The Liberal Bee Jays opened their 2024 season with an 8-2 loss but bounced back with a game two win 8-3 Sunday evening at Brent Gould Field. Game one began on Saturday evening and made it to the bottom of the fourth before a thunderstorm postponed the action in the middle of the fourth. The game resumed Sunday evening at 5pm. The opening loss was Liberal’s first loss in the opener since a 9-2 loss at Great Bend in 2020 and first home loss in an opener since 2009 against El Dorado.
In game one, Liberal had one bad inning which decided the game. The B.J.’s allowed six runs on two hits, five walks, one HBP, and three errors in the fourth Saturday night. The Angels tacked on runs in the seventh and ninth. Liberal scored their first run of the season in the seventh when Lane Snow singled home Robert Orr. Taiga Sakuma launched a solo home run just inside the foul pole in right. Parker King pitched three scoreless innings for Liberal with five strikeouts. Jason Davis pitched four strong innings allowing one run with six strikeouts. Liberal out-hit the Angels 8-6 in the loss. But Liberal pitching walked 12.
In game two, the Angels, from Parker, Colorado, scored one in the second. Liberal broke the game open with a six run second. James Nolan singled with one out. After walks to Matt Mendez and Kai Smith, James Nolan raced home on a wild pitch. Taiga Sakuma singled home a run. Lane Snow lined a two RBI double to left center. Julius Ramirez dropped a two RBI single to right. The Bee Jays scored two more in the third as James Nolan and Kai Smith singled in the inning. Two Angel errors on a pick off attempt at first and subsequent throwing error to third scored the runs. Gameday scored two in the fifth. This was a seven inning game. The Angels out-hit the Bee Jays 9-7 but committed four errors. Hunter Phillips pitched four strong innings allowing one run with five strikeouts. James Nolan was Epic Touch Player of the Game going 2-3 with two runs.
The teams play Monday night at 7pm at Brent Gould Field for the rubber game of the series with the Dugout Show at 6:45 on 1270 and 92.3. Electric Motor Service is the buyout sponsor.
