SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
Both the McPherson Bullpups and Hesston Swathers advanced to their respective state semifinals with quarterfinal victories Thursday.
Class 4A — McPherson 3, Tonganoxie 1
SALINA, Kan. — Ian Razak tossed a complete game and helped his own cause at the plate as No. 1 McPherson edged No. 8 Tonganoxie 3-1 in Thursday’s Class 4A state quarterfinal at Dean Evans Stadium.
The win moved the Bullpups into Friday's semifinal with a 26-3 record, while the Chieftains end their season with a 16-12 mark.
Razak allowed just five hits and an unearned run over seven innings, striking out seven and walking two. He also drove in the Bullpups’ first run with an RBI single in the bottom of the first.
Tonganoxie tied the game in the third, capitalizing on a McPherson error to score its lone run.
The Bullpups reclaimed the lead in the fifth. Brody Seidl delivered an RBI single, and Carter Allen followed with a sacrifice bunt to bring home another run, giving McPherson a 3-1 advantage it would not relinquish.
Seidl, Razak, Cade Strathman and Cowen Huggard each recorded a hit. Seidl, Razak and Allen each had an RBI, and Seidl added two stolen bases.
Tonganoxie’s Everett Holland led all hitters, going 2-for-3.
Merek Davenport was charged with the loss for Tonganoxie. He went six innings, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out four and walking three.
The Bullpups will face No. 5 St. George-Rock Creek on Friday at 1:15 p.m. in the semifinals.
Tonganoxie - 001 000 0 - 1 5 2
McPherson - 100 020 x - 3 4 3
W: Razak. L: Davenport.
Class 3A — Hesston 11, Silver Lake 6
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Blayne Wilson went 4-for-5 at the plate, helping lead No. 5 Hesston to its first-ever win at the state tournament with an 11-6 victory over No. 4 Silver Lake in the Class 3A quarterfinals Thursday at Tointon Family Stadium.
Hesston improves their record to 17-6 on the season, while Silver Lake ends their season 21-8.
Wilson singled in the third, fourth, fifth and seventh innings to pace the Swathers’ 14-hit attack.
Hesston broke through in the top of the third with three consecutive singles, including a two-run base hit from Keagan Shelite to open the scoring.
Silver Lake responded with a six-run fifth inning on just three hits. Trent Harris and Dysen Schooler each drove in two runs on groundouts, while Landon Miller and Drew Womack added RBI singles.
Brody Curran earned the win for the Swathers, allowing three hits and six runs over five innings with five strikeouts and five walks. Tanner McAllister and Andrew Huxman each pitched a scoreless inning in relief to close it out.
Shelite finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, while Landen Meyer and McAllister added multiple hits.
Silver Lake was limited to four hits, one each by Miller, Cathcart, Johnson and Womack. The Eagles showed discipline at the plate with six walks, including two from Cathcart.
The Swathers will face No. 8 Sabetha on Friday at 11 a.m. The Bluejays defeated top-seed Jefferson West, 2-0 on Thursday.
Hesston - 005 230 1 - 11 14 0
Silver Lake - 000 060 0 - 6 4 2
W: Curran. L: Cathcart.