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

For the sixth time since 2003 the Sabetha Post 126 legion baseball team will be headed to the AA State tournament as they will hit the diamond on Wednesday (July 31st) in Pratt.

Sabetha at 36-11, will be at state not as the host for the first time since 2007 when the beat Doniphan County in the Zone championship that year by one-run, just like this season (Sabetha won Zone Championship 8-7 over Doniphan County this year). The last three times Sabetha made State not as the host including this year the state tournament has been in Pratt each year.

With the bracket pre-determined on Zone winner matchups set for first round state games, Sabetha draws the host, Pratt in round one who is making their fifth straight appearance at the state tournament. Sabetha's opponent, Pratt is no stranger to the state tournament winning state in 2010 and 2011 beating a pair of NEK league teams in Doniphan County and Seneca, respectively, while also getting a second place finish in 2006. Sabetha and Pratt played in 2009 and 2007 against each other in state with Pratt getting the better of Sabetha both times in tight contests 8-7 and 9-6, respectively.

Game will be the final game of the first round on Wednesday evening at approximately 8:30pm (game follows first game of nightcap which starts at 6:30pm). You can hear all the action for Sabetha on 103.9 KNZA and mscsports.net (click on KNZA link under listen live).

Win or lose on Wednesday Sabetha will continue action on Thursday in the double elimination format State tournament. With a win Sabetha sets themselves to play at approximately at 8:00pm Thursday night in the winners bracket playing the winner of the Ellis v. Rock Creek contest. With a loss in the opening round Sabetha falls to the loser's bracket on Thursday and would play approximately at noon against the loser of the Ellis and Rock Creek contest.

Sabetha's got it done on the diamond all season multiple ways on their way to post their 36 wins thus far, which is a Sabetha record for most wins in a single season.

The offense came up multiple times this season as Sabetha tallied 355 runs to their opponents 166, registering 12 games of 10 or more runs all wins for Sabetha on the year. Has a team Sabetha is batting .312 on the season but individually five guys on the team are batting over .330 with one more just under that mark. Leading the way is Keegan Schuman who touts the team's best batting average of .404, while ranking second the team in hits (38), leading the way with three homers and is tied with Kyle Stallbaumer and Nolan Keim with 29 RBI's to lead the team. Stallbaumer carries a .352 average on the season and leads the team with 44 hits on the year, while Keim is just under .330 on the season at .324. McKenzie McAfee, Tyler Edelman and Tyler Ulrich all have averages over .330 on the season batting .350, .344 and .333 on the season respectively.

On the mound the Sabetha has a stout pitching staff that owns a 2.87 team ERA and an opponent batting average of .203. Brendon Garrett and Graham Howard lead the way on the mound with both throwing 60 plus innings this season. Garrett owns a 9-1 record in 14 appearances with two saves with a 1.75 ERA, .173 opponent batting average and 86 strikeouts. For Howard he is 6-3 on the season in 15 appearances with three saves owning a 2.26 ERA, .186 opponent batting average and 76 strikeouts. Stallbaumer is another steady arm Sabetha sends to the mound during the season as he had six wins in seven starts and nine total appearances. Kyle, too has an opponent batting average under .200 at .176, with 53 strikeouts on the own year and a 2.52 ERA.

Sabetha brings a balanced team into what should be a great AA legion baseball State tournament in Pratt. One this is for sure Sabetha will be riding high going into the tournament has they are riding a 13-game winning streak (includes two forfeit wins).

2013 Legion Baseball AA State Tournament Bracket -- click here