BUHLER, Kan. – McPherson High School Baseball wrapped up the 2026 regular season on Tuesday, May 13, sweeping Buhler 7-5 in extras and 12-2.
McPherson had to use a comeback effort to win game one. The Bullpups trailed 5-2 after four innings, but tied the game in the 5th, getting a run back on a bases-loaded walk before Cru Buchman drove home the tying run on a two-run single. At the same time, Colt Chapman’s relief pitching was dominant, as he entered in the 4th inning and retired the first 17 batters in a row.
McPherson took the lead in the ninth inning on a Nolan Pearcy sacrifice bunt. Buchman delivered another clutch hit with an RBI single to make the score 7-5. Buhler delivered a two-out hit and walk, but both runners were left stranded to give McPherson the 7-5, extra-inning victory.
Buchman hit a team-best 3-5 with 3 RBI. Carter Bengtson went 2-4 with two doubles. Cade Strathman and Takoda Linn each hit a double as well. Chapman got the win on the mound, throwing six innings and striking out seven batters.
Game two saw dominance from McPherson from start to finish, as they’d blow out Buhler, 12-2. After leading 2-1 after three innings, McPherson ran away thanks to a six-run fourth inning. The Bullpups continued to pull away, thanks to two more runs in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively. The seventh was highlighted by an RBI double by Hunter Eilrich in his first at-bat of the season.
Offensively, McPherson was led by Brady Rinker’s 2-2 performance with 2 RBI’s. Graham Prescott went 1-3 with a pair of RBI’s as well. Buchman got the win on the mound, throwing the first five innings, giving up just three hits and striking out four batters. Rinker threw the final two innings, striking out three batters.
McPherson ends their regular season at 21-5, finishing in second place in the AVCTL-3 standings at 7-3. The Bullpups will host the Regional Semifinals and Finals at Grant Sports Complex on Tuesday, May 19. The other three schools that will travel to McPherson for Regionals are to be determined.
