By BEN KLEINE

Staff writer

The Hillsboro High School baseball team defeated Marion High School, 11-2, and moved on to defeat Southeast of Saline High School, 8-2, Monday in the Trojans regional at Southeast of Saline.

Head Coach Doug Dick called on Jacob Edwards to start the first game against the Warriors and Hillsboro’s ace pitcher did not disappoint.

“You can’t underestimate Marion,” Dick said. “Their hitters are really good hitters.”

Edwards threw six innings of two-run ball, including 10 strikeouts.

Edwards received early run support from the Trojan offense. Hillsboro scored six runs in the first inning and three runs in the second inning. Trojan shortstop Tyler Ediger and catcher Aaron Bina accounted for much of the damage. Ediger went 3-for-4 in the game with three runs and three RBIs. Bina went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Taxed after throwing over 100 pitches, Edwards sat down for the seventh inning and let Ben Gardner finish the game.

Southeast of Salina

As good as Edwards was, Dylan Delk upstaged him in the second game. Delk threw a complete game, giving up only two runs, both of which came in the final inning when Hillsboro already had an 8-0 lead.

It was Delk’s escape ability that won the game. Southeast of Saline loaded the bases in three consecutive innings — the fifth, the sixth, and the seventh — and Delk got out of every jam.

“The pressure (with runners on base) doesn’t bother me,” Delk said.

Two of Delk’s four strikeouts came in the fifth inning. Southeast of Saline loaded the bases on two base hits and an error. Delk punched the two batters out with fastballs to end the inning.

“It felt like I had some extra strength on my fastballs,” Delk said.

Delk said his curveball was also tighter and broke later against Southeast of Saline. Dick was impressed with the amount of groundballs he induced, eight in the game.

Edwards and Ediger had big games with the bat in the second contest. Edwards went 2-for-2 with two runs. Ediger went 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs.

The Trojans will play again at 4 p.m. Thursday at Southeast of Saline and will await the outcomes of games Tuesday in Halstead.