SALINA, Kan. — The No. 3 McPherson Bullpups punched their ticket into the class 4A state championship game following a 9-2 win over Paola in the semifinal on Friday.
The Bullpups will await the winner of the other semifinal between No. 4 Fort Scott and No. 8 Chanute, which will be played at 1:15 p.m. The championship game is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. this evening at Dean Evans Stadium in Salina.
McPherson (20-4) jumped on the Panthers early and often. After Paola took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Bullpups responded with four of their own to take 4-1 lead. McPherson tagged on three more in the second to lead 7-1 after two complete. The Bullpups added their final two runs in the fourth inning. Paola plated one in the fifth to cut the lead down to seven.
Cade Wedel went 3-for-3 at the plate with a triple and an RBI to lead the Bullpups' attack. Teegan Haines (2-for-4), Gavin Richardson (2-for-3, 3 RBI), Brock Richardson (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Jaret Myers (2-for-3) all had multi-hit games for the Bullpups, who in total tallied 15 hits.
Ian Razak was credited with the win on the mound, securing his second straight win of the state tournament.
Paola - 100 010 0 -- 2 6 3
McPherson - 430 200 x -- 9 15 1
W: Razak. L: Loethen.