BY JIM MISUNAS
SALINA – The Topeka Scrappers, last year's 5A state baseball champion from Topeka Seaman, handed Great Bend Chief coach Randy Beck the worst loss in his coaching career.
The Scrappers finished off a 17-0 rout of the Chiefs with an 11-run seventh inning in Friday's Salina Grand Slam Tournament. The Scrappers (15-2) featured standouts from last year's state champion.
The Chiefs (6-7) stranded 13 baserunners and left the bases loaded twice. Chiefs' batters struck out back-to-back times in the second and third innings after loading the bases. Starter Gavin Wilhelm struck out Einar Vargas and Joe Moeder in the second inning. Reliever Cole Askew struck out Stefan Sprat and Layton Holden in the third inning.
Topeka's Kolden Howerton and Maclaine Finley each drove home three runs. Leadoff batter Micah Kobuszewski scored three runs and drove in two runs.
The Scrappers scored three runs with no hits off starter Paco Hernandez. Three walks, a hit batter, a balk and error led to a 3-0 deficit. Howerton's two-run double made it 5-0 and Kobuszewski's single made it 6-0 after six innings. Reliever Jade Poe endured a nightmarish seventh inning that featured eight hits three walks, a hit batter and two errors.
SCRAPPERS 17, CHIEFS 0
Scrappers 200 121 (11) – 17 12 0
Chiefs 000 000 0 – 0 3 3
Wilhelm, Askew (3), Howerton (6) and Vawter. Hernandez, Poe (5), Mathew Moeder (7) and Beck. W–Askew. L–Hernandez. 2B–S–Howerton. 3B–S–Polter.
POOL A–1–Millard, Neb. 3-0 (28-4), 2–Hays Eagles 2-1 (31-37), 3–Kansas Senators 1-2 (24-18), 4–Salina Falcons 0-3 (17-41)
POOL B—1—Topeka Scrappers 3-0 (39-2), 2—Great Bend Chiefs 2-1 (12-20), 3—Hutchinson Colts 1-2 (9-28), 4—Wichita Sluggers 0-3 (13-23)
cSALINA GRAND SLAM
THURSDAY
G1–Great Bend Chiefs 8, Hutchinson Colts 0
G2–Hays Eagles 13, Kansas Senators 11
G3–Topeka Scrappers 12, Hutchinson 0
G4–Millard, Neb. 14, Salina Falcons 0
FRIDAY
G5–Millard, Neb. 14, Hays Eagles 4
G6–Topeka Scrappers 17, Great Bend Chiefs 0
G7–Hays Eagles 14, Salina Falcons 12
G8–Hutchinson 9, Wichita Sluggers 8
G9–Kansas Senators 13, Salina Falcons 5
SATURDAY
Great Bend Chiefs 4, Wichita Sluggers 3
Topeka Scrappers 10, Wichita Sluggers 2
Millard, Neb. vs. Kansas Senators
Hays Eagles 9, Hutchinson Colts 8
Kansas Senators 10, Great Bend Chiefs 5
16 UNDER THURSDAY
McPherson 24, Salina Eagles 7
Topeka Scrappers 8, Hays Eagles 0
Omaha Wolfe Electric 13, Manhattan 6
Salina Hawks 11, Topeka Scrappers 3
Omaha Sportsclips 12, Hays Eagles 4
POOL A–1–McPherson 3-0 (47-12); 2–Omaha Wolfe 1-1 (13-21); Manhattan Warriors 1-2 (21-30); Salina Eagles 0-2 (16-34)
POOL B–1–Salina Hawks 3-0 (33-9); 2–Omaha Sportsclips 2-1 (19-11); 3–Topeka Scrappers 1-2 (13-15); 4–Hays Eagles 0-3 (7-37)
FRIDAY
Salina Hawks 17, Hays Eagles 3
Omaha Sportsclips 4, Topeka Scrappers 2
McPherson 8, Manhattan Warriors 5
Manhattan Warriors 10, Salina Eagles 9
McPherson 15, Omaha Wolfe 0
SATURDAY
Salina Hawks 5, Omaha Sportsclips 3
Omaha Wolfe vs. Salina Eagles
Omaha Wolfe vs. Topeka Scrappers
Omaha Sportsclips 15, Manhattan Warriors 0
SUNDAY
CONSOLATION--Salina Eagles 7, Hays 4
SEMIFINALS—Omaha Sportsclips 7, McPherson 4; Salina Hawks 10, Omaha Wolfe 2
CHAMPIONSHIP—Omaha SportsClips 19, Salina Hawks 3
