Ark Valley News - Hornets drop three league games

Mason Burns slides into second base against the Maize South Mavericks April 23.

Hornets drop three league games
By Randy Fisher
Last Updated: April 25, 2019

The struggles continue for the Valley Center High School baseball team. The Hornets came from behind to defeat Newton but lost three league games — one to Andover Central and two at Maize South. They are now 4-10 overall and 1-6 in Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League II action.

"We've continued to compete pretty well," said coach Nick Barnes. "We got to get over that hump; we got to finish. That requires consistency from all phases. If we can do that, regardless of our current record, we're going to be a dangerous team in the postseason."

Rained out at home April 23, the Hornets' doubleheader was relocated to their opponents' field — Maize South. Despite playing arguably their best two games of the season, the Hornets lost 6-3 and 2-0.

Down 1-0 in the first game, Valley eked in front in the third. Wyatt Jones led off the inning with a single. Jesse Johnson raised his left leg and stepped into a pitch, sending it screaming over the left-fielder's head and all the way to the fence. Jones scored easily from first to tie the game, as Johnson pulled into second.

Four batters later, Myles Thompson chopped one up the middle to score Johnson and give the Hornets a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth, Mason Burns reached on an error, and Jones was hit by a pitch. Johnson's single to center scored Burns for a 3-1 lead. That was the last run the Hornets would score on the night.

Jones started on the bump for Valley Center and was doing well, until the fourth, when Maize South tied the game. The Mavs added two more in the fifth and one in the sixth to close out the scoring.

"Simple mistakes prevented us from keeping them off the base paths," Barnes said. "Maize South, once they get on the base paths, they want to try to get guys around. We made a few mistakes that eliminated us from preventing them from getting around the bases."

Johnson was 2 for 3 with a pair of RBI and a run scored. Thompson also had two hits and drove in Valley's other run.

The second game was all about the pitching: Payton Graham for the Hornets and Brayden McPheeters for the Mavericks.

Maize South scored an unearned run in the third on an error, two stolen bases and a sacrifice fly. The Mavericks broke up the double no-hitter in the fifth when they parlayed two hits — one that didn't leave the infield — into a second run. Those two hits were all Maize South mustered against Graham.

Valley's best chance to score came in the third. After McPheeters retired the first eight Hornets, Burns drew a walk. He moved to second on a wild pitch and took third when Jones reached on an error. Johnson forced Jones at second to end the inning and with it, Valley's best chance to score.

The Hornets didn't record their only hit of the game until the sixth when Burns lined one between the third baseman and the bag. He advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw but was picked off by the catcher to end the inning.

Now 3-1, Graham allowed two hits and two runs, one of them was unearned, while walking two and striking out four in six innings.

"Payton continues to provide us with some stability on the bump," Barnes said. "He's worked extremely hard, working ahead in the count, getting outs and giving us a chance to be successful."

The April 20 experience of playing at Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals, wasn't quite what the Hornets had hoped for — it didn't include a "W" over Andover Central.

The Jaguars put up four runs in the top of the first and went on to defeat the Hornets 8-1. Due to a time limit, the teams only played six innings.

Valley's only run of the game came in the second. Gavin Adams doubled to left and came around to score on a pair of groundouts.

The Hornets trailed 4-1 with runners at second and third in both the third and fourth innings but could not score.

In the third with two outs, Adams singled to left, but the runner at second was cut down at the plate.

In the fourth with one out, a strikeout and fielder's choice ended the rally.

Andover Central got its leadoff batter on in the sixth and went on to score four times.

"We had a chance on the next play to turn a double play, but we did not come through," Barnes said. "Not only did those two score but they also scored a couple more for an 8-1 lead."

Johnson and Adams each had two hits. Eli DeBaun knocked in Valley's only run.

Wyatt Hager gave up four runs in five innings and took the loss. Burns started the sixth but gave up four runs before yielding to Jones, who struck out the only two batters he faced.

The Hornets rallied from a 4-1 deficit to defeat Newton 6-4 in the first game of an April 18 home triangular. The other two games, including Valley's contest with Wichita East, were postponed because of rain. The Hornets and Blue Aces will play a single game at 6 p.m. April 30.

With two runs in both the first and fourth innings, the Railers led 4-1.

Valley's run came in the first. Jones walked to lead off the inning. The next two batters, Johnson and Aaron Diehl, singled to score Jones. Despite getting their first three batters on, the Hornets could not push across another run.

The Hornets tied the game with three run in the fifth and took the lead with two more in the sixth.

Trailing 4-1, Valley loaded the bases with one out. Diehl beat out an infield hit to third, Blayne Hightower walked and Adams singled. Diehl scored on Jared Newton's sacrifice fly. After a walk again loaded the bases, DeBaun singled in two runs to tie the game at 4.

Graham retired the Railers on nine pitches in the top of the sixth, giving Valley a chance to take the lead. Jones singled to open the sixth and was sacrificed to second by Johnson.

After Diehl walked, a Hightower single to center scored Jones with Diehl moving around to third. Adams grounded out to second as Diehl crossed the plate to make it 6-4.

"We've hit the ball relatively well throughout the season," Barnes said. "We had a late offense and we were able to close the door with Wyatt Hager, traditionally one our starters. We brought him in in a closing situation and he did a nice job."

Hager set down Newton in the seventh on 10 pitches to record the save.

Graham allowed four runs, just one of which was earned, while scattering six hits. The freshman walked one and struck out five.

All 10 of the Hornets' hits were singles. Diehl was 3 for 3 with a run and an RBI. Johnson had a pair of hits. DeBaun drove in a pair of runs.

JV loses to Newton — During the past week, Valley's JV played just once, losing 7-5 to Newton at home April 18. The Hornets took a 2-0 lead after one but the Railers scored three in the second to take the lead for good. Nash Crosby, Zach Romig and Kekoa Vincent each had two hits for the Hornets.

Maize South 6,

Valley Center 3

VC 002 100 0 — 3 8 3

MS 100 221 x — 6 7 1

Jones, Mosher (5), Adams (6) and DeBaun; Meyer, Epke (5), bontrager (6) and Noland. W — Epke. L — Jones (0-3). 2B — VC: Johnson; MS: McPheeters, Bontrager. 3B — MS: Harding.

Maize South 2,

Valley Center 0

VC 000 000 0 — 0 1 1

MS 001 010 x – 2 2 2

Graham and DeBaun; McPheeters and Noland. W — McPheeters. L — Graham (3-1).

Andover Central 8,

Valley Center 1

AC 400 004 x — 8 13 1

VC 010 000 x — 1 7 1

DeGarmo, Shellenberger (6) and Buffington; Hager, Burns (6), Graham (6) and DeBaun. W — DeGarmo. L — Hager (0-3). 2B — AC: DeGarmo; VC: Adams.

Valley Center 6, Newton 4

NEW 200 200 0 — 4 6 1

VC 100 032 x — 6 10 2

Cusick, Davis (5) and Seier; Graham, Hager (7) and DeBaun. W — Graham (3-0). L — Davis. S — Hager (1). 2B — NEW: Kennell.