Elite open Clanton Tourney with blowout victory (Updated scores)

Garden City, Kan (westerkansasnews.com)-One could argue that the best thing that happened to the Garden City Elite this summer was an uninspiring 2-2 showing at the Tournament of Champions in Colorado. Even at 13-2 overall, that might have been the wake-up call Lyle Befort’s team needed.

Mario Montoya knocked in two runs; Isaiah Rodriguez drove in three, and Daniel Flores allowed three hits in four innings as the Elite roasted Cimarron 10-0 in four innings Friday morning on day two of the 27th annual Clanton Memorial Tournament at Lightner Field.

“We hit the ball really well today,” Montoya said afterwards. “I didn’t have a great tournament in Colorado so I was determined to get hits here.”

Montoya didn’t record a single hit in Garden City’s four-game stint in Pueblo. That streak ended in the second inning when he stroked an RBI single to give the Elite a 2-0 lead.

Jacob Rivas, who led off the third with a double, came around to score on a throwing error to make it 3-0. Rodriguez’s fielder’s choice RBI and Montoya’s second run-scoring hit gave Garden City a 5-0 cushion.

The Elite put the icing on the cake in the fourth-plating five more to induce the run rule.

“There’s still some things we need to clean up,” Montoya said. “But as long as we don’t make errors, we’ll be in good shape.”

Next up: Garden City vs. Goodland-Friday, June 27 9 p.m. at Lightner Field

Box Score: gcelite_cimarron

Other Scores

Thursday

SW River Rats 24, Hugoton 4 (Final/5 innings)-19 division

SW Hitters 5, Garden City Royals 2-14 and under

Friday

Garden City Bombers 14, Minneola 13 (Final/8 innings)-16 and under Division

Dodge City 10, Colby 2 (Final 5/innings)-19 Division

Liberal 25, Garden City 13’s 10-14 and under