HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School baseball team split an Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I doubleheader with Valley Center on Friday evening at Hobart-Detter Field.
The Salthawks lost the first game, 11-8, before bouncing back to win Game 2, 12-8.
Hutchinson is now 6-4 on the season and will travel to Maize South on Tuesday. Valley Center is now 6-6 on the year and will host Derby on Tuesday.
Game 1 — Valley Center 11, Hutchinson 8
A four-run lead wasn’t enough for the Hutchinson Salthawks, who fell 11-8 to Valley Center after a seventh-inning surge by the Hornets on Friday.
Hutchinson built an 8-4 lead after Cole Bleything tripled in three runs in the fifth inning and later scored on a balk. But Valley Center responded with five runs on five hits in the top of the seventh to take control. Doc Needham’s two-run single capped the comeback.
Gavin Saner opened the scoring for Valley Center with an RBI single in the first. The Hornets added a run in the second on an Austin Saner single. Hutchinson answered with a three-run second inning, highlighted by Caiden Beavers’ two-run single and an error that allowed another run to score.
Beavers finished 2-for-4 at the plate and also stole two bases. Bleything drove in a team-high two runs. Carter Morgan and Beavers each swiped multiple bases, helping Hutchinson finish with six steals and six walks.
Beavers took the loss in relief, allowing three unearned runs in two-thirds of an inning. Starter Jack Davis pitched five innings, allowing one earned run and striking out five. Valley Center’s Brodie Saner earned the win, tossing three innings and striking out four.
Valley Center - 210 102 5 - 11 10 3
Hutchinson - 130 040 0 - 8 5 4
W: Bryson Saner. L: Caiden Beavers. Time: 2:28.
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Game 2 — Hutchinson 12, Valley Center 8
Hutchinson High School used a seven-run fourth inning to pull away from Valley Center in a 12-8 win on Friday.
After falling behind early, the Salthawks rallied in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 lead behind a steal of home by Caiden Beavers and an RBI single by Jack Davis. Valley Center responded in the top of the fourth, reclaiming a 4-3 lead on a Cooper Boone RBI single and a fielder’s choice groundout from Braden Hietsman.
But Hutchinson erupted in the bottom half of the inning. Jack Yoder drove in two with a single, Beavers added an RBI triple, and Cole Bleything brought in another run on a fielder’s choice. The rally gave Hutchinson an 8-5 lead, and they never trailed again.
JuJu Lyons earned the win for the Salthawks, allowing five runs—four earned—on seven hits in five innings while striking out four. Landon Parks threw two innings of relief. Jacob Morton took the loss for Valley Center, giving up eight runs (five earned) on seven hits over four innings.
Beavers and Lyons each collected three hits for Hutchinson. Beavers also stole two bases and scored twice. Yoder drove in three runs, while Carter Morgan added two hits. The Salthawks finished with 12 hits and six stolen bases as a team.
Valley Center - 300 200 3 - 8 8 4
Hutchinson - 022 404 x - 12 12 3
W: JuJu Lyons. L: Jacob Morton. Time: 2:13.