Skins Get By Great Bend but Were Clobbered by Carroll

Liberal won their first regional game in six years but then saw how far they have to come to be an elite 5A team. The Redskins dominated Great Bend 7-1 in the afternoon game at Westurban in Wichita. But #1 ranked Bishop Carroll run ruled LHS 10-0 Wednesday evening.

In game one, Collin Ware tossed a complete game one hitter in the 7-1 win. LHS out-hit the Panthers 12-1. Liberal scored one in the first when Kaiden Long laced a single to right with two outs to scored Jared Hasik. Tim Fitzgerald doubled to left center in the second to drive home Anthony Vazquez. LHS added another run in the third when Cristian Erives singled home Hasik. The Redskins broke through in the fourth with four runs on six hits. All four runs came with two outs. Haskik and Brandyn Terrazas provided two out RBI singles to make is 5-0. Erives lofted a single to center to drive home two runs and make it 7-0. Great Bend scored an unearned run in the fifth. Hasik was 3-3 with a double and three runs. Erives was 2-3 with three RBI’s. Fitzgerald was 2-4 with a double and Long was 2-4. The Panthers finish 10-11.

That set up the regional final with Bishop Carroll who needed only four innings to put away Wichita West 16-1. Carroll jumped on LHS for two runs on three hits and two doubles in the first to lead 2-0. But LHS starter Jared Fox settled down to put up goose eggs in the second and third innings. But LHS couldn’t take advantage of their offensive opportunities despite doubles by Lorenzo Pando and Angel Archuleta. The Skins hit into double plays in the second and fourth. But LHS walked five men in the fourth and committed an errors as the Eagles scored eight runs to put the game away. Carroll is 20-2 and a favorite to win state.

Liberal finishes 12-10 and wins a regional game for the first time since 2008 when they beat Ark City at Brent Gould Field. It was their first regional win away from Liberal since 1999 in Hays.