Community R-6 shaky in 8-0 loss to South Nodaway to open state Final Four

By Jeremy Jacob, Sports Editor
Posted 5/29/23

Monday’s game for Community R-6 baseball was on a stage the program hasn’t seen in 22 years.

Community R-6 vs South Nodaway Photo Gallery

The Trojans played returning Final Four …

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Community R-6 shaky in 8-0 loss to South Nodaway to open state Final Four

Posted

Monday’s game for Community R-6 baseball was on a stage the program hasn’t seen in 22 years.

Community R-6 vs South Nodaway Photo Gallery

The Trojans played returning Final Four team South Nodaway (Platte Valley) in the Class 1 state semifinals at Sky Bacon Stadium in Ozark and lost 8-0 while being outhit 15-2. The loss brought Community’s eight-game winning streak used to tear through competition to its second ever Final Four to an end as the Trojans focus on No. 1 Cooter (24-7) at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the same place.

Ever since the Trojans were limited to three hits in a 3-0 shutout loss to all-state player Connor Rhorer and Pilot Grove in the Central Activities Conference championship game in early May, they have risen to the occasion over and over again during a winning streak that had scratch across runs against some of the toughest pitching in Class 1. On Monday, South Nodaway used four pitchers, including all-state players Memphis Bliley and Wyatt Miller in the first four innings to account for seven of Community’s eight strikeouts. But more importantly, head coach Joel Krato said the Trojans needed to grow accustomed to the massive stage at NCAA Division II Drury University’s ballpark.

“You’re playing in front of a huge crowd, and you’re playing in front of a different kind of stadium you’ve never played at it,” Krato said. “You want to play well because you know you’re going to the state championship. Platte Valley has played that game before so it’s a lot more comfortable when you’re like, ‘Hey, I’ve done this before.’ You can prepare as much as you want, but you still haven’t put the cleats on, walked on the field and have been there.”

Community finished with five errors, which is the most for the team this year since its five against Cairo in a 5-4 nine-inning loss at the end of April.

South Nodaway struck first in the second inning with two runs as Tucker Klamm hit a RBI single prior to another run crossing on an errant throw on an attempted double play. The Trojans defensive miscue total reached three in the third inning as the Longhorns brought home two more runs. Another error in the sixth inning set up an RBI single by Brandon McQueen, making it 7-0.

“That’s a hard loss, and you have one day to respond,” Krato said. “It’s my job, it’s my assistant coach’s (Jeff Angel) job, it’s my leaders’ job to make sure our heads are in the right space going tomorrow.”

Mason Carroll allowed 13 hits, struck out seven and walked two in six innings prior to Mason Rohan coming in to pitch in relief. The seventh inning was the first inning in which neither Gavin Allen nor Carroll was on the mound for the Trojans since their 26-3 three-inning district opening victory May 11 against Madison.

Carroll was named a first team all-conference player this year after allowing 25 runs in just more than 71 innings but was down 4-0 after the third inning, which was two innings after South Nodaway put together a second-and-third situation to start the game.

“I think Platte Valley was prepared, and kudos to them as they put balls in play,” Krato said. “Carroll may not have had the strikeout amount that he might want, but he did get a lot of soft contact. That’s the job as a pitcher – to get soft contact and swings-and-misses.”

There were a few times Carroll made a good pitch only for South Nodaway to nudge the ball in fair territory and evading an out by the Trojan defense. The Longhorns mustered three infield hits, including a couple that happened in the fifth inning that led to two runs and a 6-0 deficit for Community.

“A lot of things fell into place for them,” Krato said. “It’s baseball. It just happens.”

Allen was the one to break the hitless streak for Community as he singled in the fourth inning prior to Carroll drawing a walk. The Trojans had their best shot to score with first-and-third and one out in the inning only for Miller to tally two strikeouts to help strand the runners.

Tucker Cox rolled a single that didn’t eventually score down the left field line in the fifth inning with two outs, and in the sixth inning, Allen and Carroll both hit lasers to left field only for Justin Miller to chase both of the balls down to leave Eli Johnson at first base.

“There’s a lot of upset kids on that bus because they wanted to win this game really bad,” Krato said. “You don’t want to come down here and play for third, but you have to find a way to make sure the kids are still excited and ready to go for tomorrow and play their best even if it’s not the most meaningful game there is to play right now.”

Krato will be happy to give the ball to his ace pitcher and senior leader Allen one last time this morning before he plays on William Woods’ diamond next year. Allen is a first team all-conference selection like Carroll and has allowed three runs over his previous three starts, encompassing 19 2/3 innings.

“I’m excited to watch you’ve poured into for four years get a moment in the Final Four to throw,” Krato said. “It’s exciting but less exciting because it’s not the game I wanted him to throw. I wanted him to throw the 1 o’clock game for the championship. I know our kids are going to come out and compete and give their best, and Gavin is going to throw a heck of a game because he is a heck of an athlete and heck of a competitor.”

Look for the full recap and photos of Community R-6's trip to the Class 1 state Final Four in the Saturday, June 3, 2023, edition of the Mexico Ledger.


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