Scott City baseball sweeps Hugoton
Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Scott City entered Tuesday’s doubleheader with Hugoton hoping to stay in the top half of the Class 4A, West division. On the other side, the Eagles needed at least one win in hopes of qualifying for the playoffs. It would be the Beavers would would complete the sweep, as they picked up wins of 10-2 and 14-4.
Scott City 10, Hugoton 2, Game 1
It would be close early on, but the Beavers would pull away in their final three at bats. Scott City did jump out to a 2-0 lead after the first two innings, but weren’t able to pull away early on. In the third inning, Hugoton tied the game on a two-run triple by Weston Johnson. After that, the Beavers would score the final eight runs of the game. It started in the bottom of the third inning, when Spencer Cramer’s double drove in two runs to give Scott City the lead back at 4-2. They added a run in the fourth and fifth innings, and in the sixth, Avery Radke had a two-run triple to make the score 10-2.
Brady Welker went the distance, striking out 12 batters in seven innings, and gave up two unearned runs on three hits. Avery Radke had three hits and three RBI, and Spencer Cramer had two hits and drove in three runs in the opener. Corbin Nix took the loss, giving up 10 runs, seven earned, on 11 hits.
Scott City 14, Hugoton 4, Game 2 (6 Inn.)
Hugoton would take the early lead, but Scott City would counter in a big way and never look back. The Eagles would single in a run in the top of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. In the bottom half of the frame, the Beavers would push across four runs to take a 4-1 lead. Scott City tacked a run on in the second to lead 5-1. In the third, Hugoton made things interesting with a pair of runs to pull to within 5-3. After that, it was all Scott City. The Beavers blew the game open in the bottom of the third with six runs, as Trey Ryan and Avery Radke would have two run singles to extend the lead to 11-3. While the Eagles added a run in the fourth, Scott City put up runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to make the final 14-4.
Three pitchers combined for six innings on the bound for the Beavers, as Eloy Ruelas and Spencer Cramer had three strikeouts apiece through the first 4 2/3 innings. Ruelas gave up an unearned run in 2 1/3 innings, while Cramer gave up three runs in two innings in relief to pick up the win. Aaron Armendariz went the final 1 2/3 innings, scattering two hits. Trey Run had one hit and had three RBI, while Avery Radke, Spencer Cramer and Eloy Ruelas drove in two runs. Brady Welker collected three hits in the win. Weston Johnson took the loss for Hugoton, going 5 2/3 innings, giving up 14 runs, six earned on 12 hits. Johnson and Julian Delgado drove in a run for the Eagles.
Coach David Dirks Postgame
Scott City has won six straight, and is now 11-5 overall, and improved to 6-4 in GWAC play. They’ll host Ulysses on Thursday to close out the regular season. The Tigers swept Goodland on Tuesday to improve to 12-6 overall, 7-3 in league play. Hugoton will finish their regular season at 4-17.
As of Tuesday night, Scott City is sitting in the sixth spot in the Class 4A, West standings. Ulysses is currently right behind them in the seventh spot. The Beavers position in the final standings could range from sixth to 10th in the 4A, West, but are likely headed to Abilene, Pratt or Clay Center for regional play next week.
