Jayhawk Drought Likely to Continue for Liberal

Unless Hays collapses, the Larks will win their seventh Jayhawk League title in 12 years. Liberal doesn’t have a league title during that same time. The Bee Jays are 3.5 games behind Hays with five games to go after the Larks trimmed the BJ’s 2-1 Wednesday night at Brent Gould Field in a pitcher’s dual.

Hays right hander Joey Begel went eight strong innings for the win and BJ starter Chad Nack (3-2) pitched eight innings allowing two runs.

Hays Ryan Busboom homered in the second and Tito Andino drove home another run in that second. Liberal’s only run game when Tanner Rainey laid down an RBI bunt single to score Stephen Gandy in the fourth.

The Bee Jays had a runner on base with one out or less in the next four innings but couldn’t score. Tanner Rainey had the only multi hit game going 2-4.

The Bee Jays are 24-13 overall and 16-13 in the Jayhawk as Hays improves to 26-10 overall and 20-10 in the Jayhawk. The Larks have won eight straight.

The Bee Jays fall to third place and turn their attention to second place. Dodge City (16-12) makes their last visit to Brent Gould Field Thursday night for a 7 p.m. game. KSCB and Tan It are the buyout sponsors and the game will air on Talkradio 1270 and kscbnews.net.