BY JIM MISUNAS
HOISINGTON – The Hoisington Cardinals started the baseball season with a game-winning homer against Nickerson by Tony Moore. They continue their dream season with a dominating 13-5 victory over Hesston to capture the 3A Hoisington regional. Hoisington earns its first state baseball trip since 2006. The Cardinals (15-7) will play Humboldt (22-1) at Manhattan May 25.
CARDINALS 13, HESSTON 5 (G2) – Hoisington blew open the game with an incredible 12-run fifth inning. The Cardinals scored 11 unearned runs thanks to five Hesston errors.
“It’s a new adventure for us. What a great to win on our home field,” said Hoisington coach Eric Steiner. “I’m almost ready to cry. We’re tough from top-to-bottom in our lineup. It was an all-around team effort.”
The Cardinals led 4-1 when Gratton Dalton reached base on a strikeout with two out. Chase Steinert, M.J. Aylward, Moore and Dalton delivered RBIs in a crazy fifth inning that saw Hesston commit four errors. Dalton and Steinert each drove home two runs.
“We always expect a big inning,” Steiner said. “We put pressure on the defense. We made adjustments. We shortened up swings and hit the ball the other way. We kept it going. It was next guy mentality.”
Lance French (4-0) worked three innings to earn the victory. Outfielder Rhen Galla saved several runs with dazzling catches.
“Lane French pitched great and Tony Moore and M.J. Aylward did a nice job in relief,” Steiner said.
CARDINALS 17, ELLINWOOD 4 (G1) – Hoisington warmed up for the title game with a 9-run fifth inning. Gratton Dalton drove home four runs. Steinert drove home three runs. Mason Martin, Moore, Aylward drove in two runs apiece.
Ellinwood (14-8) had Dylan Gantz, Bryan Jaske and Chase Gibson drive home runs.
Hoisington 100 0(12)0 0 – 13 8 1
Hesston 100 040 0 – 5 7 5
Dalton, French (2), Moore (6), Aylward (7) and Ingram. Shelite, Shelite (5), Clark 5), Rhodes (6), Curran (7) and Shelite. W—French, 3-0. L—Shelite. 2B—HESS-Rhodes. 3B—HESS—Lewis. HR—Sheilite.
Hoisington 311 39 – 17 13 3
Ellinwood 101 02 – 4 6 2
Moore, Roat (5) and Ingram. Gantz, Cooper Hosman (3), Coleman (5), Drake Hosman (5) and Coleman. W—Moore, 5-1. L—Gantz, 3-2. 2B—H—Moore 2, Dalton, French, Aylward.
3A STATE BASEBALL
Humboldt 22-1 vs. Hoisington 15-7
Columbus 20-2 vs. KC Ward 16-6
Santa Fe Trail 19-2, Goodland 18-4, Wichita Collegiate 17-4, Sabetha 19-4/Nemaha Central 15-4
3A HOISINGTON—CHAMPIONSHIP—Hoisington/Central Plains 13, Hesston 5; Hesston 4, Ellsworth 1; Hoisington/Central Plains 17, Ellinwood 4; Ellsworth 7, Sylvan-Lucas 5; Hesston 5, Nickerson 2; Ellinwood 1, Smoky Valley 0, 8 innings; Hoisington/Central Plains 7, Beloit 3
3A HARPER—CHAMPIONSHIP—Wichita Collegiate 6, Wichita Trinity 4; Wichita Trinity 10, Chaparral 9; Wichita Collegiate 3, Haven 0; Chaparral 4, Conway Springs 3; Wichita Trinity 7, Chaparral 0; Kingman 7, Cheney 6; Haven 4, Halstead 0; Wichita Collegiate 3, Douglass 1
