The Junction City High School baseball team fell in the first round of the state tournament Thursday to the Manhattan High Indians 1-0.

Will Ervin pitched the entire game for the Blue Jays giving up just four hits and one run in the 5th inning.

For the Indians Jesse Steinbring pitched into the sixth inning before hitting a Blue Jay batter and being replaced by Henry DeNoble who finished out the game for the Indians.

The Blue Jays did have an opportunity to tie it up and take the lead in the top of the seventh with bases loaded and one out but failed to get a run.

“I can’t stop talking about our kids. Unbelievable job to compete and just really battle and battle. The amount of belief, some of these kids had never beat Manhattan in their careers and they believed in all of their hearts they were going to do it today,” said Heath Gerstner, Blue Jay Head Coach.

Manhattan will now play Friday at 1 p.m. against the winner of the Shawnee Mission East and Maize game.