By the Salina Journal
HILLSBORO -- Four hits typically aren't enough for a baseball team to win a game.
Sacred Heart managed just four hits in its Class 3A regional championship game against Hillsboro on Tuesday, and they were enough to power the Knights to a 9-7 victory.
Sacred Heart advances to the 3A state tournament next week in Manhattan.
All four hits were singles, but Hillsboro pitchers contributed significantly by walking 13 Knights and hitting four others with pitches.
Hillsboro, which advanced to the championship game with a 9-3 victory over Halstead, erased a 4-3 Sacred Heart lead with four runs in the top of the fourth inning. But the Knights quickly answered, scoring five in the bottom of the fourth that made it 9-7.
Connor Martin started for the Knights and struck out six in the first 21âÑ3 innings before being on the hand by a ground ball. Martin had to leave the game and was replaced by Jordan Toogood, who gave up six runs in 12âÑ3 innings, but picked up the victory.
Ryan Stein pitched the final three innings and got the save. He didn't allow a baserunner and struck out three.
Sacred Heart crushed Lyons 10-0 in its first game Tuesday.
Evan Freeman went the distance in the six-inning game, allowing five hits and striking out seven.
Curt Compagnone, who will sign a baseball letter of intent today with Hesston College, went 3 for 3, including a double. Aaron Wedel and Jon Jones each had two hits. Both of Wedel's hit were doubles while Ryan Stein had a triple.
The Knights were in control from the start, scoring five runs in the first inning and four more in the second.
Sacred Heart will take a 17-2 record into the state tournament May 23-24 at Norvell Field, which is located at Eisenhower Middle School.
©Salina Journal