By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post
HAYS - Hays High had their season opener with Garden City postponed earlier in the week due to weather. Instead of being on the road for their first games the Indians hosted two-time defending 5A champs Valley Center Thursday at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.
Game 1: Valley Center 11, Hays 5
Valley Center scored 11 unanswered runs after falling behind to beat Hays 11-5.
Avery Solida singled in a pair of runs in the bottom of the first for Hays as the Indians took a 2-0 lead. Hays had a chance to extend their lead in the bottom of the second with runners at second and third with one out but couldn't produce any additional support.
Valley Center took the lead with a four run top of the third inning when the first five batters of the inning reached base. The Hornets tacked on two runs in the fifth, three in the sixth and two in the seventh for an 11-2 advantage.
Hays trailed 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning when they opened the frame with three consecutive singles. However, the Indians were once again turned away with out scoring.
The Indians did produce three runs in the bottom of the seventh when Dez Schmidt, Dani Willeford and Riley Dreher scored. Two of the runs crossed on a Lakyn Zimmerman single for the final of 11-5.
Riley Dreher worked all seven innings in taking the loss. Hays committed five errors.
Game 2: Valley Center 13, Hays 1 (5 innings)
Hays once again held the lead after one inning only to watch Valley Center blow open the game for a 13-1 victory in five innings.
Valley Center was set down in order by sophomore starter Jaylee Summers in her first career start. Lakyn Zimmerman singled in a run as Dez Schmidt crossed the plate for a 1-0 advantage.
The rest of the game belonged to the visiting Hornets. Valley Center sent 13 batters to the plate and nine scored for a 9-1 advantage. The inning featured a pair of two-run homeruns and four walks.
Valley Center added four more runs in the top of the third for the final tally of 13-1. The Hornets hit three homeruns in the double header and now have 11 through the first six games of the season. They have 58 hits in those six games and 28 of them are for extra bases.
Summers took the loss in the game for Hays. Dreher and sophomore Lanie Becker also spent time in the circle.
The Indians start the season at 0-2 while Valley Center improves to 6-0.
Schmidt went 4-7 at the plate in the double header.