HESSTON — On May 16, the Ellsworth Bearcats competed in the first round of regionals. The Cats were seeded fifth in the bracket with a 9-11 record. Their first game was against Sylvan-Lucas Unified/ Lincoln and the Cats defeated the Mustangs 7-5.

During the first inning, junior Cole Webber hit a single putting the Bearcats on the scoreboard.

The game was tied at 5 all in the top of the seventh when freshman Jackson Minear hit a single on a 3-1 count, scoring a run.

Junior Ben Hipp earned the victory on the hill for the Cats. He pitched for two-and-a-third innings and allowed zero runs on zero hits. The right hander struck out five and walked zero.

Webber and freshman Brody Shearer both helped pitch towards the end of the game.

Junior Wyatt Bohnen and freshman Dax Leiker both had multiple hits for the Cats. Bohnen led the team in most hits with three hits in four at bats.

“We got the bats going early and worked as a team,” Leiker said. “That carried our momentum throughout the game.”

Next in regionals, the Bearcats traveled to Hoisington May 17 to compete against No. 1-seeded Hesston, but the Cats fell short, losing 4-1.

The Cats had trouble getting hits and putting runners on base.

Junior Lane Rolfs was on the mound for the Bearcats. The lefty pitched six innings, allowing seven hits and 4 runs. Rolfs struck out seven batters and walked one.

“I feel like everybody gave it their all the whole time,” senior Cade Gwinner said. “Some games just don’t go the way you hope. I wish we could’ve hit the ball better, but through it all, I didn’t see anybody give up and that’s what matters. I wish our last game could’ve ended differently, but in the end I’m still proud of every single one of our guys.”

The Bearcats finished the season with a 10-12 record.