SALINA, Kan. – The McPherson High School Baseball & Softball team won their State Quarterfinal games in Salina Thursday, May 29, moving them onto the State Semifinals and guaranteeing them two games Friday, May 30.
SOFTBALL: W 10-1 vs. CIRCLE
McPherson Softball started the day at 11:00 a.m. at Salina South High School, looking to stay undefeated against Circle. The Bullpups struggled early in the contest despite taking an early 1-0 lead. Circle tied the game in the 3rd inning to keep it 1-1, but McPherson stepped on the gas in the 4th inning en route to their 10-1 win.
The Bullpups scored two runs in the 4th and one in the 5th to lead 4-1, but poured it on in the 6th inning with a six-run frame. The inning was capitalized by a three-run home run by Addison Chapman, who also pitched a complete allowing just five hits. McPherson had 10 hits in the contest to continue their strong season on offense.
McPherson will face Clearwater in the State Semifinal game at Salina South High School Friday, May 30 at 11:00 a.m. If McPherson wins, they’ll play for the State Title at 5 p.m. If they fall vs. Clearwater, they’ll play for 3rd place at 3:00 p.m.
Coverage of Bullpup Softball can be heard on 96.7 KMPK on Friday.
BASEBALL: W 3-1 vs. TONGANOXIE
The Bullpup Baseball team went up against a scrappy Tonganoxie team at Dean Evans Stadium in Salina Thursday. The game saw both teams’ starting pitchers go the whole way as McPherson went with Ian Razak to start the state tournament. Razak struck out seven batters in seven innings, allowing five hits and walking two batters. An unearned run was allowed in the 3rd inning, breaking Razak’s scoreless inning streak at 30.
Offensively, McPherson had just four hits against Tonganoxie’s tall lefty Merek Davenport, who struck out four batters in the game. Three of those hits came in the 5th inning however. Going into the 5th inning, McPherson and Tonganoxie were tied at one apiece, but the Bullpups were able to put two on the board in the 5th. Razak closed out the game, but it came in nail-biting fashion. Tonganoxie got their leadoff man on base with an error, but Razak got the next two batters out. Then with Tonganoxie down to their final strike, Brock Gibbs drove a double to left field to put the represented tying run in scoring position. After a brief mound visit from Heath Gerstner, Razak got the final out of the game on a ground out.
Razak, Brody Seidl, Cowen Huggard, and Cade Strathman each drove in a hit in the game, with Seidl, Razak, and Carter Allen earning RBI’s in the game. Razak got the win on the mound, tying a school record with the most wins in a season with 10. Razak will also end the season allowing the fewest runs by any Bullpup pitcher (8) and will have the lowest Earned Run Average by any MHS pitcher at 0.114, allowing just one earned run in 61.2 innings pitched.
Bullpup Baseball will play in the State Semifinal Friday, May 30 at 1:15 p.m. against Rock Creek. The Third Place game will be at 3:30 p.m. and the Championship game will be at 5:45 p.m. at Dean Evans Stadium.
Coverage McPherson High School Baseball can be heard on 98.9/1540 KMCP.
