With a Big Seven title and a Regional championship added to their credits this season, the Bluejays continued to climb their ladder of successes when they advanced to the State tournament on Thursday, May 25, in Manhattan.

Falling in the middle of the seedings with a 19-4 mark on the season, the Jays faced the 19-4, defending State Champions and fourth-seed Wichita Collegiate Spartans in first-round action. It was a showdown between hurlers and a scoreless game through the first three innings, but the Spartans added three runs to Sabetha’s one run late in the contest and the Jays took the loss, 1-3.

“I thought we competed well, said Head Coach Curtis Hamilton. “We saw two of the best pitchers we have seen all year. Our guys found a way to put the ball in play, we just couldn’t get many to drop for hits.”

Junior hurler Christian McAfee took the hill to start the contest and he allowed just one hit in the first inning, struck out three batters in succession in the bottom of the second, and got some defensive help in the bottom of the third to keep the Spartans scoreless. Senior catcher Joshua Herrmann ended the third inning with a rifling throw to third base to catch a base runner stealing and minimize the threat.

McAfee allowed a walk to start the bottom of the fourth, but Herrmann sent the runner back to the dugout when he caught the runner stealing second. A Spartan hitter took a 3-2 pitch and pushed it over the left field wall for a solo homer to go up 1-0. Wichita had a double and a single in the bottom of the inning and plated another run on a Sabetha error to go up 2-0. McAfee walked the bases full with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but the defense worked the Jays out of trouble, although they still trailed by two runs.

McAfee threw five innings, giving up two runs on four hits with only one run earned, walking five while fanning four batters.

“Christian pitched really well against a really good team,” Coach Hamilton said.

Junior Chase Frey pitched in the bottom of the sixth inning, giving up one run on an error, striking out two and allowing two base on balls.

“Defensively, we had a few breakdowns but played well most of the game,” said Coach Hamilton in reference, in part at least, to four errors in the game from his team.

Junior Marcus Bauman was one of three at bat, junior Joshua Grimm was one of two with an RBI, and sophomore Mitchel Kramer had a run scored and a stolen base. The Jays finished the season with a 19-5 record after falling to the eventual two-time State Champion Wichita Collegiate by a score of 1-3.

“I am really proud of us for competing against a really good team for seven innings. We had a great season and the boys should be proud of their accomplishments,” Coach Hamilton said.