The top-ranked Martensdale-St. Marys Blue Devils defeated the Preston Trojans 10-2 this afternoon to cruise into the 1A state championship game. Ethan Westphal earned the win on the mound and also had two doubles and four RBI’s to lead the charge for the Blue Devils.
The Blue Devils set the pace of the game by scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Westphal reached base on an error with one out and Jake Defenbaugh followed him with a single and a stolen base. Dillon Coates then stepped in and knocked a two-run double, putting the Blue Devils on the board against Preston starter, Austin Hughes. Hayden Van Hoose knocked in Coates with a triple, giving Martensdale St. Mary’s an early 3-0 lead.
In the top of the 2nd, Westphal ripped his first of two, two-run doubles in consecutive innings to add to the Blue Devils lead, 5-0.
Martensdale-St. Marys again played add-on in the top of the third. Van Hoose scored on a wild pitch and Nick Ferin scored via an error on the Preston second baseman. Three batters later, Westphal belted his second two-run double in as many innings, giving the Blue Devils a 9-0 advantage.
Preston was able to make their mark on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the third. For the first time all tournament, Westphal showed some wildness on the mound as he gave up back-to-back walks to Colin Larson and Jason Feddersen of Preston. Westphal then hit Lucas Assenmacher to load the bases for the Trojans. Colton Bormann stepped in next, scoring Larson on a fielder’s choice. Hughes would bat next and belt an RBI double to make it a 9-2 ball game in favor of the Blue Devils.
Westphal struck out five and only gave up two hits in three innings, pushing his record to an immaculate 15-0 for the season. Sophomore T.J. Foster followed Westphal with a great outing himself. In three innings of work, Foster only yielded one hit and struck out four. Zeb Noel closed the game out for Martensdale-St. Marys who will go into the title game with a perfect record of 42-0.
On the other end, Austin Hughes tossed his second consecutive complete game at the state tournament. He surrendered eight hits, 10 runs (seven earned), three walks and struck out five on the afternoon.
Martensdale-St. Marys will meet Remsen St. Mary’s in the 1A state championship Saturday at 12 p.m. at Principal Park.
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