A Season Saving Slam Lifts Bee Jays in Ninth

He said he couldn’t talk to the media about it this week. He was far too emotional and heartbroken. But when Liberal’s Nick Brooks hit a grand slam homer in the ninth to give the Bee Jays an 8-5 lead, the reality hit home that his bat boy Kaiser Carlile wouldn’t be there to greet him at home plate. But his teammates were to celebrate a triumphant moment in what had been a maddening night. The Bee Jays showed more resiliency then ever Thursday night in Wichita with an 8-5 win over the El Dorado Broncos.

El Dorado started fast scoring one in the first and three in the second against starter Brad Vassar and one in the fourth against Luke Whitfield. Offensively, it was an agonizing night as the BJ’s chased across one in the third on a walk to Madison Foster but hit into doubles plays in four consecutive innings (2nd-5th). The Broncos had five runs on ten hits the first four innings. Will Olds provided calm to the BJ waters pitching 4.2 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. Liberal scored two in the sixth to make it 5-3 Broncos. Brady Cox reached on a fielder’s choice to drive home a run and Micah Green’s infield hit scored a run. The bases remained loaded with one out and they didn’t score again until the ninth. El Dorado struggled throwing strikes. They walked nine on the night and three in the ninth. With one out, Luke Sherley and Gavin Wehby worked walks before Foster flicked a single to left. Brent Williams walked with the bases loaded to make it 5-4. Brooks then sent a line drive grand slam screaming over the center field wall and off the batter’s eye to make it 8-5. Joel Kuhnel pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth and induced a 6-3 double play to Sherley to end the game just before midnight. Liberal is 36-18 while the Broncos finish 33-15. El Dorado out hit Liberal 14-8.

The Bee Jays play the Haysville Aviators at 7 Friday night on 1270 and kscbnews.net. Seattle eliminated Santa Barbara 7-0 so the Studs are in Saturday’s final. The winner of Aviators-BJ’s would have to beat the Studs twice on Saturday.