innings help propel Garden City to the seven run win in game one.  Luke Royle was tagged with his first loss of the season and struggled from the start giving up back to back walks.  Griff Brunson’s single loaded the bases and then all three runs scored on a sac-fly, double steal which brought in David Arteaga and a wild pitch scoring Brunson.

Dodge scored their only run off Cooper Thayer of Garden with consecutive two out doubles from Luke Royle and Ryan Armstrong.  The only other threat from the Demons in game one came with the bases loaded and one out in the third when Rylan Allen hit into an inning ending double play.

Thayer was in control and retired the last ten Demon batters he faced and only surrendered three hits from the second inning on.  Meanwhile his offense did just enough to put Garden in the drivers seat. 

After their three run first the Buffaloes added another three runs in the second inning.  A  throwing error from first baseman Ryan Armstrong to the pitcher Royle in covering on a Eric Heiman’s groundball brought in Thayer.  Later on Raymond Urrutia the team leading run producer drove in two on a single to left center making it 6-1 Buffaloes. 

Garden City would wrap up the scoring in a two run third inning to finish off a 8-1 win.

Game Two Highlights

Dodge City sophomore starter Noah Sowers went the distance to pick up his second win of the season improving to 2-0 and he received help from his ninth spot batter Derrick Blansett. 

The Demon rightfielder went a perfect 4-for-4 knocking in 4 including the game ender a two run single off Griff Brunson in the sixth.  Sowers gave up only three runs, one earned in allowing seven hits on the mound for Dodge.  Thayer knocked in two on a single in the sixth the only big hit off Sowers.

Dodge after scoring two in the first off Elizer Arreola broke it wide open with a six run second sparked by Ryan Armstrong’s bases clearing double off Isaac Mujica just days off his doubleheader two win outing over Hays on Tuesday. 

Garden is back in action Friday by hosting TMP.  Dodge City will host Liberal for a single game Tuesday night before heading off to Hays next Friday.

Post-game GCHS Coach Bill Wilson

Post-game DCHS Coach Zach Shipley