Despite a rainy forecast, Fulton head coach John Brinkmann didn't mind having to worry about how to avoid a celebratory shower.
"Whoa, I thought you were water, I was about to jump out of the way," Brinkmann said to one Fulton player exiting the dugout.
Following a failed attempt to douse Brinkman after a 5-1 triumph over Winfield in Tuesday night's Class 4 sectional at the high school athletic complex, the Hornet players turned their attention to senior starter Tristan Steffens and unloaded a full cooler on him.
Steffens (5-1) produced a masterful three-hit performance over 6 1/3 innings to give the Hornets (16-9) their first appearance in the state quarterfinals in seven years. He allowed an earned run in the seventh, struck out four and walked one.
"He's a great pitcher," Brinkmann said. "Hopefully we get to use him again after Thursday. When he's on the mound, I feel very comfortable if we just scratch across one (run). I always feel like we're going to win with him on the mound."
Fulton will get another home game Thursday against Duchesne (9-17) in the Class 4 quarterfinals. The start time has not been announced. Duchesne destroyed Normandy Collaborative 34-0 - as ridiculous as it sounds, the score's right! - in sectional play Tuesday.
"That's a lot of runs," Brinkmann said. "Hopefully we pitch the ball well and hit the ball well, and come out with another win."
After Steffens dueled with Winfield sophomore starter Spencer Keiser for 4 1/2 scoreless innings, the Hornets helped their starter by producing all five of their runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Steffens drew a leadoff walk and junior Devan Hudson went in as a courtesy runner. After Winfield (20-9) brought in junior Joseph Marko to relieve Keiser, Hudson was forced at second on junior center fielder Josh Quick's fielder's choice.
Quick then stole second and scored on junior third baseman Luke Gray's double to left. Junior shortstop Devin Masek followed with another double to left, bringing home Gray to make it 2-0. Masek raced to third on the play when the throw from Winfield senior left fielder Jacob Freeman struck sophomore third baseman John Hogan and slowly rolled into the infield.
"Devin's a great ballplayer," Brinkmann said. "He's been schooled well from Little League up. He's a very smart guy and probably is one of our highest baseball IQ guys, and that's just a normal play for him.
"That doesn't look normal, but for him it is. He does exceptional things very well."
Junior first baseman Jared Peery scored Masek on a single to right and Peery advanced to second on senior left fielder Zach Franklin's single to left. After Franklin was picked off first, Peery moved to third on a wild pitch.
Junior catcher Isaiah Pani drove in Peery with a double to center to put Fulton up 4-0 and sophomore Solomon Huff came in as a courtesy runner. Huff went to third when senior right fielder Trenton Clines was safe on an error and scored after Clines was caught in a rundown.
"We got a little more than one run, which is nice for my heart," Brinkmann said. "They (players) are doing their job and hopefully we keep it going on Thursday."
Gray was 1-for-3 as Fulton collected six hits. Masek and Peery were also 1-for-3, while Pani finished 1-for-1.
Ryan Shiner can be reached at (573) 826-2423, or by email at [email protected].