Railer baseball team splits with South

The Newton High School baseball team split with Salina South Friday in a doubleheader at Klein-Scott Field.

Newton won the first game 3-2, but lost the second game 5-4.

In the first game, Colby Tessendorf hit a one-out sacrifice fly to score Storm Marlar in the bottom of the seventh inning. Nathan Briar and Sean Kelly combined on a two-hitter with Kelly getting the win in relief. Kelly was two for three hitting.

In the second game, South scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to take a 5-2 lead. Newton rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning but couldn’t get it tied up. Marlar took the loss in the game. Matt Kochenower also pitched.

“Tonight was a very emotional night,” Newton coach Mark George said. “We had five seniors take the home field for the last time. The first game was a real exciting game for us. In the second game, it was the same old story; we made one mistake at a critical time, and they capitalized on it.”

Newton ends the regular season 9-11. Regional pairings will be made today. George said he expects to play Salina Central Tuesday in Great Bend.

“We have to get ready for regionals,” George said. “I feel like if we play two strong games, we can make it to state. I’m proud of our seniors. I feel like the rest of the team can learn a lot from those five guys.”

First game

S.South 000 002 0 —2 2 3

Newton 010 001 1 —3 5 0

Krier (L) and Fritz; Briar, Kelly (W) 6 and Jerde.

Second game

S.South 102 000 2 —5 8 4

Newton 010 001 2 —4 6 2

Myers (W) and Vincent; Marlar (L), Kochenower 5 and Jerde