SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson and Newton traded wins in Tuesday’s baseball doubleheader at Hobart-Detter Field, with the Railers claiming a 4-1 victory in the opener before the Salthawks bounced back in dominant fashion with a 12-2 run-rule win in Game 2.
Hutchinson is now 13-10 on the season and will host Maize on Friday at home, while Newton moves to 4-17 on the year and will play in McPherson on Friday.
Game 1 — Newton 4, Hutchinson 1
The Newton Railers secured back-to-back victories for the first time this season, defeating Hutchinson, 4-1.
A groundout by Trevor Beyer gave Newton a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth, but Hutchinson tied it in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly from Jack Yoder.
Brayden Fox delivered the go-ahead hit for the Railers in the fifth, driving in two runs with a single through the right side to make it 3-1. Newton added an insurance run in the sixth.
Fox finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Railers offensively, while Beyer also drove in two.
Oliver Smith earned the win for Newton, allowing three hits and one unearned run over four innings with two strikeouts and no walks. JuJu Lyons took the loss for Hutchinson, surrendering three runs on three hits across five innings.
The loss snapped a two-game win streak for Hutchinson, which fell to 12-10. Yoder, Cole Bleything, and Lyons each recorded a hit for the Salthawks.
Newton - 000 120 1 - 4 4 1
Hutchinson - 000 100 0 - 1 4 1
W: Smith. L: Lyons (2-3). Time: 1:40.
Game 2 — Hutchinson 12, Newton 2 (5 Innings)
Gabe Valadez struck out a season-high eight batters and Hutchinson made key changes to the lineup as the Salthawks rolled to a 12-2 victory.
The win came in emphatic fashion after Hutchinson dropped the opener of the doubleheader. Valadez set the tone early, allowing just two hits and two runs (one earned) over five innings to earn the win.
Hutchinson jumped ahead with a four-run first inning, highlighted by a sacrifice fly from Jack Yoder, a two-run single by Cole Bleything, and an RBI single from Valadez. The Salthawks added three more runs in the second, with JuJu Lyons driving in one on a sacrifice fly and Valadez singling home two more.
Offensively, Hutchinson tallied 10 hits. Bleything, Caiden Beavers, Lyons, and Valadez each recorded two hits, while Bleything and Valadez each finished with three RBIs. The Salthawks also showed patience at the plate with six walks and aggressiveness on the bases, swiping eight bags—three by Beavers.
Newton used three pitchers. Trevor Beyer started and allowed seven hits and seven runs (four earned) over 1 2/3 innings. Nate Barron took the loss, issuing one walk in 2/3 of an inning without allowing a hit or run.
Barron and Cody Jay each had one hit for Newton, with Barron driving in the team’s lone RBI.
Newton - 002 00x x - 2 2 4
Hutchinson - 430 2x x - 12 11 2
W: Valadez (2-3). L: Beyer. Time: 1:42.