By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

After a two-hour rain delay, common sense and a KSHSAA official came to the rescue for the Oxford Wildcats in the Class 2-1A state baseball tournament at the Great Bend Sports Complex.
Oxford outlasted Moscow 14-6 in the fourth Class 2-1A quarterfinal game that was delayed two hours because of thunderstorms. Play resumed at 11 p.m. and finished at 11:45 p.m. Thursday.
Moscow led 4-3 after five innings. But Oxford has regained the lead 5-4 when thunderstorms suspended play at 9 p.m. Callen Shimkus singled and Neil Terry and Dalton Silhan reached base to load the bases. Dakota Mitchell’s single scored Callen Shimkus and Terry scored on a bases-loaded walk for a 5-4 lead.
Oxford eventually scored eight runs in the sixth inning after play resumed after two hours.
Oxford coach Kyle Green was advised by Class 2-1A tournament administrators that the game would possibly be called after five innings, a misinterpretation of post-season rules; or resumed Friday at the start of the sixth inning, another misinterpretation.
After conferring with West Elk coach Dana Taliaferro, Green knew that suspending the game was the correct decision. Head umpire Chris Kaufman also argued for resumption in play.
“It should’ve been suspended and picked up at that spot,” Green said. “The 2015 baseball case book was rule 4.3.1. It should be treated as a suspended game.”
Green said Jeremy Holaday, KSHSAA executive baseball director, rescued the day by making the right decision.
“Jeremy told me, ‘We’re going to play tonight regardless because it’s the right thing to do,’ ” Green said. “Jeremy said we would finish last night. I told Jeremy I appreciated that.”
When play resumed, Oxford delivered four hits and four more runs for an 11-4 lead. Oxford took two intentional outs to end the inning when it appeared threatening weather was approaching again. Oxford’s Callen Shimkus struck out the side in the sixth inning. Cal Shimkus struck out Moscow’s final batter at 12:45 p.m.
Moscow scored two runs in the fourth for a 2-1 lead. Oxford regained the lead 3-2 on Oggie Shimkus’ single. Moscow responded with two runs in the fifth.
Oxford won its first state tournament game since 2005.

SACRED HEART 5, TROY 3 -- Eighth-seeded Salina Sacred Heart stunned unbeaten Troy 5-3 in the Class 2-1A state baseball tournament at the Great Bend Sports Complex.
The Knights scored four runs in the seventh inning to rally from a 3-1 deficit. Thomas Williams was hit by a pitch for the second run. Cooper Turpin and Conner Wetter hit back-to-back groundballs for a 4-3 lead. Jordan McMillian capped the rally with an RBI single off losing pitcherf Tristan Speer.
The Knights led 1-0 when Jacob Balleigh doubled and scored on an error.
Troy (20-1) led 3-1 after six innings. Wil Smith hit a sacrifice fly and Chris Winkel delivered a run-scoring single for a 2-1 lead. Tristan Speer delivered an RBI single for a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning.

COLGAN 19, INMAN 6 -- Defending state champion Pittsburg Colgan scored eight runs in the sixth inning to break a 6-6 tie. Chase Van Becelaere led Colgan with five hits, three doubles while reaching base six times. Rayan Cedeno reched base five times. Colgan drew multiple walks and saw 14 batters hit in the inning.
Inman led 6-5 after Blayne Konrade and Blake Druecker blasted back-to-back RBI singles in the fourth inning.
Kaleb Hamilton delivered a two-run single off Will McClain in the first inning for a 2-0 lead. Colgan scored two more runs in the third inning.
Inman’s Ryan Snow drilled a three-run double for a 4-4 tie after Wyatt Regehr singled in the Teutons’ first run.
Colgan regained the lead 5-4 when Inman committed an error.

MEDICINE LODGE 3, OLATHE HERITAGE 0 -- Erich Fischer threw a shutout with six strikeouts to lead Medicine Lodge into Friday’s baseball semifinals. The losing pitcher was Matt Fisher for Olathe Heritage.

SACRED HEART 5, TROY 3
Sahred Heart 010 000 4 — 5 4 0
Troy 002 100 0 — 3 8 1
W—Josh Dolan. L—Tristan Speer. 2B—SH, Jacob Bulleigh, Thomas Williams.

OXFORD 14, MOSCOW 6
Oxford — 100 028 3 — 14 15 3
Moscow — 000 220 2 —  6  7   3
W—Clements. L—Stucky.

COLGAN 19, INMAN 6
Colgan            202 118 5 — 19 18 1
Inman              004 200 0 —  6   7 2
W—Andrew Stewart. L—Wyatt Regehr. 2B—PC, Chase VanBecelaere 3, Ryan Cedeno; Inman, Ryan Snow.

MEDICINE LODGE 3, OLATHE HERITAGE 0
Olathe Heritage  000 000 0 — 0 2 0
Medicine Lodge 200 100 x — 3 3 0
W—Erich Fischer. L—Matt Fisher.