Bee Jays Hold On in Bethany

Liberal built leads of 9-0 and 10-2 but then had to hold on for dear life in an 11-10 win over the Bethany Bulls in Oklahoma City Saturday night. Liberal committed four errors in the win.

The Bee Jays started strongly with RBI singles by Brady Cox and Troy LaBrie. Nick Brooks and Brady Cox cracked mammoth home runs to left for Brooks second and Cox’s third of the year to make it 4-0 in the third. Matt Cole hit a grand slam in the fourth for his second homer of the season and Madison Foster singled and scored on a wild pitch for a five run inning and a 9-0 lead. The Bulls crept back in it with two in the fourth against starter Kadon Simmons who went five strong innings allowing two runs with five strikeouts. Brady Cox doubled to lead off the seventh and scored on a LaBrie single to lead 10-2 at the seventh inning stretch. The Bulls roared back scoring three in the seventh and three in the eighth which were aided by two BJ errors. The BJ’s scored in the ninth on what would prove to be the decisive run. Cox singled and scored on a balk. The Bulls scored two in the ninth but a come backer with the tying run on second ended the game.

Brady Cox was 4-5 with a homer and a double. Troy LaBrie was 3-5. Liberal has won six of the last seven and is 18-7 and 14-6 in the Jayhawk League while Bethany is 4-16. The same two teams play Sunday at 3 at McFarland Park in Bethany. The game will air on 1270 and kscbnews.net.

Saturday’s scores

Dodge City 6 Wellington 3

Hays 8 Derby 4

Haysville 10 El Dorado 4