WICHITA, Kan. – Game One – It was the Derby, KS Twins who recorded the first run and, eventually, the first win of the 85th NBC World Series with a 7-1 win over the Jasper, IN. Reds.
The Twins got things started in the bottom of the second as Colton Whitehouse doubled in Brett Gonzales. Following a scoreless third, the Twins struck again.
Derrick Winn scored on a deep sacrifice fly by Ryan McNally to double the Twins lead. Two batters later, Thomas Green singled in Gonzales.
Jasper found their first run of the day on a sacrifice fly by Reece Bauer scoring Jacob Lents from third.
Derby added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, the first two coming off an error by the pitcher on an attempted pick-off to first base. A third run came as McNally hurried home on a Green sacrifice bunt.
The Twins extended their lead by one more run in the bottom of the eighth as McNally scored on a fielder’s choice.
Twins’ pitcher Michael Mitchell was named the Park City Player of the Game after striking out 10 batters in seven innings while only allowing three hits and a single run.
Derby will play again Sunday, July 28 at 9:30 p.m. against the Dodge City, KS A’s. Jasper will play Dodge City on Monday, July 29.
Game Two – In game two of the day, the Hays, KS Larks shutout the Waco, Missions, 4-0.
Hays got on the board in the bottom of the first when Grant Lung and Jimmy DeLeon scored on a George Sutherland single.
The Larks added to their lead in the bottom of the second as Jarrod Belbin scored on a hard-hit single to centerfield by Lung.
Hays added their final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth as a DeLeon double scored Taylor Daniell.
With the win, Hays will play in the 7 p.m. feature game against the Great Bend Bat Cats on Sunday, July 28. Waco will play Great Bend on Monday, July 29.
Game Three – Game three was all Sluggers, all the way as Wichita defeated the Wellington Heat, 8-1.
Wellington found the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second as Talon Schaller drove in Pete Shearer with a no-out single to left field.
Wichita surged for five runs in the top of the fourth thanks to singles by Tony Slaughter, Adam Theis and Chris Lopez.
Ryan Koval blew the game open with a two-RBI triple to right field in the top of the seventh, giving Wichita a 7-1 lead.
In the top of the ninth, the Sluggers added one more thanks to an error by Wellington.
Because of the win, Wichita will face off against the Denver, CO Cougars at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 28 while Wellington will take on Denver on Monday.
Game Four – While both squads put up big numbers in the first, 316 Elite outweighed the Palm Springs, CA Chill 11-3 in the first run-rule finish of the tournament.
Palm Springs put three runs up in the top of the first, a double by Bryce Osman highlighting the half-inning.
316 Elite countered the Chill with six runs in the bottom of the first, three of which came off a Bariq Doty three-run homerun.
316 added one run in each of the third, sixth and seventh innings, taking a 9-3 lead after the seventh.
With two runs in the bottom of the eighth, 316 Elite reached the run-rule limit to end the game.
316 Elite plays again on Sunday, July 28 against the Hutchinson, KS Monarchs at 3:30 p.m. Palm Springs plays Hutchinson on Monday.
Sunday’s Schedule –
1:00 p.m. – Wichita Sluggers vs Denver Cougars
3:30 p.m. – 316 Elite vs Hutchinson Monarchs
7:00 p.m. – Hays Larks vs Great Bend Bat Cats
9:30 p.m. – Derby Twins vs Dodge City A’s
