A beautiful evening made a great setting for the final game in the 2017 Class 2-1A Baseball season as the Bluestem Lions and Ellis Railroaders faced off in the State Championship game.
This year’s game came with an added twist as a pitcher could not throw more than 105 pitches in a game. Along with the pitch count limit came a required rest period. With the State Tournament only lasting a total of two days, once a player hit the max limit, they were no longer available in that position. Both teams hoped their pitchers would go as long as possible.
Bluestem opened the scoring in the first frame with one run in the top of the first. Ellis came right back in the bottom half of the inning and plated two runs. The Railroaders added one more in the second inning and two more in the third.
Then in the fourth inning, the Bluestem bats woke back up as they manufactured two runs. The next winning they tacked three more runs and chased away the Ellis starting pitcher Brevin LaBarge.
Adding two more runs in the top of the sixth inning sealed the Lions’ victory. Their starting pitcher, Blake Bevan, went all the way to the final inning and faced all but the final four batters.
Bluestem finishes the year with the State Championship and a 17 and 4 record. Ellis finished the runner-up with the State Championship game serving as their only loss after 19 victories.
Below are some of the pictures I took at the game:
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Teammates greet Bluestem Lion #3 Coy Moran during player introductions prior to the game. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Ellis Railroader Head Coach Brent Cain shakes the hand of #6 Thomas Shepard during player introductions prior to the game. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
The Bluestem Lions line up for the National Anthem prior to the start of the game. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Ellis Railroader #16 Brevin LaBarge throws a pitch in the top of the first inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #10 Dakota Clift slides into second base as short stop Ellis Railroader #4 Dalton Hensley tries to protect the bag in the top of the first inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Ellis Railroader Outfielder #15 Trayton Kroeger gets under a ball to catch it in the top of the first inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Ellis Railroader #15 Trayton Kroeger throws the ball after catching a sacrifice fly by Bluestem Lion #3 Coy Moran in the top of the first inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #10 Dakota Clift slides into home plate beating the throw to score the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #8 Hunter Clift celebrates with #10 Dakota Clift after Dakota scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #10 Dakota Clift celebrates scoring the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Ellis Railroader #4 Dalton Hensley watches a pitch goes past him in the bottom of the first inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Ellis Railroader #21 Bryce Keithley swings at a pitch in the bottom of the first inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #20 Blake Bevan throws a pitch bottom of the second inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Ellis Railroader #21 Bryce Keithley tries to get back to first base before Bluestem Lion #11 Tritten Beavers can apply the tag in the bottom of the second inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Ellis Railroader #16 Brevin LaBarge throws a pitch in the top of the second inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Ellis Railroader #16 Brevin LaBarge throws a pitch in the top of the third inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Ellis Railroader #10 Nathan Cox gets back to first base before the ball gets there in the bottom of the third inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #11 Tritten Beavers takes off to steal second base in the top of the fourth inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #11 Tritten Beavers slides into second base as Ellis Railroader #4 Dalton Hensley covers in the top of the fourth inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #12 Cadence McHaley hits a pitch that lead to a RBI single in the top of the fourth inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Teammates console Ellis Railroader #16 Brevin LaBarge after Bluestem put two runs on the board in the top of the fourth inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Ellis Railroader #2 Clayton Feik gets under a ball to catch it in the top of the fourth inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #10 Dakota Clift swings at a pitch in the top of the fifth inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #20 Blake Bevan slides into home as Ellis Railroader #10 Nathan Cox tries to get the ball in the top of the fifth inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Teammates greet Bluestem Lion #20 Blake Bevan after scoring a run in the top of the fifth inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Ellis Railroader #5 Carter Bollig winds up to throw a pitch in the top of the fifth inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Teammates congratulate Ellis Railroader #5 Carter Bollig after getting a strike out to end the top of the fifth inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #9 Nicholas Laidler catches a fly ball deep in left center field in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Ellis Railroader #21 Bryce Keithley catches the ball to get Bluestem Lion #8 Hunter Clift out at first base in the top of the sixth inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #10 Dakota Clift tracks a fly ball in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Ellis Railroader #21 Bryce Keithley gets back to first base as Bluestem Lion #11 Tritten Beavers awaits the ball to attempt a tag in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #20 Blake Bevan throws a pitch as he nears the end of his night in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Teammates gather around Bluestem Lion Pitcher #20 Blake Bevan after he reached the maximum pitches allowed in a game in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #14 Jacob Lanier throws a pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #8 Hunter Clift jumps and hugs #14 Jacob Lanier at the conclusion of the game. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Members of the Bluestem Lions celebrate their victory in the game and winning the State Championship. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion Seniors gather around the State Championship trophy. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #5 Timothy Reyes touches the State Championship trophy to make sure it is real. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Winning Pitcher #20 Blake Bevan goes to hug his coach, Daniel Scribner, during the medal presentation following the game. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
The Bluestem Lions line up for a group portrait with the State Championship trophy. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
The Bluestem Lions hold aloft the State Championship trophy. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
The Bluestem Lions hold aloft the State Championship trophy. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
The Bluestem Lions hold up the State Championship trophy after a team huddle. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Bluestem Lion #20 Blake Bevan and his father embrace after the game. The Bluestem Lions defeated the Ellis Railroaders 8 to 5 in the KSHSAA Class 2-1A State Baseball Championship game at Great Bend Sports Complex in Great Bend, Kansas on May 26, 2017. (Photo: Joey Bahr, www.joeybahr.com)
Click here to purchase prints or downloads of these pictures.