Dylan Mjedle launched the Pittsburg Post 64 American Legion baseball team into its third straight state championship appearance with a walk-off RBI double in the 10th inning to defeat Olathe 7-6 in the semifinals on Friday night.
“I was pretty happy that I made solid contact with it,” Mjedle said about the hit. “When I saw my pitch like that, I just did what I knew how to and tried to hit a game winner. … I made the road easier for us to win this thing. We have to come out and take care of business tomorrow.”
Pittsburg will fight for a three-peat today in the state championship at 3.
Sam Gilbert led off the 10th for Pittsburg with a single. He darted to second right before Mjedle crushed the ball to the right-center gap and rushed home to score the game-winning run.
“It was not a surprise,” Pittsburg head coach Mike Watt said. “Dylan has been one of our hottest hitters.”
An offensive explosion in the eighth inning by Manhattan turned a pitchers’ duel into a blowout as Manhattan defeated the Dodge City Rangers 9-1 during the Class AAA 19U American Legion state tournament at Demon Field.
With its second loss in the double-elimination tournament, Dodge City has been discarded in two games. They finished the season 14-10.
CLASS AAA
AMERICAN LEGION
STATE TOURNAMENT
Thursday
At Demon Field
Emporia’s Jake Loucks was almost unhittable on Wednesday night against the 19U Dodge City Rangers, allowing four base hits in a complete-game 4-3 victory in the first round of the Class AAA American Legion state tournament at Demon Field.
With the victory, Emporia will play Olathe tonight at 8:30. Dodge City will move into the loser’s bracket and play Manhattan 30 minutes after the 10 a.m. game is finished.
Loucks bid for a no-hitter ended in the fifth when Jared Helfrich beat out a grounder to second base.
Loucks allowed one hit going into the eighth, but Dodge City picked up three that inning, starting a comeback bid.
CLASS AAA
AMERICAN LEGION
STATE TOURNAMENT
Wednesday
At Demon Field
After only playing two games in two weeks, the Dodge City Rangers 19U American Legion team has a challenge in front of them.
The best teams in Kansas head to Dodge City for the Class AAA American Legion state baseball tournament that starts Wednesday and ends Sunday at Demon field.
“It is exciting,” Rangers head coach Daniel Rogers said. “We are just excited to be able to play baseball, and to be able to host a state tournament is awesome. It will be nice to come out in front of our hometown fans and show what we are made of in the end of the summer.”
Dylan Roy had a solid performance on the mound for the Dodge City 16U Rangers, allowing six hits and one earned run.
But Ark Valley’s Jordan Sema was better, throwing a three-hitter and allowing no earned runs in a 4-1 Ark Valley victory Sunday in the Mid America Small Town World Series championship at Cavalier Field.
“He is a pretty good pitcher,” Rangers coach Chas Fernandez said about Sema. “He is one of the better guys we have seen all year. He is a lefty, that is something you get a little different look in there. He had a pretty good little hook on him, and he kept us off balance. So you kind of have to tip your hat to the kid.”
Not long ago, fans were wondering if the Dodge City Athletics would win another game. Now after winning four of their last five games in dramatic fashion, the question is, will the A’s qualify for the BaseballSavings.com 76th Annual National Baseball Congress World Series tournament?
The tournament starts July 30 and runs through Aug. 13.
“The talk of Kansas is the NBC tournament,” A’s center fielder Allen Riley said. “It would be really nice to go there. If we make it, it would great. ... I know the host families and all the fans would love to see us there and would love to support us.”
Dodge City Community College will be hosting a camp for 7-12 year-old volleyball players.
The campers will get to work with DCCC volleyball players and coach Shaun Pohlman.
The camp begins Aug. 2 and ends Aug. 4. The camp will start on those days at 8 a.m. and run until noon at the Dodge City Community College gymnasium.
The Dodge City Athletics' Karch Kowalczyk had the type of game Thursday night that players dream about. Kowalczyk had two home runs in the eighth inning, a three-run bomb and a grand slam in the A’s 25-10 win on Thursday night.
He ended the night a triple short of the cycle, going 5-for-5 with two doubles, two home runs, a single and two walks while driving in eight runs and scoring four runs.
“Nice to see him have a breakout game again,” A’s head coach Phil Stephenson said. "It’s been a while since he swung the bat the way he is capable of.”
Dodge City totaled 23 hits, and Hays had 13. The two teams combined for 14 extra-base hits, including six that were homers.
