When the blue sky came out Monday later in Mexico’s district game, it was hard to tell it was raining all day.

It was difficult to tell whether Mexico trailed in the Class 4 District 7 semifinals after the Bulldogs clinched a 3-2 victory over Winfield (6-14) on their home turf in Mexico. They scored the winning run in the sixth inning to advance to earn their first district victory and district title game berth since 2023.

Brady Fox pitched seven innings for Mexico (22-11) with eight strikeouts, five hits, two walks and one earned run. The senior allowed both Winfield runs in the first inning and allowed three straight hits to Winfield at one point but settled down.

Mexico vs Winfield Photo Gallery

“It was just getting the nerves out,” Fox said. “That was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been going into the game. I needed to get through that first inning and then it was fine.”

Head coach Daniel McCarty said the Bulldogs weren’t even sure if they would play with thunderstorms and a deluge of water covering their field. He said much was done to prepare the field, including by him and activities director Brandon Schafer, by pushing the water off the field. When they were in the game, McCarty said the Bulldogs were comfortable with fighting back and Fox did well controlling the game, throwing his curveball “more than usual.”

“We’ve been in this type of position early and often throughout the year,” McCarty said. “Playing those tough, high-stakes and high-momentum games helped us tonight. We weren’t on our heels. We were moving forward.”

Fox said Mexico didn’t have a district victory since his freshman year and didn’t want his senior district run to end after one game. The last two years, the Bulldogs lost by two runs and one run to Boonville and Father Tolton, respectively, but didn’t score in either of those games. 

Mexico was making hard contact early only for the ball to find Winfield gloves. Drew DeMint scalded a ball into the shortstop’s glove, which turned into an easy double play with the forceout at second base. Kinser Groves laced another pitch down the first base line but not out of reach of the diving first baseman. Fox hit a ball out of reach of fielders to score two runs to tie the game in the third inning.

“That was the hardest ball I’ve hit all year,” Fox said. “It felt amazing. Everything about it was amazing.”

Fox said those hard hits turning into outs is normal for districts, but Mexico was confident it would find turf eventually.

Pearson Kleinsorge finished 3-for-3 and recorded his third hit in the sixth inning. He took second base on an error to set up pinch runner Kael Smith, who took an extra 90 feet to score the winning run on an infield single by Brayden Arnold — making him 2-for-3 — later in the inning. 

“That was heads-up baserunning (by Kleinsorge),” McCarty said. “He’s not our stealing threat or speed threat, but he had a good turn around first base, which allowed him to see that ball and advance. If that didn’t happen, we would still be playing. It was those extra things that we did.”

McCarty said Mexico was taking good steps on the bases and were also doing so on defense. DeMint made a diving catch in center field, and Colton Dickey leapt to catch a ball over his head in left field to rob Winfield of extra bases in the seventh inning. Dickey was 1-for-2 with a run, walk and stolen base.

After waking up to thunder and lightning, McCarty said he is proud of his players for changing their mindset throughout the day to be ready to play. He said the Bulldogs overcame the challenge of that and a wet field.

“We hadn’t played since Thursday,” McCarty said. “Hopefully, tonight will help kick us in gear.”

Fox said he loved playing in Mexico’s first home district game since 2015 and loves it even more that the team will play for its first district championship since 2014. Mexico faces Fulton (13-18) a third time at 6 p.m. today, looking for redemption from two losses to the Hornets. But that first win is secured.

“I feel so much better now,” Fox said.