HAYS – Ellinwood’s offense provided eight runs, but the Eagles’ pitching and defense broke down in a hard-fought 14-8 setback to Hays-Thomas More Prep in Thursday’s 2-1A baseball regional. The Monarchs (19-7) earned a state berth with a 5-4 victory over No. 1 seed Salina Sacred Heart.

MONARCHS 14, EAGLES 8 – Roger Ward’s Eagles kept battling from game-long deficits with a spirited offensive game.

Ellinwood starter Trace Tudor (5-4) nearly escaped the third inning down 2-1, but a 2-out error led to a 4-run inning and three Eagle errors.

Tudor doubled home Cooper Hosman for the Eagles’ first run. Tudor’s second double drove in Cooper Hosman and Chase Gibson for a 5-3 score.

Back-to-back Ellinwood errors paved the way for a 5-run fourth inning. Ty Schmeidler doubled in two runs and Logan Baalmann hit an RBI single for a 10-3 lead.

Turnabout is fair play.

Ellinwood converted two errors into a 5-run fifth inning. Campbell Coleman ripped a 2-run double in the 5-run inning for a 10-8 score.

The Monarchs padded on four insurance runs. Baalman hit an RBI single. Schmeidler’s double scored Liles and Baalmann. Schmeidler scored on a groundout for a 14-8 lead.

Ellinwood 010 250 0 – 8 7 5

Hays TMP 104 540 x – 14 10 5

Tudor, Jaske (4) and Coleman. Baalmann, Liles (5), Dinkel (7) and Dinkel. W—Baalman. L—Tudor, 5-4. 2B—E—Tudor 2, Coleman; T—Schmeidler. 3B—T—Schmeidler.

2-1A HAYS—FINALS—Hays-TMP 19-7; TMP 5, Salina Sacred Heart 4; SEMIFINALS Sacred Heart 14, Ell-Saline 4; TMP 14, Ellinwood 8; PLAY-IN—Little River 11, Ellis 7; FIRST ROUND—Sacred Heart 13, Little River 0; Ell-Saline 5, Inman 4; Hays TMP 17, Bennington 0; Ellinwood 14, Hutchinson Trinity 5