The Manhattan High Indians completed a decisive sweep of Great Bend, winning 8‑3 and 6‑5 in their final regular‑season matchups, a performance that clinched the No. 3 seed in 6A West and secured a home regional at CiCo Park.
Coach Don Hess praised the team’s preparation for the playoffs, noting the tangible progress shown over the week and the value of playing on familiar turf.
Offensively, Asher Newton sparked the lineup with a 2‑for‑3 effort, two RBI and a walk, while Brayson Gnirk closed the regular season at 8‑1 with a 1.19 ERA, anchoring a pitching staff that featured Easton Duff’s five‑inning outing of four runs and seven strikeouts, followed by Jack Keogh’s two‑hit, one‑run relief effort.
Regional Outlook
Looking ahead, Manhattan will host the regional championship and, if successful, advance to the state quarterfinals scheduled at one of three sites — Salina, Emporia or Overland Park — where higher seeds receive proximity advantages.