The Rossville Hornets’ State Tournament run came to an end on Saturday with a 9-1 loss against No. 1 Kouts in the Semi-State semifinal.
Kouts, who came into the game on a 29-game win streak, is just the third team to score nine or more runs on the Hornets this season.
Billy Miller threw a complete game with six strikeouts for the Mustangs. The Hornets’ run was just the fourth run allowed by Miller this season.
After a scoreless first inning, Jesse Overholt tripled to score two for Kouts.
In the third, the Hornets were inches away from getting out of the inning, but an error allowed Kouts to score another run.
The Mustangs added two more in the fourth after Rossville retired the first two batters, but missed a fly ball, allowing a rally to start.
The Hornets managed just three baserunners against Miller in the first four innings.
Things finally broke through for Rossville in the fifth, as Eli Barnes drew a walk and was singled in by Nolan Britt to cut the deficit to four.
But Kouts broke the game open in the sixth, scoring four runs to put the game out of reach.
The Hornets’ return to Semi-State was cut short, and the Mustangs went on to beat Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian 13-1 to advance to the State Finals.
Eli Barnes struck out five in three and two-thirds innings. Barnes ended the season with 71 strikeouts.
Rossville ends the season 19-12 and will feature a new look in 2027, as they graduate eight seniors.