North Callaway wanted to win Monday’s first inning after allowing two runs.
The Thunderbirds did more than that with a 17-2 victory in four innings against Eastern Missouri Conference foe Mark …
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North Callaway wanted to win Monday’s first inning after allowing two runs.
The Thunderbirds did more than that with a 17-2 victory in four innings against Eastern Missouri Conference foe Mark Twain (5-4, 2-3 EMO). They responded with four runs in the fourth inning and batted around in the third and fourth inning to earn their fifth straight conference win.
Head coach Kevin O’Neal told his team to “win the inning” after Carson Bassett allowed a couple two-out runs to the Tigers. Since O’Neal took over as head coach this season, he said the Thunderbirds (11-3, 5-1 EMO) have done well responding to adversity and did so against a solid Eli Snodgrass for Mark Twain.
“It’s especially important when you’re the home team, and you give up a couple runs in the top of the inning,” O’Neal said. “What I want them to focus on is winning the inning. Find a way to scratch across something. That gets everybody locked back in and gets them focused at the plate and ready to roll defensively in the next inning.”
Bassett had two RBIs and two stolen bases, Chett Bassett finished with two RBIs and one double, Coltyn O'Neal had two stolen bases and one RBI, Tucker Sheets had two stolen bases and one double, and Warren Shirley had two RBIs in a pinch-hit at-bat. All nine North Callaway starters reached base, and six more reached base after coming off the bench to pinch hit.
“It was just patience and having a plan whenever we step in the box,” O’Neal said. “We’re not just stepping in there and swinging a bat. They’re paying attention and having an approach to know what they’re looking for.”
Carson Bassett pitched four innings with four strikeouts, three hits, two walks and two earned runs. Bassett allowed both runs in the first inning when he allowed three straight hits following a two-out walk.. He eventually retired the final 10 hitters he faced.
“At first, I was rushing myself,” Bassett said. “I got that first guy and then I got in my head. I just had to sit back and humble myself and throw strikes.”
Bassett is a senior but is in his second year with North Callaway after transferring from Hickman. He said he has enjoyed being in the Thunderbird dugout, and this game demonstrates why.
Every guy is focused on every pitch in the dugout, whether they are at the plate or not, Bassett said. He enjoys seeing “everybody going nuts all the time.”
“Everybody gets along and gets together,” Bassett said. “Everybody here is all friends and gets along as one big group.”
Bassett has enjoyed playing with freshman brother Chett Bassett, especially the family competition. Chett hit a double to score North Callaway’s first run in the first inning, and Carson singled to plate two runs later in the inning. It can be both “sick and humbling” to have Chett on the same team, but Carson just has to do better.
“Every game, we go home and compare stats after the game to see who did the best,” Bassett said. “We both do well, and the team does well.”
North Callaway tacked on runs by taking advantage of Mark Twain mistakes. Several passed balls, bases-loaded walks, a hit by pitch and an error by the catcher allowed more Thunderbirds to come home.
The Thunderbirds finished with seven stolen bases and had three swipe two bases. O’Neal said North Callaway is “in the process of learning” how to run the bases but primarily focuses on being smart instead of fast.
“Anytime we can take an extra 90 feet, we need to do that,” O’Neal said. “Smart baserunning is better than fast baserunning. If they are intelligent and see an overthrow from a cutoff guy or a passed ball where they think they can take the next base, that’s what we want to do.”
After losing its first conference game to Wright City, North Callaway is back in the running for a conference title with five straight wins in EMO play. O’Neal said there are some tough conference games left, starting with 5 p.m. tonight at Montgomery County (8-5, 4-0 EMO).
“We still have some pretty tough conference opponents to play,” O’Neal said. “Nothing’s going to be given to us just because we won the conference before. We have to continue to improve.”
