The Wamego Raiders won’t be making a trip to state this year after falling in the final game of the regional tournament Tuesday to the host school, Louisburg.
Wamego, seeded sixth in the tournament, had a strong opening game, downing the 11th-seeded Eudora Cardinals 9-2, with Pruitt Nowlin earning the win in the circle. He surrendered six hits and two runs over six innings, striking out nine Cardinals and walking three.
The Raiders went up by three runs in the bottom of the first inning. The initial run came when Thomas McIntyre scored on an error by the Cardinal first baseman. Wamego got its second run when Treytan Boeckman scored on a wild pitch, then Cody Mayer slammed a ball to center field, allowing Brody Oviatt to cross home plate.
Eudora picked up the first of its two runs in the second inning, and the resulting 3-1 stayed through the entire frame, as the Cardinals quickly shut Wamego down.
After holding the Cardinals scoreless in the top of the third, Wamego tacked on a run in the bottom as McIntyre scored again after tagging up, 4-1.
Eudora was unable to add a run to their side of the scoreboard in the fourth, but Wamego had no problem adding to its side. Mayer quickly scored a run on a Nate Gallagher single. Gallagher was then able to tally a run himself on a McIntyre single to left field. McIntyre then crossed home plate on a Kaden Kearn double line drive, 7-1.
The Cardinals picked up their second run in the top of the fifth inning, and this time the Raiders couldn’t respond, moving the score to 7-2. However, Wamego picked up their final two runs in the next frame, when Kearn singled to left field, allowing Gallagher and Arden Sylvester to run home.
Wamego didn’t fare as well in the championship game, where they fell to Louisburg, 10-3. The home Wildcats, which were seeded third in the tourney, had advanced to final game by defeating Parsons (14, 9-12), 8-0.
Neither team scored in the first inning. Wamego posted its first run in the second when Boeckman scored on a Hall line drive to left field. The Raiders 1-0 lead held in the bottom half.
Louisburg picked up the pace in the fourth, scoring three runs. Then, after holding Wamego scoreless in the top of the fourth inning, the Wildcat offense plated six more runners to move the score to 9-1. The home squad tacked on their final run in the fifth, 10-1.
Wamego added their second run in the sixth inning when a walk with bases loaded, scored Boeckman. The third run came in the seventh inning in the same manner, a walk, but this time it was Kearn crossing the plate.
This game had Macoy Moody taking the loss for Wamego going one inning. Isaac Braun had opened the game, surrendering seven hits and seven runs, striking out one Wildcat and walking two.
The loss ends Wamego’s 2024 season with a 15-9 record.
