Community R-6 was able to bat three times through the order. In the first inning.

Community R-6 vs Madison Photo Gallery

The No. 2 seed Trojans were having a rare offensive day as they cycled through their lineup three times, sending 30 hitters to the plate in a 24-run first inning -- the third-most runs scored in an inning in state history, according to head coach Joel Krato -- to defeat No. 7 Madison 26-3 in three innings in the first round of the Class 1 District 12 tournament in Glasgow. Community finished with six doubles and a home run and also had seven finish with multiple RBI, led by four each from Mason Rohan and Tucker Cox.

Community (15-5) has surged to big victories against its Central Activities Conference foe before but only by as big of a margin as 17-2 this season. In 2014, the Trojans defeated Van-Far 23-10 and defeated Slater 20-0 that same season. Community baseball hasn’t eclipsed 20 runs much in its history, much less scored as much as it did on Thursday, Krato said, and it’s better than being on the receiving end of that score, like the team’s 22-0 loss to North Shelby this year.

“We’ve had that almost scored on us this year, but no, we’ve never scored that many,” Krato said. “We swung the bats well today. Their pitchers struggled to throw some strikes, but I thought we came out swinging the bats well.”

Krato said he believes his offense can be that good every game, even if that won’t result in as big of an output, obviously. For example, he recalls seeing Community not score nearly as many runs as they were capable of against lower-quality pitching this season as the Trojans defeated Mark Twain 6-0.

The 24 runs in the first inning against Madison (1-15) were enough for Krato’s biggest run output as a head coach and also the most high school baseball runs he’s witnessed in-person. The Trojans began with a bang and kept banging the outfield fence.

Mason Carroll teed off on his team-leading fourth home run of the season to make it 3-0. Run-scoring doubles by Rohan, Cox, Gavin Allen, Ayden Meranda, Eli Johnson followed in the inning.

“(Carroll) had one (home run) last season at the end of the year against Pilot Grove,” Krato said. “He didn’t even swing it well in the fall. He hit .150 in the fall, struck out twice but just hit it hard at people. It looks like he’s widened up a little bit, and he’s changed where his hands are prior to the swing. I think a lot of it is just confidence.”

Carroll made a rare appearance behind the plate for his first inning as catcher this season because the typical catcher Johnson pitched his first varsity inning this year. He allowed two runs to follow Rohan’s two innings of one-run ball.

Just putting players in those unfamiliar positions could be as helpful as a formidable offense in districts, Krato said. Community looks to use its top two pitchers in Allen and Carroll whenever possible, but when more is needed, the team needs to rely on others.

“What happens if I run out of both of (Allen and Carroll) on Monday, and I’m throwing Rohan in his first district game ever in the championship?” Krato said. “Let’s get at least some comfort under his belt and throw him out there.”

Community faces No. 3 Higbee (15-2) at 7 p.m. Monday in Glasgow after the Tigers defeated Paris (2-15) 3-2 on Thursday. The Trojans defeated Higbee 7-2 this week. 

Van-Far eliminated in districts 6-1 by Silex string of hits

Silex didn’t string many hits against Van-Far on Thursday, but it was enough.

Reece Culwell allowed three singles to Silex in the second and third innings of a first-round game in the Class 2 District 5 tournament in Silex, leading to a season-ending 6-1 loss for the Indians.

The third Silex single in the second inning made it a 2-0 Van-Far deficit before a passed ball increased it to 3-0. The Indians (1-16) scored their only run in the third inning when Cody Smith brought in Nikos Connaway, who was named to the Eastern Missouri Conference team along with Culwell this week. Connaway finished 3-for-4 while Smith’s RBI single was Van-Far’s only other hit.

The Owls (9-9), however, added three straight singles in the third inning for a 6-1 lead. 

Culwell pitched a complete six innings for the Indians while allowing eight hits, two earned runs and one walk and striking out five. Josh Price struck out 10 in 4⅓ innings. 

Paris district comeback, season ends with 3-2 loss to Higbee

The Paris offense didn't muster much against Derek Rockett but had some fight left in the seventh inning.

The Coyotes comeback in the Class 1 District 12 tournament in Glasgow on Thursday fell short to lose 3-2 to Higbee (15-2). Paris scored two runs, tallying half of their four hits in the inning, but stranded a runner to end the game and its season at 2-15.

Rockett struck out 15 and allowed two hits in 6 1/3 innings but then was taken out after 71 pitches. Will Spliman surrendered back-to-back singles and allowed two runs to score on an error and then a Hunter Hartgrove sacrifice fly. A groundout ended the Coyotes' season with a runner on first base from a walk.

Evan Smothers pitched a complete six innings for Paris while striking out eight and allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks.