In a non league game, the Liberal Bee Jays and Dodge City A’s finished in a 7-7 tie in front of a big 4th of July crowd. The B.J.’s struck out with the winning run on third base. The teams shook hands and it was announced over the PA that the fireworks were coming soon after a lengthy almost 3 and a half hour game. It’s the first time the B.J.’s didn’t win the 4th of July game since 2018.
Liberal scored two in the first. Cade Adams singled home a run. Liberal scored a second run when Cooper Kardokus got caught in a run down and Cal Anthony raced home from third. The A’s scored a run on two hits in the second. Cal Anthony singled home a run in the third for a 3-1 lead. After a key B.J. error on a double play ball, DC scored two in the fourth to tie the game 3-3. The B.J.’s took a 4-3 lead with a run in the fifth when Cal Anthony legged out an infield single. The A’s scored two in the sixth to lead 5-4. The Jays were poised for a big inning in the sixth when Charlie Ziola and Jhett Huffman singled. But a double play quashed those hopes. Ben Finnegan lashed an RBI double to right but was thrown out at third with a 5-5 tie. The A’s took the lead back with two in the eighth. Ben Finnegan homered to right to lead off the ninth. Trenton Uyeda was hit by a pitch and Cal Anthony singled sharply to right with one out. Cade Adams was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Drew Gartman hit a sac fly to right to tie the game. Liberal struck out with the winning run on third.
Dodge City out-hit Liberal 10-9. The Bee Jays had five errors while DC had one. B.J. pitching struck out 16 and walked six. DC struck out eight and walked six. Liberal scored six of their seven runs with two outs.
Brooks Kappelmann started the game and went two innings because is was a non league game. Jack Taczy pitched a scoreless inning. Braden Whipple pitched a scoreless ninth as Liberal used six pitchers.
Ben Finnegan was Black Hills Energy Player of the Game going 2-2 with a home run, a double, four runs, and two RBI’s. He got on base all five games. Cal Anthony was 3-4 with two RBI’s. Jhett Huffman was 2-3.
Dodge City is 11-11-2 and Liberal is 13-7-1. The same two teams play in a non league game Sunday night at Dodge City at 7pm. No radio for the non league road game. The next radio broadcast is Tuesday night at 7pm in Hays.
