Staff writer
Marion Warriors Senior Babe Ruth baseball team will play Hillsboro in the first round of state tournament Friday after winning the district five tournament in Marion.
Marion started district tournament play Friday with a victory over Herington.
The Warriors began slowly against the Salina Indians on Saturday. Marion’s first four batters struck out, and the team was behind 4-0.
Marion took advantage of defensive miscues by Salina to take the lead, 8-5.
Pitcher Heath Hill got out of a jam in the bottom of the sixth inning on his way to a complete-game victory, 8-5.
On Sunday, Marion again played the Indians, who won the losers’ bracket. Marion took an early 2-0 lead before falling behind, 8-3.
The Warriors rallied with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, tying the game at eight when catcher Abe Eldridge took a bases-loaded walk.
The rally wasn’t enough, though. The Indians scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the game, 9-8.
Marion had a chance at redemption in the double-elimination tournament, playing Salina for a third time.
Marion had another slow start, falling behind 5-1 after 2 ½ innings. In the bottom of the third, the Warriors scored 10 runs before Salina recorded an out and 13 runs in the inning.
The Warriors won the game when it was called by run rule in the middle of the fourth inning with Marion leading, 16-6.
Marion will play Hillsboro at noon Friday in Independence. Marion and Hillsboro played in different district tournaments because some districts had no Senior Babe Ruth teams.