The stage on Wednesday was certainly bigger for Mexico.
Mexico at Busch Photo Gallery
The Bulldogs played a nine-inning amateur showcase at Busch Stadium against Highland (Illinois) following …
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The stage on Wednesday was certainly bigger for Mexico.
The Bulldogs played a nine-inning amateur showcase at Busch Stadium against Highland (Illinois) following the Cardinals’ 5-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Mexico lost, as well, by a score of 8-1 after allowing all of Highland’s runs in the first four innings.
Head coach Daniel McCarty said playing on a major-league field is a rare opportunity for many high school players so he definitely thought nerves would be a concern.
“It’s a great environment,” McCarty said. “I was hoping at that first pitch, that first out, I thought we would settle in. We kept on fighting adversity with errors and minimal hits.”
Not only did Highland (5-2) collect eight of its 11 hits in the first four innings, but Mexico’s offense couldn’t match as the Bulldogs (3-5) had two hits through the first seven innings before picking up two in the final two innings. Sam Ryan drove in the lone Mexico run in the eighth inning on a groundout to score Drew DeMint, who singled earlier in the inning.
Mexico’s offense has been in a slump during the team’s five-game losing streak as the Bulldogs have scored 12 runs in the five-game span.
“We’re slumping right now,” McCarty said. “Our hitting is not quite there yet, so hopefully we’ll get there.”
Jack Wilburn and Tyson Carr went through some struggles on the mound early in the game as did Cardinals’ starter Miles Mikolas hours before as the Braves scored all of their runs in the first four innings.
Jaydon Eldridge, Austin Maxwell and Landyn Kleinsorge shut the door starting in the fifth inning as the trio combined for six strikeouts, four walks and three hits in the final five innings.
“All of the runs in the first through fourth inning and then we finally settled down,” McCarty said.
DeMint crossing the plate on Ryan’s groundout is a moment they are sure to never forget, McCarty said, as will the other Bulldogs to make an impact on the game.
Ryan, DeMint, Andrew Runge and Coop Bledsoe each had a hit, and Runge and Maxwell each stole a base.
“It was a good experience for them to cross home plate,” McCarty said. “Sam Ryan had a good base hit, and Runge had a good base hit up the middle. Those memories will last a liftetime for those kids.”
Mexico (2-2 NCMC) traveled to North Central Missouri Conference rival Fulton (4-1, 3-0 NCMC) on Thursday, losing 14-8, prior to facing defending Class 4 state champion and fourth-ranked Southern Boone (11-1) at 11 a.m. and Richmond (1-4) at 1 p.m. today. Both of those games will played at Southern Boone in Ashland.
