Buster baseball takes care of business

Garden City, Kan (westernkansasnews.com)-There were so many variables entering Monday’s game that was originally slated with Western Nebraska: Division-I scouts were supposed to be there; the Busters were supposed to be challenged. 

Well for one, the opponent was changed to Bethany’s Junior Varsity squad  because of weather and conflicts. The Division-I scouts from North Alabama and Wichita State had prior commitments, and there wasn’t much of a challenge. 

Garden City pulled the brooms out on the Sweedes-mercy ruling them 10-0 and winning 13-3 Monday at Williams Stadium.

“I’m very happy overall,” Head Coach Chris Finnegan said afterwards. “We got some guys some at bats that don’t normally see many.”

In the first game, those bats exploded-plating five runs in a third inning that saw Finnegan’s bunch send 10 batters to the dish. 

Tyler Tucker led the game off with a triple. Two batters later Rocky Desantis brought him around on a sacrifice fly. Then in the second- Triffon Taratin scored on a wild pitch and Cale Dineen scored after swiping third and taking home on the throw. Dalton Cook’s two-run double mercifully ended things in the fifth. 

Tony Yacovetta was dominant on the bump-allowing a single hit in a complete-game gem. 

In the second game-Garden City (24-17, 14-10) spotted Bethany a 2-0 lead. But a nine-run fifth inning ended any doubt. Tyler Tucker finished 3-for-4 at the plate and knocked in four runs. Francisco Alvarez also recorded a multi-hit game-slapping two hits in four plate appearances. 

Anthony Kaasch pitched well-allowing just two runs on two hits in three innings of work. Tyler Clapper followed that up with an inning of scoreless relief.

Next up: Garden City at Barton County-Saturday doubleheader-12:45 p.m. dugout show; 1 p.m. first pitch-Saturday, April 12 ONLINE ONLY at westernkansasnews.com/gccc-sports-streaming