Broncos Season Ends with Loss to Larned in Regionals

LARNED-Logan Erway and Cade Colglazier drove in three runs apiece as the Larned Indians took advantage of defensive bad luck for Russell-Victoria on their way to a 12-5 victory over the Broncos Monday afternoon at Moffett Stadium.

Although the game was played on Larned's home field, the Indians were the visiting team as the #5 seed while Russell-Victoria was seeded fourth.  The tournament had been awarded to the Shaffer Field Complex but damage to the scoreboard and the playing field from the April 29 wind storm forced the change of venue.  The remainder of the tournament will be held Wednesday, May 18 at the Great Bend Sports Complex but with Russell serving as the tournament host.

Larned plated two runs off starting and losing pitcher Aidan Rohr in the top of the first inning before Russell-Victoria got a run back in the bottom half of the frame when Andrew Roth scored after Jackson Cross grounded into an unusual 6-3-5 double play.  Rohr was lifted in favor of Cross in the second inning as the Indians tacked on five more runs to lead 7-1.

Larned extended their lead to 11-1 with four more tallies in the top of the fourth before the Broncos picked up a run when Wyatt Griffin, pinch-running for Cross scored on a passed ball.  After neither team scored in the fifth inning, Larned added a run in the top of the sixth to lead 12-2 putting the Indians in a position to win a shortened game.

Russell-Victoria though got off the mat in the bottom of the sixth with a three-run rally that began with a single by Cross, a double by Cameron Farmer and a two-run double by Rohr.  Another run came home when Brayden Drake drew a bases-loaded walk to score Rohr to cut the deficit to 12-5.  The Broncos still had the bases loaded with nobody out and a tremendous opportunity to further shrink the margin, but Charlie Krug was called out on strikes and Roth flew out to right field and Wyatt Middleton was cut down at the plate trying to score, completing the double play.

The Broncos were retired in order in the seventh inning and their season came to an end.  Larned (8-11) advances to the Regional Semifinals in Great Bend on Wednesday where they will face #1 seed Ellsworth which had little trouble on their way to a 13-0 victory over Lincoln-Sylvan-Lucas on Monday.  

Russell-Victoria finishes the 2022 season with a record of 11-10.  Monday's game marked the final appearance in a Bronco uniform for seniors Andrew Roth, Brayden Drake, Aidan Rohr, Josh Sohm and LaAries Winzerling.  Russell-Victoria will also have a new coach for the 2023 season after current coach Allan Penka recently announced his resignation.