The Emporia High baseball team fell one win short of qualifying for the Class 5A State Tournament.
In their regional at Andover Central on Wednesday, the Spartans started with an upset over the Jaguars, 4-1, avenging a regular season loss. However, Salina South, who also picked up an upset win over Great Bend in its semifinal defeated the Spartans, 6-2, in the regional championship game.
Against Andover Central, the Spartans never trailed in the contest jumping out to a 2-0 lead through one inning on a 2-run double by Owen Ruge. Luke Pitman added an RBI single to make it 3-0 in the second. Andrew Ruxton had an RBI single to make it 4-0 in the fifth. The Jaguars scored their lone run in the seventh. Ruge went the distance allowing one run on six hits and eight strikeouts. Pitman and Chase Harrington each went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Against Salina South, the Cougars scored two in the first and added three in the fourth. Emporia High got an RBI single by Aiden Ewing and Maddox Shivley drew a bases loaded walk. Salina South added its final run in the sixth. Madden Seidl took the loss going one inning allowing two runs on three hits while going 1-for-2 at the plate. Ruxton threw five innings in relief allowing four runs on six hits and two strikeouts.
Emporia High finishes its season with a 9-15 record. The Spartans lose Ewing to graduation, but return most of their starters for 2025.
