Somerset Park Sabetha

State Bound 2013 Sabetha Legion Baseball Team (Photo Courtesy of Sabetha Herald)

Despite the rain early in the day Thursday (July 25th) it step up as another perfect night for baseball at Somerset Park in Sabetha with the championship game of the Zone 1 AA tournament on the bill.

Sabetha set up to take on Doniphan County for the second time in the Zone tourney, as Sabetha set themselves up one win away for the State tournament in Pratt, while Doniphan County need a pair of wins to capture the Zone crown.

Ultimately it was Sabetha doing what they did in 2007 that was beat Doniphan County twice in the Zone tournament to make the state tournament in Pratt and just like in 2007 it was a one-run decision in Sabetha's favor in the championship game this time the final of 8-7.

Both teams started the game off with a one-out walk in the first inning but each guy was wiped off the base pads as the game saw six guys picked off the bases in some capacity. Scoreless into the top of the second Doniphan County saw a key opportunity to take the early lead slip away with a mishap on the base pads. In the bottom of the second the offense opened up for Sabetha with five consecutive hits to start the inning plated five runs as Taylor Bauman led the inning off with a double.

Doniphan County quickly answered with three runs to get right back into the game using a trio of singles and pair of walks in the top of the third to make it 5-3. Then Sabetha would once more up themselves up by a five-spot plating three in the fourth, batting around in the inning with a two RBI single by Thaine Allen highlighting the inning, making it 8-3.

Moving to the top of the fifth Doniphan County rallied once again getting a pair of base runners on before Phoenix Keller blasted his second three-run homer of the Zone tournament to make it an 8-6 game. Moving to the seventh Doniphan County down to their final three outs need two runs to stay alive. Colton Masters bat continued to stay hot has he laced a lead-off double and came around to score to make it 8-7 but with two outs, after a two-out single Sabetha reliever, Brendan Garrett struck out the next batter to give Sabetha the win.

For Sabetha on the mound Kyle Stallbaumer picked up the pitching win going four and two-thirds giving up six runs on six hits, four walks and one hit batter, while striking out three, as Garrett earned the save pitching the final two and one-third innings giving up a run on three hits and a hit batter, while striking out four.

Doniphan County featured two pitchers also with Caleb Winkel getting the start and going three innings giving up seven runs on seven hits and three walks, with one strikeout. Dylan Gabriel pitched the final three innings giving up a run on one hits, five walks while striking out seven.

Offensively, Bauman lead Sabetha with a 2-2 night with a double, run scored and two walks earning him McDonald's "Player of the Game" honors on KNZA/KMZA. Tyler Ulrich added a multi-hit game going 2-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, with a double. Thaine Allen, Nolan Keim and Keegan Schuman each added a hit and run scored, too.

For Doniphan County in the loss Nathan Gaarder went 3-4 with a double, while Keller was 2-3 with his three-run homer, registering four RBI and was hit by a pitch; Colton Masters was 2-4 also with two runs scored hitting a double.

With the loss Doniphan County closes out their season 21-15 record this year. While, Sabetha earned their 36th win of the season improving to 36-11 on the year and making the state tournament for the sixth time since 2003. The 36th win is the most in a single season by Sabetha in their legion history. Sabetha will open the State AA tournament in Pratt next Wednesday, July 31st and will play the host Pratt in the opening round.

Zone 1 AA Tournament Final Bracket -- click here
Updated NEK League Legion Standings -- click here