SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
SALINA, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School baseball team split with the Salina Central Mustangs on Tuesday evening at Dean Evans Stadium. The Salthawks won the first game in run-rule fashion, before dropping the nightcap in 10 innings.
Hutchinson (10-9) will host Andale/Garden Plain and Haven on Friday at Hobart-Detter Field for a triangular. Salina Central (10-8) will travel to Newton on Friday.
Game 1 — Hutchinson 14, Salina Central 4 (6 Innings)
Caiden Beavers recorded his fifth three-hit game of the season to lead Hutchinson to a 14-4 win over Salina Central in six innings.
Beavers went 3-for-5 with three singles, two RBIs and three stolen bases, helping the Salthawks improve to 5-1 against left-handed starters and 3-2 in games without a defensive error. His two-run single in the first keyed a six-run opening frame, with Cole Bleything and Landon Parks also driving in runs.
Beavers added another RBI single in the third as Hutchinson pushed the lead to 9-3.
JuJu Lyons made the start and allowed one hit and three runs over two innings despite six walks. Bleything earned the win on the mound, going four innings of scoreless relief, striking out three and not allowing a hit.
The Salthawks totaled 10 hits and 10 walks. Parks and Carter Morgan each had multi-hit games, while Jack Davis walked three times. Hutchinson stole six bases.
Salina Central was led by Maximus Maes with two RBIs. Parker Graves and Bodie Rodriquez each had a hit, and the Mustangs drew six walks but couldn't overcome five defensive errors.
Hutchinson - 603 032 x - 14 10 0
Salina Central - 301 000 x - 4 2 5
W: Lyons (3-2). L: Gross. Time: 1:47.
Game 2 — Salina Central 5, Hutchinson 4 (10 Innings)
A back-and-forth battle ended in heartbreak for Hutchinson, as Salina Central walked it off in the tenth for a 5-4 win Tuesday evening.
Hutchinson took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth after Cole Bleything delivered an RBI single to left and a defensive miscue allowed a second run to score. Salina Central answered in the bottom half, tying the game on a sacrifice fly by Maximus Maes and a bases-loaded walk to Seth Rogers.
The Salthawks regained the lead in the ninth when Carter Morgan singled home a run and an error added another, giving Hutchinson a 4-2 advantage. But the Mustangs responded again in their final at-bat. Parker Graves ripped a game-tying, two-run double down the right field line before later scoring the winning run.
Graves also picked up the win on the mound, tossing three innings of relief with two strikeouts and no walks. Starter Seth Rogers went seven innings, allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) while fanning four.
Landon Parks took the loss for Hutchinson after allowing one run in two-thirds of an inning. Starter Gabe Valadez gave the Salthawks five and two-thirds solid innings, surrendering four hits and two runs with one strikeout.
Bleything and Caiden Beavers led Hutchinson’s offense with two hits apiece. Morgan, Bleything, and Valadez each drove in a run. Hutchinson turned one double play on defense.
Salina Central finished with 10 hits and five stolen bases. Graves led the Mustangs with two RBIs and went 2-for-5. Rogers, Jack Gordon, and Tyrus Young also notched two hits each, while Bodie Rodriquez stole a pair of bases.
Hutchinson - 000 200 002 0 - 4 8 1
Salina Central - 000 200 002 1 - 5 10 6
W: Graves. L: Parks (0-1). Time: 2:34.