GIRARD, Kan. -- Kam Smith and Bryor Schultz turned in strong pitching performances as Girard captured the Class 3A regional baseball championship on Tuesday night.
Smith tossed a one-hitter as the Trojans blanked Cherryvale 7-0 in the semifinal game. Schultz followed with six scoreless innings in a 7-2 triumph over Heritage Christian in the championship game.
“It was a great day of pitching,” Girard coach Bob Fornelli said. “It’s kind of been our thing all year. We have really good arms and guys who give us a chance to win. They definitely did today.”
Girard (21-5) advances to the state quarterfinal round on Monday at a site yet to be determined.
“It was a goal we’ve had ever since last year,” Schultz said. “We always thought that we would be a really good young team. We played well today.”
“It’s great,” Smith said. “The guys deserve this. We’ve worked really hard throughout the season. We’re going to enjoy it, but we’re going to be back to work tomorrow.
“It’s much deserved. We come out every day, and we have a good practice. The good thing with Bob is when we don’t have a good practice, we’re going to know about it. We can keep working hard and get better. It all came together the right way."
GIRARD 7,
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 2
Schultz struck out seven batters and walked one while allowing seven hits in six-plus innings.
“The fastball worked … I was ahead early in the count,” he said. “The curveball was moving really well today. I didn’t throw the changeup too much, but whenever I did, it worked really well.”
He faced only one batter over the minimum through six innings, aided by two double plays and a strong throw from left fielder Drake Smith to second baseman Aiden Ashbacher to retire a runner.
“Oh my gosh, turning two double plays worked really well,” Schultz said. “Drake made a great throw; Aiden bobbled it a little bit but got the tag down in time.”
Schultz exited after allowing four straight singles to start the seventh inning. Robbie Bruning entered and retired the next three batters on a strikeout, groundout to shortstop and strikeout.
“A little tired, worked a little too much in the middle (of the plate),” Schultz said. “I should have been a little more on the corners, but it worked out.”
Bruning also drove in the Trojans’ first two runs with a line-drive double on a 3-0 pitch that bounced over the right-field fence.
“A game changer,” Fornelli said. “I gave him the green light right there. He’s been one of our best hitters all year. We knew he was going to get a fastball, and he definitely did what he needed to do.”
Ashbacher singled to center and Bruning was hit by a pitch to start the Girard fifth, and Kam Smith’s groundout to first and an error allowed runs to score for a 4-0 lead. Three walks, a hit batsman and an error aided a three-run sixth inning for a seven-run cushion.
Briggs Buckingham’s single in the fourth was Girard’s other hit.
Miles Buhrle, who has committed to Pittsburg State, and Carson Ledo had two hits apiece for Heritage Christian (17-11).
GIRARD 7,
CHERRYVALE 0
Kam Smith took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finished with 11 strikeouts and zero walks.
He threw only 76 pitches in seven innings, 58 for strikes.
“My fastball and my breaking ball were working,” he said. “When I get in with my fastball, it opens up the rest of the plate. The guys played really well behind me, so I could command the zone with my fastball. It worked out well.”
Levi Borton’s leadoff single in the sixth spoiled the no-hit bid.
“I left the ball down the middle and he put a good swing on it,” Smith said. “It landed in shallow center field, but that happens. That’s part of the game.”
The Trojans scored a run on an error in the second inning, and Schultz socked a solo home run to left field in the fifth for a 2-0 lead.
Girard added five runs in the sixth with two bases-loaded walks and an error before Bruning’s two-run single, his second hit of the game.
Cherryvale (14-9) got two baserunners on errors before the Trojans turned a game-ending double play.
“I thought our defense was key today, too,” Fornelli said. “We turned some double plays. It was a fun day of baseball for us. A lot of guys played a part.”
Cherryvale 000 000 0 – 0 1 3
Girard 010 015 x – 7 7 2
Remington John, Braxton Whittley (6) and Levi Borton; Kam Smith and Blake Brokob. 2B—Girard: Brokob. 3B—Girard: Robbie Bruning. HR—Girard: Bryor Schultz.
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Heritage Chr. 000 000 2 – 2 7 3
Girard 200 023 x – 7 3 0
Miles Buhrle, Nate Brandt (2), Landon Pittman (6) and Truett Speicher, Buhrle (2); Bryor Schultz, Robbie Bruning (7) and Blake Brokob. 2B—HC: Carson Ledo; Girard: Bruning.
