Eagles Punch Ticket to State Tournament with Regional Championship Run
May 24, 2026
The Colby Eagles are headed to the state baseball tournament after surviving a tense regional opener and then pulling away for a convincing championship victory on their home field Saturday. The Eagles defeated Smoky Valley 2-1 in eight innings before knocking off Beloit 8-2 to claim the regional title and earn a trip to Salina for the Class 3A State Tournament. Colby will open state tournament play Monday, May 25, at 1 p.m. in Salina.
The regional championship run showcased the Eagles’ strengths all season long—timely hitting, dominant pitching, and the ability to perform under pressure.
Against Smoky Valley, runs were at a premium in a game that turned into a pitching duel from start to finish. Smoky Valley broke through first in the second inning and carried a 1-0 advantage until Colby answered in the bottom half of the frame. Dallas Kleinsorge reached after being hit by a pitch, Reid Ryan followed with a double, and the Eagles eventually tied the contest when Braxton Withington reached on an error that allowed Kleinsorge to score.
Neither team could generate another run through the remainder of regulation. Colby’s pitching staff kept Smoky Valley in check despite several scoring threats, while the Eagles continued searching for the decisive hit.
The breakthrough finally came in the bottom of the eighth inning. Corbin Sherman reached on an error and was replaced by courtesy runner Jack Nordquist. Withington followed with a single before Talon Wark successfully moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Moments later, Keegan Glassman was hit by a pitch, forcing home Nordquist with the game-winning run and sending the Eagles into the regional championship game with a dramatic 2-1 victory.
Colby collected four hits in the contest, one each from Withington, Wark, Ryan, and Glassman. Glassman drove in the winning run, while the pitching trio of Conner Surmeier, Dallas Kleinsorge, and Withington combined to allow just six hits and one run while striking out 14 Smoky Valley batters.
With momentum on their side, the Eagles wasted little time taking control against Beloit in the championship game.
Colby struck first in the opening inning when Glassman scored following a Beloit error. The Eagles then erupted for four runs in the second inning to build a commanding 5-0 lead. Talon Wark delivered the biggest hit of the frame, driving home two runs with a double. Conner Surmeier and Kleinsorge followed with RBI singles as Colby seized control early.
Beloit responded with two runs in the third inning, but the Eagles never allowed the Trojans to get closer. Colby added another run in the fifth when Wark singled home Sherman, then pushed two more across later in the inning. Surmeier delivered another RBI single, while Wark scored on a wild pitch as the lead expanded to 8-2.
The Eagles’ pitching staff once again played a major role in the victory. Withington started the game and recorded seven strikeouts over 2⅔ innings. Cobin Curry took over in relief and was outstanding, allowing just three hits over the final 4⅓ innings while striking out seven more batters to secure the regional championship.
At the plate, Wark paced the offense with two hits, two runs scored, and three RBIs. Surmeier added two hits and two RBIs, while Kleinsorge contributed a hit and an RBI.
Now regional champions, the Eagles advance to the Class 3A State Tournament in Salina, where they will look to continue their postseason run when they take the field Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. With dominant pitching, timely offense, and confidence gained from two regional victories, Colby enters the state tournament playing some of its best baseball of the season.