Impressive start at state; Blues trounce Emporia

Hays, Kan (westernkansasnews.com)-The old saying goes: dance with who brung you; Finney County sticking to that script-riding ace Edgar Montoya to an 11-1, 7-inning, mercy-rule win over Emporia in the opening round of the AAA Legion State Tournament at Larks Park on Wednesday night. 

“He threw strikes and just ate them up,” Blues coach Lyle Befort said afterwards. “It was awesome to watch; he was on all night long.”

The local product made his opponent look rather ordinary, scattering five hits while throwing just 90 pitches. 

“He kept the ball down tonight, which is always a good sign,” Befort said.

It also doesn’t hurt when your offense has it stuck in automatic. The Blues have scored 23 runs in their last two games including a 12 spot they hung on Great Bend in the zone finals. 

The catalyst vs. Emporia: Ian Jones, who finished the night 2-for-3 including a line-drive, two-out, two-run double that sparked Garden’s five-run sixth.

“We did exactly what I said we had to do,” Befort said. “We came out; we scored early and we scored a lot. That’s the game plan: to get out on these teams and get out early.”

The Blues will play in the semifinals Thursday at p.m. vs. Hays-they beat Leavenworth in the 1st round.