It will go down as one of the best season in program history for the Sabetha legion baseball team as they tied their best finish ever in a State tournament placing third, while tallying the most wins ever in a single season for the ball club with 38.

Sabetha took home the zone tournament title and set themselves up for a trip to Pratt for the AA State tournament, making State for the sixth time since 2003. In the opening round Sabetha was matched up with the host Pratt and routed them in an 11-2 contest ending the game in just five innings. Graham Howard lead the charge with a complete game 72 pitch performance, allowing only three hits and striking out nine in the process. Nolan Keim led the Sabetha offensive attack with a 2-3 night with a run scored and three RBI.

With the win Sabetha guaranteed themselves two more games in the State tourney and next up took on a tough Ellis squad in the semifinals of the winner's bracket. It was an action packed affair that featured six lead changes and back and forth playmaking with Sabetha ultimately coming out on top 10-9 plating the tying run and game winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Kyle Stallbaumer had the clutch hit for Sabetha winning the game with a two RBI single in the seventh. But it was Taylor Bauman's early three-run homer and three solid innings of relief that perhaps stood out the most for Sabetha in the win.

Sabetha at 2-0 in the State tournament setup to take on the defending state champs, Iola in the winner's bracket championship with the winner of the game being one win away from the state title. For the second straight game Sabetha would be a nail-biter as the lead changed hands a few times. Iola clung to a 5-4 lead going into the top of the seventh when Mother Nature caused the game to halt with rain, hail and high winds. After an hour and half plus delay, the decision was made to postpone the remainder of the game and finish the contest on Saturday. When action commenced on Saturday Iola held on to their 5-4 lead despite Sabetha getting the game tying run on via a double in the bottom of the seventh.

With the loss Sabetha look on the winner of the Rock Creek and Hays TMP elimination game, which proved to be Rock Creek who won in comeback fashion. Rock Creek was playing in their fourth straight elimination game and Sabetha was looking to bounce back from the loss to Iola and face them again. It was a pitcher’s duel throughout the contest and ultimately it was the mistakes of Sabetha that plagued them. Rock Creek plated two in the second behind two walks, an error, balk and passed ball and held on to the lead to grab the 2-1 win ending Sabetha's season. Sabetha got only one-run in the fifth after loading the bases with nobody out and left the bases loaded in the sixth, overall stranding 10 base runners in the game. Thaine Allen and Adam Herl lead the offense each with two hits, to account for four of the six Sabetha hits. Herl was 2-2 with a walk and scored the lone Sabetha run, earning him McDonald's "Player of the Game" honors on KNZA.

Sabetha wrapped up their run at the State AA tournament going 2-2 and finishing 38-13 on the season, notching a tie for their best finish at state ever in a third place finish (other third place finish was in 2009).

Final AA State Legion Tournament Bracket -- click here

Final NEK League Legion Standings -- click here