Warriors sweep regionals, head to state baseball tournament
During an early season practice, Marion High School Coach Sean Spoonts gathered his baseball team.
This was the year to make it to state, he said. For the first time, they had been assigned to a regional that didn't include a clear champion.
Spoonts was right, even as the team struggled to a record of five wins, 13 losses going into regionals.
The Warriors won all three games May 13 and 14 to become one of only eight teams to advance to the Class 3A state tournament.
Eighth seed Marion takes on 20-3 Baxter Springs at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Norvel Field, Eisenhower Middle School, Manhattan.
Tickets, available at the gate, are $5 for adults and $4 for students on Friday, and $6 for adults and $5 for students on Saturday.
It's an odd time for a first seed to play. Usually they get the first game as one of the top-seed benefits. If they win, they have more time to recover and can watch games featuring upcoming opponents.
However, the activities association doesn't use win-loss percentages exclusively. In this case, both softball and baseball teams from both Collegiate and Southeast of Saline advanced to state.
The schedule was adjusted so followers of those schools have a chance to make both teams' first round games.
The schedule Friday is 18-3 Collegiate Spartans vs. 15-6 Atchison County Community High School Tigers, 11 a.m.; 19-3 Silver Lake Eagles vs. 9-13 Erie Red Devils, 1:30 p.m.; Southeast of Saline Trojans vs. 19-4 Lakin Broncs, 4 p.m.; and 20-3 Baxter Springs Lions vs. 8-13 Marion Warriors, 6:30 p.m.
Teams that win Friday play at least two times Saturday.
The winners of the first two games Friday play at 10 a.m. Saturday. If Marion wins, they play at 12:30 p.m. against Southeast of Saline or Lakin.
A third place game is played at 3 p.m. unless rained out. All players receive medals, and the third place team receives a plaque.
The state championship game starts at 5:30 p.m. If rain delays the third-place game, the championship game takes precedence. Depending on time, the third-place game may be played after the championship.
The 10-run rule will be in effect during the tournament. A game can end at any time after four and a half innings when a team is behind by 10 or more runs and has completed its turn at bat. No game will begin before its scheduled start time.
Officials say Norvel Field drains quickly so if there are showers, games will only be delayed. The main concern is if thunderstorms settle in and the rain doesn't stop.
The field is just off Tuttle Creek Boulevard. Follow Tuttle Creek north past Kimball to Walters Drive, turn right, and go to Eisenhower Middle School. The field is directly east of the school.
Parking will be an issue for early games because school is in session that day. Tournament officials say parking spaces tend to open up after school is dismissed and first-round teams and fans head for home.
Regional scores
At the regional, Marion defeated Leon-Bluestem 6-4, Osage City 11-4, and Yates Center 8-7.
Against Bluestem, Marion had five runs in the fifth inning to take the lead. Mitch Enos took the win. Robert Verbic had 4 RBI.
Marion was up 3-2 in the sixth against Osage City but the game went into extra innings. Marion pounded out eight runs in the eighth to win. Enos pitched all eight innings. Jimmy Shipman had three RBI.
In the championship game, Marion was down until Steven Shiplet started the third inning with a single. Six consecutive batters scored to put Marion ahead 7-2. Verbic pitched six innings before Enos came in for the save. Jason Matz had three RBI.
Season statistics
Pitching
Team: 8-13, 147 innings pitched, 658 batters faced, 189 runs, 176 hits, 138 strikeouts, 77 bases on balls, 124 earned runs allowed, 6 home runs allowed, 18 hit batters, 2 balks, 21 wild pitches, 7-inning ERA 5.90, 9-inning ERA 7.59.
Mitch Enos — 7-6, 1 save, 321 batters, 62 runs, 69 hits, 84 strikeouts, seven-inning ERA, 2.86.
Robert Verbic — 1-5, 231 batters, 66 runs, 61 hits, 39 strikeouts, 6.73 ERA.
Clayton Chamberland — 0-0, 2 1/3 innings pitched, 17 batters, 3 runs, 6 hits, one strikeout.
Jimmy Shipman — 0-2, 6 1/3 innings, 49 batters, 25 runs, 15 hits, seven strikeouts.
Jason Matz — 0-0, 5 innings, 40 batters, 22 runs, 12 hits, 7 strikeouts.
Batting
Team:593 at-bats, 87 runs, 169 hits, 37 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 69 RBI, 151 strikeouts, 51 bases on balls, 10 sacrifices, 9 hit by pitch, 23 stolen bases (none caught stealing), .285 batting average.
Tyler Richmond — 71 at bats, 11 runs, 27 hits, 9 RBI, 8 strikeouts, 4 walks, 4 stolen bases, .380.
Robert Verbic — 69 at bats, 15 runs, 26 hits, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 17 RBI, 14 strikeouts, 7 walks, 2 stolen bases, .377.
Jason Matz — 62 at bats, 9 runs, 23 hits, 6 doubles, 1 home run, 12 RBI, 13 strikeouts, 12 walks, 7 stolen bases, .371.
Jimmy Shipman — 51 at bats, 5 runs, 18 hits, 8 doubles, 8 RBI, 18 strikeouts, 7 walks, 1 stolen base, .353.
Neil Waner — 32 at bats, 1 run, 10 hits, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 9 strikeouts, 3 walks, .313.
Steven Shiplet — 30 at bats, 7 runs, 8 hits, 2 doubles, 2 RBI, 12 strikeouts, 3 walks, 1 stolen bases, .267.
Clayton Chamberland — 68 at bats, 12 runs, 18 hits, 7 doubles, 6 RBI, 13 strikeouts, 6 walks, 4 stolen bases, .265.
Matt Rhodes — 31 at bats, 4 runs, 7 hits, 1 double, 4 RBI, 11 strikeouts, 3 walks, .226.
Tyler Smith — 19 at bats, 4 runs, 4 hits, 1 double, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 6 strikeouts, 2 walks, .211.
Mitch Enos — 74 at bats, 14 runs, 15 hits, 1 double, 3 RBI, 8 strikeouts, 7 walks, .203.
Cody Chiles — 5 at bats, 1 hit, 4 strikeouts, .200.
Bronson Shipman — 62 at bats, 3 runs, 10 hits, 2 doubles, 5 RBI, 22 strikeouts, 4 walks, .161.
