It was 54 degrees at first pitch with cloudy skies and strong north wind as the Liberal Bee Jays opened their 2025 season.  The Bee Jays withstood the cold weather and the visiting Dodge City A’s 3-2 Tuesday night at Brent Gould Field in Liberal.  The B.J.’s rallied for two in the bottom of the 8th to win against a Dodge City team which was 2-0.

The A’s scored two in the first after a walk and two hit batters paved the way for a two RBI single.  Liberal scored in the fifth.  Brand Wilson was hit by a pitch.  Jack Ryan legged out an infield single which was Liberal’s first hit of the game.  Jaylon Johnson laid down a sac bunt.  Jacob Ortega was hit by a pitch loading the bases.  Cole Giametta hit a sac fly to make it 2-1.  The Bee Jays decided the game in the bottom of the eighth.  Cole Giametta was hit by a pitch.  Kotaro Wakui ripped a ground ball single to right.  Bennett Vondrak lined a two RBI double against the wind to left center to give the B.J.’s the 3-2 lead.

Liberal out-hit the A’s 4-3.  The Jays committed three errors in the win.  Trevor Steele was Epic Touch Player of the Game going three scoreless and hitless innings with three strikeouts and one walk.  Leandro Tamaki went two scoreless innings.  Aden Bowman got the win working two scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

This was a non league game between two Rocky Mountain League teams.  Liberal is 1-0 and Dodge City is 2-1 after a pair of wins over Great Bend.  The same two teams play Thursday night at 7pm at Cavalier Field in Dodge City.