How the Salina Falcons improved to 3-0 in Kansas All-American Grand Slam baseball tournament
A short business trip to McPherson to play two games in the Kansas Grand Slam wasn't a problem for the Salina Falcons.
And they took care of business and kept themselves in contention for a spot in the 18-under bracket play.
The Falcons improved to 3-0 in the 18U Pool A with a 4-0 victory over Buhler and a 5-1 victory in eight innings over the Topeka Stogies Friday afternoon at Grant Sports Complex.
Against Buhler, the Falcons got a complete-game performance on the mound from Luke Simpson. He allowed just four hits and struck out three. Kyren Whitaker went 1-for-1 at the plate with a double and an RBI.
More: Updates: Kansas All-American Grand Slam baseball tournament resumes Friday
Against the Stogies, the Falcons had to rally from a 1-0 deficit after four innings. Salina tied it at 1 in the fifth on a fielder's choice by Garrett Aills. Aills gave the Falcons the lead in the eighth on a fielder's choice, which was followed by an error that scored two and a sacrifice fly by Simpson.
Devante Keim-Owens allowed just one hit in four innings of relief and struck out five. Brooks Richardson had the lone hit for the Falcons.
The Falcons conclude pool play at 6:45 p.m. Saturday against the Wichita Yellow Jackets.
More: How Kaden Herbel, Colby Rice and Kyren Whitaker helped the Salina Falcons rally against McPherson
Salina Hawks drop third straight
It was another tough outing for the Salina Hawks in their third game in the Kansas Grand Slam on Friday afternoon against the Topeka Scrappers.
After knotting things up at six in the sixth innings, the Hawks forced extra innings, but a 3-run ninth was the difference in a 9-7 loss to the Scrappers at James Matson Field.
The Hawks and Scrappers were knotted at one through one inning before the Scrappers took a 6-1 advantage through 3 1/2 innings. The Hawks responded with one in the fourth and two each in the fifth and sixth innings.
Tristan Bernhardt, Jett Samuelson, Brody Farthing and Drew Richardson each had two hits for the Hawks.
The Hawks wrap up play in the Grand Slam with a 4:30 p.m. contest against the I-70 Bandits at James Matson Field.
Dylan Sherwood has been a sports reporter for the Salina Journal since August 2019. He can be reached at dsherwood@salina.com or on Twitter @DSherwoodSJ
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina Falcons remain undefeated in Kansas Grand Slam
