By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
EMPORIA -- When rivals meet, anything can happen. But few would have predicted the 9-0 beating Washburn Rural dealt Manhattan in the Class 6A state baseball quarterfinals at Emporia Tuesday.
Washburn Rural baseball huddles up after advancing to the Class 6A state semifinals with a 9-0 win over Centennial League rival Manhattan. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
The Junior Blues split with Manhattan in mid-season. And even though Washburn Rural did win the second game 12-5, no one expected such a lopsided result in a playoff meeting with everything on the line.
But the Junior Blues found their groove early, collecting five hits and two walks in the top of the second inning to jump to a 6-0 lead. They tacked on runs in the third and sixth to make the end of the game feel anticlimactic.
“That’s just baseball. It seems like every time we play them, it’s a close game. It’s a play here or there. So, yeah, we didn’t expect this at all,” said Washburn Rural coach Jay Mastin. “First round of state, you’re going to come out and compete no matter who it is. But the fact that it’s Manhattan, it’s a rival of ours, I think that does add a little bit of intensity to the guys a little bit.”
With the big lead, Washburn Rural starting pitcher Tyler Edmiston pitched to contact and let his defense turn in dazzling plays behind him. The Junior Blues turned three double plays to help Edmiston shut out the Indians through six innings.
Involved in all three double plays was shortstop Austin Ditch.
“It makes things a lot easier for the (pitchers),” Ditch said of the effect of a double play. “It just brings a big sigh of relief. We’ve got guys everywhere that can make plays. It’s not even a surprise some of the plays the guys make. We’re just an athletic, exciting team with a lot of energy.”
Edmiston exited having thrown just 59 pitches, meaning he will be available to pitch again on Friday.
“Tyler was very efficient on the mound, and we played good defense behind him,” Mastin said, praising his team’s glove work behind the pitcher. “These guys have been doing that for the last couple of years. It’s been fun to watch these guys play defense. They can go out and make some plays.”
Reliever Preston Bahr relieved Edmiston and promptly rolled up a double play on his first pitch to escape the sixth inning. Bahr matched Edmiston’s efficiency. Mastin, therefore, has abundant pitching options moving forward.
“Nothing’s solidified just yet. We’re still kicking around some things,” Mastin said. “We’ve got a number of other guys that we could put on the mound and they’re all going to throw strikes and they’re going to be competitive and they’re going to give us a chance to win.”
Ditch led the Washburn Rural hit parade with a single, double and triple and three RBIs. Nate Selm and Dominic Nimz each chipped in three hits apiece.
“I thought the big at-bat in the big inning was Noah Johnson’s (bases loaded) walk,” Mastin said. “With two outs, two strikes, he found a way, got on base, and then we strung some big hits together and got that six runs. That was key to be able to play with the lead like that.”
With Tuesday’s victory, the Junior Blues advanced to the semifinal round at Wichita State University, where they will face Maize on Thursday.
WASHBURN RURAL 9, MANHATTAN 0
Washburn Rural (20-8) 061 002 0 -- 9 13 0
Manhattan (21-5) 000 000 0 -- 0 3 1
Edmiston, Bahr (6) and Newbery. Gnirk, Duff (5), Goodpasture (7) and Wassenberg. W -- Edmiston. L -- Gnirk. 2B -- Washburn Rural: Selm, Nimz, Ditch. 3B -- Washburn Rural: Ditch. Manhattan: Hodges.
