Elite respond with sweep of Ulysses

Garden City, Kan (westernkansasnews.com)-Losers of six out of their previous seven games, Garden City need a jolt of life. On Monday night at home, Lyle Befort’s squad got just that. 

The veteran coach got solid starts from both Thomas Solorio and Jesse Ruiz in a sweeping Ulysses 9-3 and 11-2 at Clint Lightner Stadium. 

“Much better effort,” Befort said. “Our pitching looked very good.”

That was especially the case in the finale where Ruiz and newly acquired Sloane Baker combined to allow just one hit. 

Then there was the offense, which came to life just as they traded wooden bats back in for their aluminum. Both Logan Dechant and Derek Cook drove in two runs a piece in game two. Meantime Daniel Flores finished 3-for-3 at the dish. 

In game one-three Elite players recorded double-digit hits: Daven Acker, Solorio and Addison Deherrera. But things weren’t rosy early on. 

Trailing 3-0 after one, Garden City (18-8) got back in the contest with two runs in the second. It started with Mario Montoya’s RBI groundout that cut the deficit to 3-1. Deherrera’s run-scoring single pulled the Elite to within a run. 

They took the lead for good with a three-run third inning. 

Next up: Garden City vs. Hit Streak-Colorado Springs Tourney 6 p.m. Friday, July 11

Notes: Garden City improved their record to 20-8 with two forfeit victories over Goodland on Tuesday

Box Scores: gcelite_ulysseshomegm1 | gcelite_ulysseshomegm2