By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
MANHATTAN -- The Silver Lake Eagles scored the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning Wednesday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium, taking a 2-1 semifinal decision over Russell/Victoria to advance to the Class 3A state championship game.
In a stellar pitching performance by both senior starting pitchers -- Dayne Johnson of Silver Lake and Sam Thielen of Russell -- the Eagles were able to push across the winning run in extra innings.
“Dayne’s a stud,'' Silver Lake coach Tyler Seele said. "He’s a warrior, a dog and a competitor. When the situation gets tough, he gets tougher.
"He mixed his two pitches very well, stayed down in the zone and pitched to contact.;;
Silver Lake had an opportunity in the top of the first after senior Brady Hogle walked and Johnson singled.
Following an out and an error, the Eagles had runners at first and third, but the Broncos turned an inning-ending double play on a line drive to senior right-fielder Wes Dreiling, who doubled off Johnson at first to end the threat.
Johnson retired the first nine batters of the game, including four strikeouts.
The Eagles finally broke through in the top of the fourth inning as senior Drew Womack reached on an error and stole second with one out.
Junior Miles Kibbee came through with a bloop double in between the left-fielder and center fielder, making the score 1-0.
With another runner in scoring position, the Broncos were able to turn another double play to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, senior catcher Max Evans of Russell got the first hit on an infield single deep in the hole at shortstop.
The Eagles were able to get runners at first and second with no outs in the top of the fifth, but the Broncos were able to get out of the inning with the score still 1-0.
Johnson had another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to a great running catch by sophomore left-fielder Jaxton Ross.
Johnson’s counterpart, Thielen, was able to keep the Eagles off the scoreboard in the top of the sixth after having two runners on base for the second straight inning.
Over the first six innings, Silver Lake had two runners on with less than two outs in three different innings.
Coach Seele was asked if the inability to get some insurance runs made him nervous.
“Was I nervous? Yes, yes I was nervous,'' he said. "It was also frustrating, but the thing I’m most proud of is that our kids were frustrated, too. Their ability to turn the page and get to the next play is the reason why we’re playing in the state championship game.”
In the bottom of the sixth, the Broncos were able to scratch across the tying run.
Senior Jaxon Ross drew a leadoff walk and then courtesy runner sophomore Kooper Hamlin stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior Walker Middleton. Thielen helped himself by hitting a sacrifice fly, scoring Hamlin and tying the game 1-1.
Both teams went 1-2-3 in the seventh inning and the game went to extra innings.
Thielen reached his mandated 105-pitch limit as he finished the seventh inning with 108 pitches.
Senior pitcher Trey Zorn entered the game in relief in the top of the eighth for the Broncos.
Silver Lake freshman Kipton Kruger hit a one-out triple to the right field corner. Kibbee knocked in his second run with a sacrifice fly to center field, giving the Eagles its 2-1 lead.
Kruger described his hit in the top of the eighth and the frustration of leaving runners on base earlier in the game.
“I came to the plate just thinking about hitting the ball hard and was able to hit it down the right field line,'' he said. "It was frustration because we had opportunities but were hitting it right at people.
“It’s amazing coming in as the eighth seed. It’s very rare to make it to the title game and it’s a great feeling.
Johnson came back out to the mound in the bottom of the eighth and set down the Broncos in order for the sixth time in the game, sending Silver Lake to the state final.
Silver Lake (18-11) advanced to the title game on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. against Girard (23-5) in Manhattan.
“Girard is a really tough team,'' Seele said. "We’re going to have to come with the same mentality, find a way to win the next pitch and have a level head.”
Russell (23-6) will play in the third-place game against Burlington (24-3) on Thursday at 5:45 p.m.
SILVER LAKE 2, RUSSELL/VICTORIA 1 (8 innings)
Silver Lake (18-11) 000 100 01 -- 2 4 0
Russell/Victoria (23-6) 000 001 00 -- 1 1 3
Johnson and Monhollon. Thielen, Zorn (8) and Evans. W -- Johnson. L -- Zorn. 2B -- Silver Lake: Kibbee. 3B -- Silver Lake: Kipton Kruger.
