By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
One of Class 5A's most impressive streaks continued Tuesday, with Seaman earning its 17th straight trip to the state tournament with a 7-1 championship-game win over Spring Hill at Seaman.
Seaman, which has won nine 5A state titles overall and two straight, trailed the visiting Broncos 1-0 before scoring the final seven runs to take control, improving to 19-3 on the season.
With the victory the Vikings advanced to the state tournament next Thursday and Friday (May 27-28) at Wichita State's Eck Stadium.
Seaman opened its day with a 15-0 semifinal victory over Kansas City-Washington as senior Kolden Howerton and junior Mason McConnaughey combined to throw a four-inning no-hitter.
The Vikings then got another pitching gem in the championship game, with seniors Kevin Mannell and Brady Stuewe combining to limit Spring Hill to just one hit, which came in the Broncos' final at bat.
Seaman junior Dagen Brewer had a home run and a double in the Vikings' 7-1 win over Spring Hill in Tuesday's 5A regional championship game. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Spring Hill had taken advantage of a pair of walks and a Viking error to take a 1-0 lead in the third inning, but Seaman tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on back-to-back doubles from senior Andrew Kirmer and junior Aidan Polter and then took the lead in the fifth on a two-run homer from junior Dagen Brewer, his sixth of the season, and a run-scoring single from junior Braden Colley.
Brewer added a run-scoring double in the sixth as Seaman added three runs to take control.
Junior Maclane Finley and senior Cole Askew had run-scoring singles in the sixth.
Seaman senior Kevin Mannell picked up the pitching win in the Vikings' 7-1 win over Spring Hill Tuesday, clinching a 17th straight trip to the Class 5A state tournament. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Mannell worked into the sixth and picked up the pitching win for Seaman before Stuewe came on to finish out the win.
Seaman had seven doubles and a triple in its semifinal win over Washington, with Finley doubling twice while Polter and Askew both contributed three-run doubles.
State pairings will be announced at the conclusion of all 5A regional tournaments.
CLASS 5A REGIONAL BASEBALL
Championship
SEAMAN 7, SPRING HILL 1
Spring Hill 001 000 0 -- 0 1 0
Seaman 000 133 x -- 7 12 2
Scrivner, Johnson (6) and Scoma. Mannell, Stuewe (6) and Kirmer. W -- Mannell. L -- Scrivner. 2B -- Seaman: Kirmer, Brewer. HR -- Seaman: Brewer.
Semifinal
SEAMAN 15, KC-WASHINGTON 0
KC-Washington 000;0 -- 0 0 3
Seaman 616 2 -- 15 12 0
Bidding and Tarwater. Howerton, McConnaughy (4) and Kirmer. W -- Howerton. L -- Biddings. 2B -- Seaman: Finley 2, Polter, Howerton, Vawter, Askew, Kirmer. 3B -- Seaman: Brewer.
