Valley Falls’ season came to a close in the quarterfinal round of the Class 2-1 state baseball tournament in Great Bend as they fell to Medicine Lodge 6-5.

The Indians got on the board with two runs in the top of the first inning with first run scoring on an error and their second coming on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded.

They expanded their lead in the fifth inning with three more runs. Jake Fisher got a two-RBI single and they got another run on an error.

The Dragons finally got their first runs in the sixth inning with both scoring on an errant throw to first base on a comebacker to the mound.

With two outs and a runner on third base, Dylan Herring grounded to the second baseman who flipped it to the shortstop. His throw to first base was not in time, but the first base umpire called him out regardless which cost Valley Falls a crucial run.

Medicine Lodge added an insurance run to go up 6-2 in the top of the seventh inning, but Valley Falls wouldn’t go down without a fight.

After grounding into a double to start the inning, their next three batters would reach base safely, and Collin Kearney hit a bases-clearing three-run double to left-center field to cut their deficit to one run.

Unfortunately, that would be all they would get and the question remains what would have happened if the umpire got the call right in the sixth inning.

Damian Cervantez and Zac Evans both went 2-for-4 with two runs. On the mound, Evans pitched five-and-two-thirds innings allowing four walks, five hits and three earned runs while striking out seven batters.

Instead, Valley Falls’ season ends with a 19-5 record. They also went 13-3 in NEKL play with a second-place finish in the league.

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