BY CAYDEN SANDERS
The Hays Larks competed in a non-league game against the Kansas Cannons on Tuesday. The Cannons fired into Hays and got the win, 7-6.
The Cannons, from Augusta and the Kansas Collegiate Baseball Association, got on the board first with a pair of runs in the first inning. The Larks scored one in the first to keep the game at 2-1. The Cannons started the fourth inning by getting a run but allowed the Larks to score three in the third inning due to singles and a wild pitch. In the fifth, both teams scored, pushing the game’s score to 5-4 in favor of the Cannons.
In the sixth inning, the Larks’ found a way to score and pull within one run but after the sixth inning, both teams could not find a way to get baserunners on. In the ninth inning, Jake Shaults of the Cannons came into the game and shut the Larks down. The Larks struck out twice and had a pop fly to end the game.
“Coming into the ninth to close the game, you know you have to do your job and get the win. And with us playing a good ball club, we came into tonight thinking we needed to win, and that’s what we did,” Shaults said. “Looking at a lineup before going into the game is always tough, but you got to know how you want to attack each hitter. Once you get ahead as a pitcher, you can win the battle versus each batter.”
The Larks are back in action today against league foe the Liberal Beejays’ for a two-game series in Liberal. The next home game for the Larks will be Saturday night against the Dodge City A’s. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Centerfielder Jack Torosian tracks a fly ball to earn another out for the Larks 
First baseman Tyler LaRue hops to get a ground ball out 
LaRue stretches for a high throw from a teammate to make the play 
Pitcher Caden Hare fields the ground ball that was put into play 
Kansas Cannons’ second baseman makes the final play to end the game