(photo courtesy of @WeAreHolton twitter)

For the first time in school history the Holton Wildcat baseball team is headed to the State tournament after winning the Regional title on Tuesday. Wildcats entered the postseason with only four wins but picked up win five and six at Regionals beating Santa Fe Trail in the Semifinals 3-0 and then topping Bishop Ward 6-1 in the Regional Championship. 

Holton struck first against Santa Fe Trail in the Semifinals scoring a run in the bottom of the first and led 1-0 all the way to the fourth when the Wildcats scratched another run across the board making it 2-0 after four innings. Another insurance run was added in the bottom of the fifth and out-hitting the Chargers 7-3 and capitalizing on four Santa Fe Trail errors Holton earned the 3-0 win. Brady Forrester paced Holton in the win tossing all seven innings to earn the win and struck out eight in the process, while also recording a pair of hits in the win. Cody Mulroy added a two-hit game for Holton. 

After Bishop Ward took down the top seed Jeff West 14-0 in five innings that meant Holton would take on the host of the Regional in for the Regional title. Bishop Ward in the Top of the first worked a pair of runners in scoring position but Holton held them off the scoreboard and headed to the bottom of the first. In the bottom of the first the Wildcats on three hits scored four runs and took control early in the Regional Championship. In the bottom of the third Holton pushed the lead to 6-1 as Brady Mulroy and Eli Prine each notched an RBI hit. Bishop Ward flirted with a few more scoring opportunities but Holton held steadfast and secured the 6-1 win and a trip to the 4A-DII State tournament. Cody Mulroy earned the win on the mound for Holton. 

The two wins moves Holton to 6-16 on the season and for a team that struggled during the regular finished strong and seized the opportunity in Regionals to earn the school's first ever trip to State in baseball. The 4A-DII is set for Thursday and Friday, May 25-26th in Emporia at Soden's Grove baseball field.