Shane Boyer of the Midwest As, who slid safely into second base during a recent game against Sabetha, had four hits and drove in three runs in the first of two victories last weekend over the Liberty Monarchs.

JIM ARNOLD Special to the Journal

The Midwest Athletics took over first place in the Mid-Plains Leagues East Division with two close victories over the Liberty Monarchs last weekend.

The As started the series with an 8-6 victory over the former division leaders June 15 at Liberty High School. Midwest broke a 6-6 tie in the top of the ninth inning with an RBI-single from Luke Knight and an error to win the game.

Michael Briggs two-run double in the first inning helped the As take a 3-0 lead. The As had a 4-0 lead before the Monarchs tied it with four runs in the bottom of the fourth and tied it again with two in the seventh after the As scored twice in the sixth.

Shane Boyer went four for five with three RBIs and Elijah Dilday went four for five and scored two runs for the As, who cranked out 17 hits off two Liberty pitchers.

In the second game June 16, Briggs hit a two-run homer during a three-run seventh inning that broke a 5-5 tie and lifted the As to an 8-5 victory. Midwest trailed 4-0 after the first and trailed 5-3 before tying the game with two runs in the sixth.

Tyler Perkins went three for five and drove in three runs, while Connor Sorge went two for four with two RBIs for the Athletics. Dalen Blair picked up the win with three scoreless innings in relief of starter Dalton Spurgeon.

The As, 9-3, maintained their new lead in the standings after blowing a seven-run lead and losing to the Rossville Rattlers 12-10 Monday night in Rossville, Kan.

Midwest scored five runs on four hits in the first inning and held a 10-3 lead until Rossville struck for nine runs on seven hits in the seventh. Two of the Rattlers hits were home runs.

Nate Vossman hit a three-run homer in the first for the As, and Dusty Stroup added a two-run shot in the second.

The As will host the Baldwin City Blues for a three-game series Thursday through Saturday at Belton High Schools Al Hamra Stadium. All three games will start at 5 p.m.

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Athletics lead division after beating Liberty twice - Lee's Summit Journal