2-1 State Baseball in Great Bend - Opening Round Quarterfinal Thursday, May 29th 

#1 Seed Valley Falls 1, #8 Seed Medicine Lodge 0 

Postgame Interview attached with Valley Falls Head Coach Luke Burns & Trenton VanHoutan

The record setting season continues for Valley Falls baseball as Trenten VanHoutan tossed another no-hitter and the Dragons won their 23rd game advancing to the state semifinals. After squandering scoring opportunities in the fifth and sixth frames, Damien Cervantez delivered a two-out bases loaded RBI to secure the 1-0 victory against defending state champion Medicine Lodge, who had beaten the Dragons in the state quarterfinals the previous year. 

The Dragons mustered only three hits in the first five innings and finished with seven hits, including two each for Cervantez and Vanhoutan, who broke his brothers state record tossing his fourth no-hitter of the season and allowing just four total base runners. Medicine Lodge in fact, did not have a runner reach third base and finished their season with a record of 11-11.

The Dragons improved their school record for most wins in a season improving to 23-4 and Vanhoutan broke the state record for no-hitters pitched in a season. Ironically the record was previously held by his brother. Hayden Kearney was 1-4 and continued his state all-time hits record. 

Jack Schreiner was very efficient for the Indians on the mound and allowed just his second walk of the game with one-out in the 7th inning after ML committed their only error of the day. A single loaded the bases, but Schreiner got a force ground out at home before surrendering the game winning hit. Medicine Lodge allowed an intentional walk in the bottom of the sixth to load the bases with one-out, but escaped when Carter Pickerell fouled out deep behind first base and Cervantez was called out at home trying to tag for the lead.

Valley Falls, making their fourth state tourney appearance in the last five years will face Whitewater-Remington in the 2-1A State semifinals at Great Bend on Friday morning at 11  AM with live coverage on KAIR 93.7 FM and the MSC Sports Radio Network. Remington also won an exciting 1-0 game against Rossville in the opening round to advance to the semifinals.