SALINA – The Ellis baseball team scored four runs in the bottom of the first and that was all they needed as they knocked off Ell-Saline 17-3 in the 3A Regional opener at James Matson Field in Salina.
Easton Burton, Jarret Mader, Tyson Jimenez and George Crawford all had three of the Railers 16 hits. Crawford and Matt Ernst both drove in four runs.
Burton allowed two earned runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and no walks over the first three innings and picked up the win in the game which ended after five innings due to run-rule. Ian McGuire pitched two innings of scoreless relief with three strikeouts and one walk.
The Railers (12-6) will take on Canton-Galva in the second regional semifinal Thursday around . The Eagles edged Sacred Heart 5-4.