Downing, 5-0, goes for Hays High tonight
By CONOR NICHOLL
The Hays High School baseball team has tweaked its rotation because of a postponement against Dodge City on Tuesday night.
HHS, which defeated Dodge City 7-0 in Game 1 of a scheduled home doubleheader Tuesday, saw Game 2 postponed because of lightning.
That contest will be made up today at 6 p.m. at HHS field.
On Friday, the Indians (13-4 overall, 4-1 WAC) will finish the regular season with a road doubleheader against Liberal. Three wins would guarantee Hays High the host site for regionals and give the Indians at least a share of the Western Athletic Conference title with Great Bend.
HHS coach Frank Leo will pitch junior right-hander Logan Downing, who was supposed to throw Game 2 on Tuesday, in today's game. Downing is 5-0 with a no-hitter against Dodge City earlier this season. Downing. who went 4-1 as a sophomore, is tied for 14th on the all-time single season wins list in the Leo era. His nine victories are also on the all-time career leader board.
"The idea is if we can get seven (innings) out of Logan on Thursday and save everybody else for Friday, we will be in good shape," Leo said.
On Friday, junior Kelton Rule (2-2) will start Game 1 and Leo said Hays High will likely team pitch Game 2, with senior Nathan Meier, sophomores Daniel Moritz, Derek Meyer and Tanner Willhoft seeing some time.
Meier, along with senior Sam Rohleder, can be used out of the bullpen for regionals that start next week.
"You want to feel good about going to the pen if you need to," Leo said.
