The Mulvane Wildcats secured a spot in the Class 4A state championship after a tense 5‑4 walk‑off win over McPherson, a game that turned on a late rally and a clutch hit that sent the crowd into a roar.
For head coach Steve Nelson, the triumph feels like a full‑circle moment; decades earlier he chased baseball dreams as a bat boy for the 1986 championship team that still looms large over the town.
The decisive blow came when Hagen Warkins, a transfer who has quickly become a cornerstone for the squad, delivered a walk‑off single, while reliever Parker Clubb had earlier stifled the opposing offense with five strikeouts and just one walk.
Mulvane’s comeback was sparked in the sixth inning by Brody Clasen’s two‑run single, and the team’s resilience was evident despite early errors and a base‑running misstep that could have altered the early lead.
A Full‑Circle Moment
A sizable crowd filled the stands, underscoring the deep community ties that have long supported the program, while former 1986 coach David Katzenmeier was on hand to cheer the current generation.
The Wildcats now turn their focus to the title match against Topeka Hayden, a showdown that will test whether the momentum built in this dramatic win can carry them to the pinnacle.