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May 30, 2010
Well...we're ready now for the baseball Final Four of each Classification. While each team arrived at the same destination, each traveled a slightly different road. Take a look at some of the finalists....
In Class 2, the Crystal City Hornets (18-5)have won their last three games in thrilling, tightly contested games with outstanding pitching. In the 1-0 District Championship win over Valle Catholic, Alex Winkelmann hurled a two hitter with 11 K's to notch the win. The Hornets had only three hits themselves in this pitchers' dual. It took 8 innings for the Hornets to topple Scott City 2-0 in the Sectional game. Gary Doyle was the complete-game shutout victor in this game. The two lone runs of the game scored on a HBP to start the inning, an attempted sacrifice bunt down the third-base line that was errantly thrown down the right field line and a sac fly ! Yes....that's right ... no hits for the two runs in the 8th inning ! Then in the quarterfinals, the Hornets outlast Clearwater 4-3 to punch their ticket to Springfield.
It took just one swing of a bat to drive in all three runs in the other Class 2 Quarterfinal game. Zac Williams of Conway (25-3) knocked one over the boards with two men on base in the 6th inning to give Conway a 3-2 win over New Bloomfield. Conway will face Carrollton in the semifinals.
In Class 4, an infield hit opened the flood gates for CBC (24-7). the Cadets were locked in a battle with their arch-rival, St Louis U High (21-7) and led in the 5th by a narrow 2-1 margin. With two out and a runner on 3B, David Schmidt's ground ball into the SS hole was fielded then the SS slipped and could not make a play. A run scored and the inning kept alive. The Cadets, breathing new life, slugged three extra base hits in the next four batters, scored 4 more times in this inning to take a 7-1 lead and were never challenged from this point on on way to their 12-2 win. One has to wonder...if that ball had been fielded cleanly, it would have been bang-bang at first. It was the third time this season that CBC had beaten the Jr. Bills.
Some may have thought that Webb City (20-6) , a long-time powerhouse in Class 3, would struggle in class 4. Not quite ! The Cardinals used the excellent 8 inning shutout pitching of Tyler Burgess as they won the sectional game 1-0 over Branson (23-5)(who had beaten WC and Burgess twice earlier in the year). Burgess won his 11th game of the year. The only run of the game scored on two Pirate miscues defensively in the 8th. In the Quarters, the Cardinals knocked off the #1 rated Class 4 team, the Rock Bridge Bruins 5-2 to advance to Springfield.
The Oakville Tiger (22-7) offense was running on all cylinders this week. The Tigers blasted two home runs in the 5th inning as they upended Parkway South (17-10) 9-3 in the Sectional game at South. Tyler Bunge hit a solo blast and Tim Chambliss blasted a 3-run shot. Still sizzling at the plate, Oakville whipped Pacific (21-2) 16-2 in the Quarterfinals. The Tigers banged out 19 hits on route to the easy win over the talented Indian team whose only two losses of the year were both to Oakville !! The Tigers will square off with Webb City on Friday in Class 4 semifinals.
It was a fabulous week for the Bishop DuBourg Cavaliers (23-4)! For the first time in the schools history, the Cavs will be going the STATE for baseball. The AAA Champions avenged an earlier loss to Trinity (15-10) in Sectionals with a convincing 13-3 victory. Jeremy Tyler pounded two doubles with 3 ribbies while Nick Montero pilfered three bases on way to this win. Matt Linderer, the ace of the staff and headed to Mizzou next year, shut the door on Notre Dame (Cape) 3-1. Linderer surrendered just three hits in the complete game masterpiece.
Facing DuBourg in the Class 3 semifinal is also a school who's at the Final Four for its first time. Logan-Rogersville used a dazzling defensive play by Logan Schlesener's to end the game. His diving, game saving catch on the track insured the 8-6 Wildcats win over Carl Junction. The Wildcats trailed 3-1 in the 3rd inning when Seth Connor blasted a 400 ft 3 run HR shot to right center to give them the lead for good.
Pembroke Hill took advantage of last inning miscues to work their way to Springfield. The Red Raiders trailed the Boonville Pirates (20-5) 9-4 entering the 7th inning. With only one hit, Pembroke Hill scored 6 runs to upset the talented Pirates of Boonville. Boonville reached the quarterfinal game when Chuckie Jones blasted a walk off Home run to beat St Pius X 1-0 on Tuesday.
In Class 1 action, Cooter's Johnathan Boone two hit the Oak Ridge Bluejays on route to a 3-0 quarterfinal win. Boone hung up twelve K's in his complete game win. TheBluejays first hit of the game came with two out in the 6th inning as Boone was in control throughout the game. This is the second consecutive year that Oak Ridge (13-13)has been knocked from the STATE tournament in the quarterfinal round.
Brashear will face Cooter in the Class 1 semifinal. Brashear won the quarters over Northeast (CAiro) by a 4-1 score and the semis's by 3-2 over Sturgeon. So...don't look for many runs in that semifinal game !!
Speaking of looking at games. all the semifinals, 3rd place and Championship games may be seen on www.mshsaa.TV. The Prepcasts announcing crew of Frank Kirchmer and BJ Schulte will handle all the games on Wednesday and Thursday. Greg Uptain and I will be behind the mics, as you watch the games, on Friday and Saturday. Check it OUT !
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