Buffaloes and Beavers split doubleheader
Garden City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–On a beautiful day of baseball, Scott City made the trip to face the Garden City Buffaloes at Clint Lightner Field, as the teams look to improve their seeding. Both teams would take home one win, as the Beavers rallied in the opener 8-7 in nine innnings, while the Buffaloes would win in three innings in the finale 17-2.
Scott City 8, Garden City 7, Game 1 (9 Inn.)
The first game of the day would go back and forth in the mid to late innings. Garden City would lead 1-0 after three innings, thanks to a Drew Strecker RBI single that scored Jakobe Rathburn. In the fourth, Scott City would score three runs to take their first lead, with RBI singles from Emilio Contreras and Spencer Cramer. The Buffaloes would counter with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame, and extend their lead to 6-3 after five innings. Scott City responded with a run in the sixth and two in the seventh innings to tie the game at six. The Beavers originally thought they had the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh. With a diving catch for the second out by the Buffaloes, Eloy Ruelas tagged up and advanced to third, and would go home on a throwing error to go up 7-6. However, Garden City appealed and they would win the appeal, keeping the game tied at six. It would remain tied in the ninth inning, when Scott City scored two runs to take an 8-6 lead. The Buffaloes would plate a run in the bottom of the frame, but left the tying run at third and the winning run at second, following a fly out to center field to end the game.
Eloy Ruelas went six innings, giving up six runs, three earned, on eight hits with three strikeouts. Easton Eisenhour got the win, going the final three innings, giving up a run on three hits with four strikeouts. Ruelas had three hits, while Brooks Bailey, Emilio Contreras and Spencer Cramer had two hits apiece. Drew Strecker took the loss, giving up two unearned runs in 1/3 of an inning. Kyler Metzen scattered six hits in 5 2/3 innings of work, allowing four runs, one earned, and struck out seven. Culden Plankenhorn had three hits, and Gio Benitez drove in two runs for the Buffaloes.
Garden City 17, Scott City 2, Game 2 (3 Inn.)
Walks and hit by pitches would be the story in the finale of the day. The Buffaloes would take advantage of six hit batters and nine walks. Garden City would plate three runs in the first inning, before Scott City pulled to within 3-1 going into the bottom of the second inning. The Buffaloes batted around in the bottom of the frame and scored four runs, despite having only one hit in the inning. In the third, the Beavers got a sac fly from Brooks Bailey to get to within 7-2. That was the closest they got the rest of the night. Garden City would send 15 to bat in the bottom of the third, and scored 10 runs on only four hits to make the final 17-2.
Bo Roth threw only 40 pitches in three innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits, and had a strikeout. Drew Strecker had two hits and drove in two runs, as Kyler Metzen, Jakobe Rathbun Jonahtan Almanza and Gio Benitez had two RBI. Spencer Cramer took the loss, allowing seven runs, six earned, on three hits in 1 2/3 innings. Emilio Contreras had two hits for the Beavers.
Scott City Coach David Dirks Postgame
After Friday, Scott City is now 10-10 on the year which will be their record for regional seeding. They’ll be at Hugoton on Tuesday to wrap up the regular season. The Beavers will be the seventh seed in the Colby regional and will play at Colby next week in regionals. Garden City is now 6-12, and will be at TMP Marian on Tuesday and host Great Bend on Friday.
