Buffaloes’ Sluggish Start Leads to Home Loss

GARDEN CITY, Kan. – Weather forced Garden City into a 10-day break from competitive baseball.

Coaching did the best to stimulate and challenge in-game situations, but nothing compares to competition, especially against your fiercest rivals.

It wasn’t to be for the Garden City Buffaloes, losing 13-3 against the Dodge City Red Demons at Clint Lightner Field on Tuesday night. The Buffaloes trailed the entirety of the contest, the Red Demons plating two runs before a rusty GCHS squad could record an out.

“We have to be able to come out and execute,” head coach Anthony Ortiz said. “We felt like we prepared, we felt likehad a good week of practice, but we came out and kicked it around.”

Garden City (5-6, 0-4 WAC) couldn’t stop the bleeding in the early innings. The Buffaloes gave up 12 runs on 11 hits through the first three frames. DCHS hit through the order twice.

Dodge City (6-10, 2-2 WAC) was ignited by third baseman, Aric Mendoza. Mendoza drove in his team-leading 14th and 15th RBI on a two-run single in the first, then recorded an RBI double in the third.

The Buffaloes’ early offense came from sophomore Culden Plankenhorn. The catcher launched his first career varsity home run over the right field wall in the first to get GCHS on the board.

“That kid can spray the ball over the place,” Ortiz praised Plankenhorn. “He’s probably the toughest guy on our team, pound-for-pound.”

Plankenhorn tallied more in the third inning, drilling a two-run single to score Chase McGraw and Emilio Zundt.

The sophomore finished Tuesday night going 2-for-3 with a walk and a season-most 3 RBI.

“[Plankenhorn] is fearless, that’s just how he approaches life,” Ortiz said. “I bet every single coach at Garden City High School would love to have him in their lineup.”

Dodge tacked on one more via a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. The Red Demons scored 13 runs on 14 hits in the victory.

The Buffaloes close up their three-game home stand on Friday in a doubleheader against the Wichita Southeast Golden Buffaloes. Coverage on 99.9 ‘The Rock’ begins at 3:45 P.M. for a 4:00 first pitch in game one, game two will follow.

Anthony Ortiz interview