The results are often determined by who makes the least mistakes.
That has been the case during Mexico’s first state baseball quarterfinals run since 2014, winning its first three playoff …
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The results are often determined by who makes the least mistakes.
That has been the case during Mexico’s first state baseball quarterfinals run since 2014, winning its first three playoff games by five combined runs but losing 13-3 in five innings on Thursday to Orchard Farm (24-8) in Mexico. The No. 9 Bulldogs finish the season with a 24-12 record.
Head coach Daniel McCarty said a couple innings got away from Mexico, resulting in the team’s first run-rule loss since a 13-0 loss to Hickman in the season opener. Orchard Farm posted five runs in the second inning and seven runs in the fourth inning, thanks largely to four errors and nine unearned runs.
"We had a few more errors than normal and a few more mental miscues," head coach Daniel McCarty said. "Whoever's going to win depends on whoever makes the least mistakes."
Mexico had three consecutive complete games thrown by its pitchers going into the quarterfinals — two by Brady Fox and one by Kaden Benne. The senior Benne struggled along with his fellow seniors Kinser Groves and Drew DeMint to snap that streak and combine for eight walks.
“We were walking too many guys today,” McCarty said. “We didn’t feel like we were around the zone very much. We were getting behind hitters today. We just weren’t getting that first-pitch strike.”
Prior to all of that, the Bulldogs came out firing in the first inning with an 8-3 inning-ending double play turned after a diving catch by DeMint in centerfield and then the offense rattled off four straight hits, including three consecutive extra-base hits. Colton Dickey singled and advanced to third base on an error and then DeMint and Fox followed with back-to-back doubles. Fox picked up a RBI, and he was driven in by Zach Jahn for a 3-0 Mexico lead.
McCarty said it wasn’t the best final game for the seniors but “a learning moment” for the returning players. However, he said this one game doesn’t take away the season that was made possible by the leadership of those seniors.
DeMint, Fox and Chance McCarty each own or tied records for the program prior to their final game as Bulldogs. Fox tied the all-time pitching wins record in Mexico’s 4-1 sectional win at Moberly, McCarty has the all-time hit by pitch record, and DeMint owns five career records — hits, RBIs, runs scored, triples and saves.
“They’ll be well-missed,” McCarty said. “It’s a very talented group. What they put in day in and day out to the program is an understatement. What they do on and off the field for the program is so good for us and them.”
Mexico spent most of the season unranked in Class 4. The Bulldogs weren’t ranked until they slotted in at No. 9 in the May 18 rankings before districts started, and they closed the season in the Elite Eight.
“Going into the season, our guys were undersized a little bit, but we had very athletic and talented kids led by those five seniors,” McCarty said. “We’re more athletic and small with speed. That’s why we can steal easily, for the most part.”
