After the third inning, Ark City's offense ran out.

They managed just five hits over five innings until the ninth.

"When we start striking out a lot you know that we are out of our approach," said Ark City head coach Aaron Bucher. "Their guy was throwing breaking balls on the first strike and we did not do a very good job of handling it."

Olathe South finally found a solution to Ark City's starting pitcher, Jarod Schmidt in the fourth when Jon Hale hit a two-run home run over the left-field wall and Kyle Rich followed up with an RBI single. Roberts atoned for his earlier error with an RBI single to right field that cut the Black Diamond's lead to 6-5.

"We have always started slow," said Olathe South head coach Gerry Cope. "It took us to the fourth inning to get going but when we did ..."

In the sixth inning, Rich drilled a double down the left-field line, then Knight and Roberts hit sacrifices to give the Falcons a 7-6 advantage.

"We had chances to get runners in and build up our lead and we just got away from what we do offensively," Bucher said. "To their credit, they just kept pecking away."

It wasn't until the eighth inning when Olathe South put the game away.

Ark City gave up three consecutive singles then Roberts hit a two run single to shallow left field and Jack Bond followed up with a three-run home run to right to put the Falcons up 12-6.

The Black Diamonds threatened in the top of the ninth after Weaver led off with a single and Jason Young followed up with a two-run home run to left field.

"That is our first home run all season," Bucher said. "That is not our game. Our game is to move runners and drive runners in with less than two outs."

Ark City was able to load the bases with two outs when Palmer took a full count and struck out on a pitch from Falcon's reliever Ryan Kacirek.

"I was nervous but, going in with a six-run lead," Cope said. "That means pitch ground balls and throw strikes because two runs are not going to do it."

Bucher said that he was confident with Palmer up in the situation Ark City was in.

"With any of your guys, you have to like your chances," Bucher said. "I thought we did a good job in the seventh when we got two hits with two outs and we were able to turn out lineup over and have a chance."

The loss moved Ark City to the loser's bracket of the tournament, where they will face the Lawrence Raiders at 10 a.m. today. Olathe South moves on to face Blue Valley Northwest in the winner's bracket at 4 p.m. today.

"I think we will be thinking of a way to beat Lawrence," Bucher said.

Above: Arkansas City Black Diamonds' Weaver Justin is congratulated at homeplate after hitting a home run during the first inning of the second game of the American Legion State Tournament against Olathe South Falcons at JayCee Ballpark Friday afternoon.