Mexico went 1-3 against bigger Class 5 and 6 schools last weekend in Branson and had another for its home opener.

The Bulldogs handed Class 5 Fort Zumwalt East its first loss with a 5-4 walkoff victory on March 25 after senior Kinser Groves laid down a squeeze bunt to score Drew DeMint. They trailed 4-3 heading into the inning and were down 3-0 in the third inning.

The season just started, but Class 4 Mexico faced a Class 5 or 6 school in each of its first five games. It played its first four games in the Steve Lael Leadoff Festival in Branson where it lost to Class 6 Hickman and Glendale and Class 5 Marshfield and beat Class 5 Lebanon. Marshfield and Lebanon received attention in the Class 5 preseason rankings, and Mexico has in Class 4.

Mexico vs Fort Zumwalt East Photo Gallery

“I don’t really think seeing fast or good pitchers are our problem right now,” DeMint said. “All weekend in Branson, we saw everyone’s top three pitchers. It really is just having no errors on defense because we’re hitting the ball.”

DeMint walked three times and scored two runs, so he didn’t get much of a chance to hit after racking up five hits in Branson. That put the senior at 104 career hits to break the tie with Andrew Jurgesmeyer for the most hits in the program. Considering Jurgesmeyer graduated in 2008, DeMint said it definitely is a great accomplishment.

“I’m pretty excited about it,” DeMint said. “The last person that had that had a bunch of hitting records. It feels pretty good, and hopefully, it continues getting higher.”

DeMint hits third in the order, and his fellow senior Chance McCarty hits ahead of him. McCarty went 3-for-4 with two runs and one double after picking up three hits over the weekend. He also was hit by a pitch to put him at a school-record 19 and break the tie with Frank Nickoley, who set the record in 2014. 

“I’m just a team player,” McCarty said. “I’ll find any way to get on base. That’s what I value the most.”

McCarty is also a dangerous hitter and one that was scouted for college like DeMint as they signed to play for Missouri Valley College and Columbia College, respectively. DeMint said McCarty is sure to see more offspeed pitches because he is doing so well, which DeMint knows all about since he said he saw four curveballs in on at-bat against Fort Zumwalt East. 

“I just had a good approach,” McCarty said. “I’m seeing the ball well and seeing spin. I’m just hitting the first pitch and reading the spin. That’s what I tried to do (against Fort Zumwalt East).”

Head coach Daniel McCarty said he is proud of both kids and that they hold records from their efforts over the years.

“Both of them earned it,” McCarty said. “Both of them have been grinding since freshman and sophomore year. They haven’t stopped. These two keep on doing their thing, but they’re also bringing these younger guys, who are also on the leaderboards, up as well.”

McCarty said Mexico did strike out too many times against Fort Zumwalt East. The Bulldogs fanned eight times and struck out looking too much for McCarty’s liking. Those numbers were better in Branson, however, as the Bulldogs had less than eight strikeouts in three of the games. 

McCarty said Mexico’s offense can hit in key moments. That is exactly what happened against Fort Zumwalt East and with No. 4 hitter Zach Jahn, in particular, after some multi-hit games in Branson. Jahn finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and hit a double that reached the fence to score two runs to tie the game in the fifth inning.

“What Zach has done so far in the first five games is he’s starting to relax,” McCarty said. “He understands that this is his year. He is fully healthy, and he hasn’t taken a step back. He’s locking in on those key RBI moments as a cleanup hitter. He knows when there are ducks on the pond, he has to do something to get those runners in.”

Groves came through in a RBI situation against Fort Zumwalt East after Colton Dickey tied the game by scoring on a passed ball. The also quick DeMint was on third base for Groves, and Groves said he volunteered to bunt before the inning if his teammates reached base. McCarty said that is exactly what happened.

“That takes a lot of leadership, a lot of pride and a lot of ownership,” McCarty said. “On the first one, he didn’t execute. Then there was a ball, and he had a perfect situation with speed to get a push bunt and put a beautiful one down. Everybody was caught off guard after that.”

Groves stepped into the lineup for Brady Fox, who started the game on the mound but left due to a shoulder injury he sustained on a hit by pitch in Branson. Fox pitched 6⅓ innings in Mexico’s 12-3 win over Lebanon with nine strikeouts and one earned run. He also went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Sophomore catcher Pearson Kleinsorge pitched 4 1/3 innings with three hits, three strikeouts, three walks, two earned runs and two induced double plays and put his gear back on when DeMint closed the game.

"The key thing about (the Fort Zumwalt East) game is our offense hit in key spots," McCarty said.