Tonganoxie High baseball takes down Bishop Miege, will head to state as No. 8 seed
Shawn F. Linenberger/Staff
Tonganoxie High baseball players celebrate after getting the final out against Bishop Miege on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at Dave Regan Stadium inside LaRoche Baseball Complex in Fort Scott. THS heads to state for the second time in three years.Story updated 6:25 p.m. May 17, 2024
Tonganoxie High will get another crack at a state baseball title after coming oh so close just two years ago.
But this year’s bracket won’t include the school that defeated THS in the championship and won a second consecutive title a year ago.
Tonganoxie High baseball players jump for joy Wednesday, May 15, 2024, after winning a Class 4A regional title against Bishop Miege, 6-3, in Fort Scott. THS also defeated Chanute, 1-0, in the regional semifinals.
McPherson (20-8), the two-time defending state champs, lost to Rose Hill (15-10) in an East Bracket regional championship. No. 4 McPherson, the substate host, lost to No. 12 Rose Hill, 3-1.
There are two other schools from the 2022 state field that, incidentally, accounted for Tonganoxie’s two state victories two years ago. Abilene (22-2) and Paola (16-10) are those two other teams in this year’s bracket.
In addition, the Frontier League nearly swept the East Bracket regionals. Paola (16-10) and Louisburg (19-6) also earned state berths, while Ottawa (13-11) nearly became Frontier League No. 4 before losing to Rock Creek, 3-2, in the regional finals.
Other teams earning state berths were Pratt (24-4) and Towanda-Circle (17-11).
Tonganoxie is the No. 8 seed at 11-13 and will take on No. 1 Rock Creek (25-1) at 11 a.m. next Thursday at Dean Evans Stadium in Salina.
CLASS 4A BASEBALL STATE FIELD
(List includes record and winning percentage)
Rock Creek (25-1) .961
Abilene (22-2) .917
Pratt (24-4) .857
Louisburg (19-6) .760
Paola (16-10) .615
Towanda-Circle (17-11) .607
Rose Hill (15-10) .600
Tonganoxie (12-13) .480
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Rock Creek (25-1) vs. No. 8 Tongaoxie (12-13), 11 a.m.
No. 4 Louisburg (19-6) vs. No. 5 Paola (16-10), 1:15 p.m.
No. 2 Abilene (22-2) vs. No. 7 Rose Hill (15-10), 3:30 p.m.
No. 3 Pratt (24-4) vs. No. 6 Towanda-Circle (17-11), 5:45 p.m.
Friday
Semifinals
Rock Creek-Tonganoxie winner vs. Louisburg-Paola winner, 11 a.m.
Abilene-Rose Hill winner vs. Pratt-Towanda Circle winner, 1:15 p.m.
Third-place game
Losers of semifinal games against each other, 3:30 p.m.
Championship
Semifinal game winners against each other, 5:45 p.m.