The Topeka Senators and Midwest Athletics picked up opening day wins in the 2014 Summer Classic….the Mid-Plains League baseball tournament at Rathert Field.

In the first game on Wednesday the Senators held off the Baldwin City Blues 3-2.

The Senators scored what proved to be the winning run in the top of the seventh inning. Singles by Kameron Clark and Chase Knott and a batter hit by a pitch, Austin Cullwell, produced the base runners for Topeka.  Culwell scored the team’s third and winning run.

The Senators will advance to play the Junction City Brigade in a first round game at 4 p.m. Thursday.  The Brigade had a first round bye.

In the other contest on Wednesday the Midwest Athletics scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth behind doubles hit by Andrew Kreiling and Tyler Raymond. Josh White also walked and scored one of the runs. Raymond scored the other run for the Athletics.

The Athletics will play the Topeka Golden Giants in the tournament at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The next game for Baldwin City in the tournament will be at 7 p.m. Friday, while Rossville will play 4 p.m. Friday, with the opponents for both still to be determined. This is a double elimination tournament.

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One surprise in connection with the Tournament.   The games were initially promoted as nine-inning contests, but that has been changed to seven – inning games.   The Tournament runs through Sunday.