By RORY MOORE
Tiger Media Network
The Hays Larks played their first home game of 2025 against the Dodge City A’s on Saturday at Larks Park. Before the game, the team was presented with the championship trophy for winning the 2024 National Baseball Congress World Series.
The Larks defeated the A’s 13-3 in their home opener after eight innings. 
Pitching Coach Keith Harper embraces Infielder Thomas Lyssy. 
The Larks’ starting lineup is introduced. 
Infielder Taber Stokes plays defense as he throws to first. 
Outfielders Trent Baker and Lane Sparks clank helmets after a solo home run. 
Sparks celebrates his solo homer into left field. 
Stokes hit a two-run homer at the bottom of the first. 
Stokes gets cheers from his teammates for his home run. 
Ray Jesse swings at an A’s pitch. 
Reid fist bumps Assistant Coach Andy Lewton after producing a base hit. 
Harper speaks with Pitcher Dalton Campbell during a timeout. 
First Baseman Jackson Babcock dives back to first after being caught leaning. 
Sparks takes advantage of a missed Dodge City throw while sliding into second. 
Catcher Lorenzo Lios leans to catch a live ball. 
Baker and Lyssy jog to home plate after Babcock’s game-ending three-run homer. 
The Larks receive the 2024 NBC World Championship trophy.
Dodge City scored early in the top of the first inning with one run, but Hays set the tone of the game by scoring four runs in the bottom of the first with a solo home run by outfielder Lane Sparks, an inside-the-park home run by first baseman Jackson Babcock and a two-run home run by shortstop Taber Stokes. The Larks held the A’s to three runs, and Babcock ended the game with a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, giving Hays a 13-3 victory after eight innings via the mercy rule.
“They showed good signs that we’re a good hitting club,” Larks Head Coach Frank Leo said. “They know how to handle two-strike hitting, and we have competitive at-bats. We’ve got a long way to go, but that’s a good sign without hitters. We got some firepower, and we like that.”
Sparks and Babcock were the Larks’ lead scorers with three runs and two hits each, while Dalton Campbell was the winning pitcher with eight strikeouts in four innings.
“Campbell got himself in some jams, and he reached back and took care of business,” Leo said. “We’ve got some veterans here who’ve been through with us, and now we’ve got some young guys we brought in this year to complement those [older] guys. It looks like a good mix.”
Sparks produced his results from four at-bats and had one RBI.
“It was fun coming into the game,” he said. “Coach Leo let us know how much this community loves us. From the jump, we were all locked in trying to put on the show, and I think we did a good job, and I did okay. I like to look at the bad stuff to push myself and do better as a baseball player.”
His performance in the game enabled him to shine more than last year.
“I wasn’t a power hitter,” he said. “I was a slapper, get-on-base guy, and while it’s still part of my game, I think I’ve gotten better at driving the ball.”
Stokes had two runs, two hits and three RBIs from two at-bats.
“It felt great to be part of this awesome offense,” he said. “We had it last year and now this year. It’s always fun, playing in front of the fans and having a good time with my guys.”
With a strong start to the season after winning their first two games on the road, the Larks are set on defending their title of NBC World Champions.
“That’s our goal, and there’s no doubt we can do it,” Stokes said. “We have a good group of guys who can push towards that again.”
The Larks’ next home game will be against the Kansas Cannons at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.