Sedan High School’s baseball and softball teams will be on the state’s biggest stage this Friday, May 23, as both teams vie for class 2A-1A state titles.

The Blue Devil baseball and softball teams kept their seasons alive last week after winning the class 2A-1A regional tournaments held in Sedan.

With a 19-4 overall record, the Sedan baseball team is seeded fifth in the eight-team state tournament and will play Plainville, the tournament’s fourth seed at 17-2, at 1:30 p.m., Friday at Soden’s Grove in Emporia. Should Sedan beat Plainville, then the Blue Devils will advance to Saturday’s semi-final round as well as possibly the championship game or the consolation game, meaning that Sedan could finish no less than fourth place.

Meanwhile, the Lady Blue Devils are 17-5 overall but have the daunting task of being the eighth seed in the class 2A-1A state tournament. That means they will play top-seed Sylvan, 15-0, at 5 p.m., Friday, May 23 at Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia.

An upset victory over Sylvan will put Sedan into action on Saturday, where they are guaranteed two more games.

However, should either Sedan team lose their first-round games on Friday, then the Blue Devils will head back home with their season having come to an official end (see accompanying tournament bracket for complete schedule of tournament games).

“At this point, we’re not concerned about the other team’s record. We just want to go out and play well,” said Sedan head softball coach Nancy Pinard.

The Lady Blue Devils earned the regional championship trophy after beating Flinthills, 13-7, last Tuesday night in Sedan. The Lady Blue Devils rallied from a 7-4 deficit after the second inning to score nine unanswered runs and seal the victory.

Bailey Smith led the Sedan team with three hits (at four at bats) and recording three runs batted in. Hillary Hull, Bobbie Hartley, Bailey LeGrand and Elizabeth Lampson each got two hits in the game while Melanie Wolfe and Katie Brim finished with one hit each.

Smith was the winning pitcher while Hull came in for relief to earn the save.

In the semi-final game, Sedan whacked Elk Valley, 12-1. Hull was the winning pitcher, throwing eight strikeouts and giving up six hits while limiting the Lions to zero base on balls.

Bailey LeGrand and Bobbie Hartley were Sedan’s big hitters, getting three hits in the game. Bailey Smith got two hits as did Hillary Hull, Melanie Wolfe, Katie Brim, Kirsten Roberts and Elizabeth Lampson. Kristyn Farrice logged one hit in the game.

Sedan is no stranger to the state softball tournament, having competed in that venue in 2007 and 2006.
Meanwhile, the Sedan High School baseball team makes a trip to the state tournament after failing to qualify for the event in 2007.

In 2006, Sedan finished in third place, where they knocked off Plainville in the tournament’s opening round. Deja vu may come into play for the 2008 version of the Blue Devils, who will lock horns — once again — with Plainville in a 1:30 p.m., game on Friday, May 23, in Soden’s Grove in Emporia. Should Sedan earn that first-round win, they will advance to the semi-final game at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 24, against the winner of Pittsburg-Colgan/Spearville.

Sedan is the fifth seed in the tournament with a 19-4 record. Plainville is 17-2 overall.

In taking a Sedan team to the state tournament for the ninth time since he took over the coaching helm in 1993, Blue Devil head coach Rick Chrisman said the local team is ready to tackle some of the state’s heavyweights.

“We’ve never placed higher than third place since I took over in 1993, but I know our guys want to do better than that,” he said. “To do so will require our guys playing with focus and without errors. We’re playing some of state’s best teams, and even one or two tiny errors can cost us a win.”

Sedan earned the berth in the state tournament after beating Flinthills, 11-1, in the finals of the class 2A-1A regional tournament last Tuesday, May 13. Prior to that victory, the Blue Devils earned a convincing 16-1 triumph over Central-Burden in the semi-final round.

Chrisman gave accolades to senior hurlers Brock McCoy and Quinton Bane in earning the wins against Central-Burden and Flinthills. McCoy is now 8-1 overall while Bane is 7-2 from the pitching mound.

“Our senior pitchers both pitched real gems, allowing only two runs in two games,” he said. “Our defense played well too, going errorless against Central-Burden.”

Sedan’s batters also strutted their stuff, recording only one strikeout in two games.

“We had a total of 28 hits and 13 extra-base hits, including eight doubles, three triples and two homeruns,” said Chrisman.

Garrett Bane, Brent Davis and Brock McCoy wielded mighty sticks for Sedan as each batter went five for seven from the batter’s box. Bane was credited with one triple and three stolen bases while Davis logged two doubles, one triple, and three runs batted in. McCoy had six RBIs and five stolen bases in the victories.

Quinton Bane went four for five, including one homerun and five RBIs while Taylor Green also got four slaps of the ball, including one homerun.

Dustin Kline finished with two hits while Brady McCoy, Casey Spurlock and Casey Holt each finished with one hit.
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Fans of the Blue Devil baseball and softball teams are encouraged to attend a send-off for the teams on Friday, May 23. The baseball team is set to leave the Sedan High School gymnasium parking lot at 8 a.m., Friday while the softball team will leave from that same parking lot at noon.
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A picnic will also be held to honor the Sedan High School softball and baseball team as they leave for the state competition. The picnic will be held at the City Park Pavilion on Thursday, May 22 at 6 p.m. Bring a covered dish and join in the fun. Table service will be provided. Call Dana Davis at 620-714-1417 with questions.
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Next week’s Sedan Times-Star will include a story about the post-season and league honors bestowed to Blue Devil baseball and softball players.

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