HASTINGS -- One run is all the Wayne offense could bring home Friday afternoon.
And one was all they would need.
The Blue Devils got a solid pitching performance from Kansas State recruit Brooks Kneifl and a solid defensive effort that made the lone run of the game stand up to give Wayne a 1-0 win over Adams Central to claim the C-6 district title Friday afternoon at Duncan Field.
Wayne's last appearance at a state baseball tournament was in 1983, shortly before the school dropped the sport as a varsity activity. The sport was reinstated in the early 2010's, and that paid off Friday as the Blue Devils will compete in the Class C state tournament beginning next Saturday in Omaha.
The game was scoreless until the fifth, when Wayne's offense put just enough together to get the game's only run.
Kaleb Moormeier started off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a key sacrifice by Jase Dean, who managed to get a bunt down with an 0-2 count to move the runner along.
That set the stage for Kaden Keller, who line a ball into right field for a single, scoring Moormeier from second.
Adams Central had several chances to score in the contest, but were stopped by a salty Wayne defense that played error-free baseball.
In the first, the Patriots had a runner on third with one out when a grounder by Aiden Liston came home to nail the runner at home.
In the sixth, Nick Conant lashed a lazy ground ball in to left field and tried to turn a single into a double, but was cut down on a nice throw by Keller to second baseman Gavin Redden. Adams Central would again have a runner on in the seventh, but was picked off by Kneifl as he threw to Dean who relayed to Wyatt Heikes for the tag at second, which would prove to be the Patriots' last opportunity as Jaron Johnson would strike out to end the game and send the Blue Devil team into a celebratory dogpile in front of the pitchers' mound.
Adams Central outhit Wayne 6-3 in the contest. Keller's RBI single proved to be the game-winner, as Heikes and Kneifl also had hits in the game.
Kneifl threw the complete-game shutout, striking out 10 and allowing one walk along with six hits in a 112-pitch effort.
The win sends Wayne (14-7) to the Class C state tournament that begins Saturday in Omaha. Pairings and start times will be announced Saturday by the NSAA.
