Kelton Rule pitches complete-game shutout in AAA opener
By CONOR NICHOLL
PITTSBURG -- Kelton Rule's magnificent pitching performance Friday afternoon against Andover in the first round of the Class AAA State Legion tournament started with a phone call.
Before state play began, Hays head coach Mike Jenner knew little about Andover and called Great Bend, a team that had played Andover five times during the regular season.
"We got a good scouting report that they had trouble hitting the curve," Rule said. "That is what I worked on mostly out there. ... (Jenner's report) said the first five, they can swing in pretty well and then the rest, they said, just throw it right by them."
The phone call worked to perfection.
Rule tossed a complete game, nine-inning shutout in a 6-0 victory against Augusta at Jaycee Park. On a humid, 100-degree day, Rule worked past the eighth inning for the first time in his career and tossed 135 pitches. He also hit a solo homer and drove in two runs.
"That was a heck of a performance," Jenner said.
Rule's day propelled Hays into the second round (Saturday night) against host Pittsburg and improved his season numbers to 8-2, the most wins since Aaron Breit won eight in 2004, the last time Hays reached the state tournament. It continued a season-long turnaround from the spring where Rule didn't see playoff action for Hays High.
Saturday's scheduled starter was David Klaus.
"It was a big win for us," Justin Klaus said. "We don't have a lot of pitching, so we can't afford to get into the losers' bracket right away and have to work back through that with a little pitching."
Klaus backed Rule with several strong defensive plays at second base. He turned two double plays, including one off an over-the-shoulder catch, halting an Andover rally. Hays didn't make an error, compared to four for Andover, a sub-.500 team that won the Augusta zone.
"I was just trying to let them hit it a little bit, get the ground ball," Rule said. "I have got a great defense behind me. ... They played tremendous for me."
Rule's day started with a flawless first inning. He followed the scouting report and struck out Luke Hantla looking on a breaking ball. Klaus also made a sliding stop at second base, one of several terrific plays by Hays.
Rule had one jam in the fourth. With one out and Hays up 3-0, Rule issued a walk to James Hilts and balked him to second. Jordan Jones hit a flyball to right center field. Austin Klaus and Matt Malott (three hits) both converged on the ball and collided. The ball fell in and put runners at second and third.
Rule coaxed a ground ball to Travis Budke at third base. Budke threw home and Jay Sanders made a swipe tag for the out.
"The defense still, I just knew that if they hit it, I have got good D and they made great plays," Rule said.
Rule's pitch was already at 65 at four innings and Jenner told him the right-hander had to start cutting down on his pitches to work deeper.
"The last half of the game, he started getting quicker innings and fewer pitches and that is what saved him," Jenner said.
Klaus ended a fifth-inning rally with another defensive gem. With runners on first and second and one out, Hantla hit a flare into short right field.
Klaus reached over his right shoulder, made the catch, turned and threw the ball to first base for the second out.
"Those double plays the whole game were really big and that is what wins ballgames," Jenner said.
After the fifth, Rule only allowed one runner to reach second base. Working behind in the count on multiple batters, Rule kept coaxing outs with the breaking ball.
"I am just kind of confident because I am used to getting down because I have done it all season long, kind of used to it and I am fine with getting down," Rule said. "If I go 3-0, same pitch, next time."
He also asked Jenner to keep on going.
"I just came off every inning and said I can go, I can go," Rule said. "I wanted to finish it, save pitching for the tournament. That's huge for us."
Rule homered in the seventh and gave Hays a 5-0 lead. He had 120 after eight innings - his previous career high. Jenner, though, wanted him to finish. With two on and two out in the ninth, Jenner walked out the mound.
Sanders lobbied for one more batter and Jenner agreed.
Rule threw one more pitch and coaxed a ground ball that ended the game. He pumped a tired fist and received a hug from assistant coach Michael Billinger.
"Rule did a pretty dang good job," Justin Klaus said. "It was tough out there for us."
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