Goodland emerged victorious at the 75th annual K‑18 State Baseball Tournament, held in Lucas, Kansas, where they edged Osborne 8‑4 in the championship game.
The tournament’s third‑place contest saw Ellis Black defeat Waterville 6‑3, earning the consolation prize while Waterville also received the Sportsmanship Trophy.
Honoring a Legacy
A centerpiece of the event was the renaming of the playing field to Ziegler Field, a tribute to Al Ziegler, the founder of the K‑18 baseball league, which was celebrated with a brief ceremony.
Miss Kansas Sophie Lewis presented the trophies, bringing a touch of state pageantry to the festivities.
The ceremony included a recorded message from Mitch Holthus, a member of Smith Center’s 1972 championship team, whose voice echoed over the newly christened Ziegler Field.
First‑round action featured Ellis Black’s 12‑0 shutout of Smith Center, Osborne’s 4‑3 win over Atwood, Goodland’s 8‑0 victory against Beloit, and Waterville’s 3‑1 triumph over Hoxie.
Semifinals produced Osborne’s 14‑11 victory over Ellis Black and Goodland’s 16‑8 win against Waterville, setting the stage for the final.
In the championship, Goodland’s 8‑4 triumph over Osborne capped a tournament that blended tradition with new milestones, from the field’s dedication to the presence of a former state champion delivering a recorded tribute.