BASEBALL ROUNDUP: North Callaway ninth leads to 4-3 loss at California

By Jeremy Jacob, Sports Editor
Posted 3/29/23

The first six innings were clean for North Callaway on Monday.

The dirty ninth inning costed the Thunderbirds in a game that was moved from North Callaway to Class 4 California as they lost 4-3 …

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BASEBALL ROUNDUP: North Callaway ninth leads to 4-3 loss at California

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The first six innings were clean for North Callaway on Monday.

The dirty ninth inning costed the Thunderbirds in a game that was moved from North Callaway to Class 4 California as they lost 4-3 after allowing all four California runs in the final frame. The winning run scored on a failed double play that saw the throw to first base sail for North Callaway’s lone error.

Davis Woods bounced back from a quick start last week at South Callaway with six innings of shutout ball with six hits, three strikeouts and one walk. Head coach Zeth Lavy said he had take Woods out because his pitch count was more than any bullpen he’s thrown this year.

“I was proud of the way Davis Woods bounced back from not an ideal start last week,” Lavy said. “He really gave us a chance to win the game.”

Lavy said he liked the change in velocity with Sam Pezold in the seventh inning, but the Pintos seemed to time him well.

Hayden Kilmer was the winning pitcher for California as he allowed two hits and an unearned run in two innings. North Callaway had five hits, including Jordan Fishburn’s RBI double in the fifth inning.

“I thought both starters did a good job filling up the zone and throwing a lot of strikes,” Lavy said. “Both teams hit a lot of baseballs right at guys. We were one short.”

North Callaway will host Eastern Missouri Conference foe Van-Far (0-2) at 5 p.m. today prior to hosting conference foe Wright City (0-3) at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Missouri Military Academy wins first time in year, defeats Mark Twain 12-1

Missouri Military Academy baseball won its first game of the season on Thursday against Mark Twain.

But the 12-1 victory was more special than that as it was the Colonels’ first win since March 29 of last season, when they defeated Madison 20-2.

The game was moved to Hannibal because of weather and field conditions, and the MMA offense moved after being silenced 8-0 in the season opener against New Bloomfield on March 20. The Colonels’ bats were quiet in last season’s matchup against Mark Twain (0-2), losing 18-1, but head coach Thomas Roberts said it was good to see a stark contrast this year.

“The game itself was a victory due to our bat's finally waking up and good pitching,” Roberts said. “The game was really close for the first four innings with some timely hits from our center fielder Avin Hernandez, which set us up for the win. The bats woke up, and due to some errors, we were able to run the score up.”

William Delaplane allowed one run in three innings to start the game for MMA (1-1) and then Hunter Manderson threw four shutout innings in relief. Roberts said catcher Ethan Hersh “called an outstanding game with defense sets and pitchouts.”

MMA is scheduled to have five games this week — at Versailles on Monday, against Madison on Tuesday, at home against Tuscumbia (0-2) at 5 p.m. Friday, and against Van-Far (0-1) and Paris (1-0) in the MMA Invitational Baseball Classic on Saturday.

Bloated early innings sink Van-Far 14-2 vs Hermann

After a few crooked numbers early, Van-Far couldn’t overcome Hermann on Monday.

The Indians allowed four runs in the second inning and then five in the third to eventually lose 14-2 at Hermann.

Van-Far (0-3) played at Hermann (2-1) after the game was moved from the Indians’ place due to field conditions, and the Bearcats were comfortable early in the game. On four straight plays in the second inning, Hermann scored a run. After two outs were recorded with two runs already home, the Bearcats plated three more on singles.

The Indians finished with eight errors to lead to nine unearned runs scoring, including the six charged to starting pitcher Reece Culwell. Gibson Condie was charged with four runs, including three unearned.

Nikos Connaway finished 3-for-3 to lead the offense.

Van-Far had its home game with Eastern Missouri Conference foe North Callaway (1-2) on Tuesday moved to North Callaway  and then moved to today at 5 p.m. prior to playing at conference foe Wellsville-Middletown (2-1, 2-1 NCMC) at 5 p.m. Friday.

MMA offense outpaced by Versailles 10-6

Missouri Military Academy did have some offense Monday, but it wasn’t enough.

The Colonels lost 10-6 at Class 4 Versailles, allowing seven runs in the first three innings. 

Hunter Manderson gave MMA (1-2) the first run in the first inning on a single before William Delaplane allowed a two-out double that scored a couple in the bottom of the inning before leaving in the second inning with two more Versailles (2-2) runners on.

Manderson walked in a run prior to a bases-clearing double to make it 6-1.

The lead was stretched to 10-3 after six innings and cut into by Michael Moss’s RBI double and Manderson’s two-RBI single to give him four RBI during a 4-for-4 day at the plate.

Moss, Ethan Hersh and Bryce Slayton each picked up two hits.

MMA was scheduled to host Madison (0-3) on Tuesday prior to another home game with Tuscumbia (0-2) at 5 p.m. Thursday. 


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