SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
LUCAS, Kan. — Tim Rhodes went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run to help lead the Hesston Swathers to a 10-0 run-rule victory over Beloit on Monday evening to punch their ticket back to the Class 3A state tournament.
The Swathers qualify for state with a 16-6 record, while the Trojans end their season with a 12-9 mark.
Rhodes doubled in the first and third innings before launching a two-run homer to right field in the fifth to end the game. The Swathers finished with nine hits, including a two-run home run by Andrew Huxman in the third inning and an RBI single by Blayne Wilson in the fifth.
Brody Curran was dominant on the mound, striking out 10 while allowing just two hits in a five-inning complete game. He did not issue a walk.
Hesston opened the scoring with a pair of sacrifice flies in the second inning, including one from Landen Meyer. In the third, Levi Flaming delivered an RBI double ahead of Huxman’s two-run blast to extend the lead to 5-0.
Flaming went 2-for-2, while Rhodes, Huxman and Curran each drove in two runs. Defensively, Hesston turned a double play and committed no errors. Meyer led the team with 10 chances in the field.
Beloit starter Brooks Dunstan took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits over 2 2/3 innings. Paxton Fouts and Ashton Bletscher each recorded a hit for the Trojans.
Hesston defeated Minneapolis and Halstead prior to their win over Beloit, while Beloit beat Nickerson and Ellsworth.
The Class 3A state tournament will be held May 30-31 at Tointon Family Stadium in Manhattan.