North Callaway started this week with a 9-3 win in Louisiana but thought it could be better.

North Callaway at Centralia Photo Gallery

The Thunderbirds had to be on Tuesday night at Class 3 District 7 opponent Centralia, who also went into the night with 15 wins. No. 7 North Callaway emerged the victor of a 6-2 game.

Head coach Kirt Kleindienst said he liked the team he saw against Centralia better than the one on Monday at Eastern Missouri Conference foe Louisiana (2-10, 1-6 EMO). Kleindienst said he knew from the bus ride Tuesday was going to better because he can usually tell from the players' attitude then.

"After a sloppy Monday game, we were all ready to play baseball today collectively up and down the order and everywhere," Kleindienst said. "How they act on the bus is how I get a deep in-and-out before the game."

North Callaway had to use multiple pitchers one night after using four pitchers since the team is watching pitch counts closely this week. The Thunderbirds will play four games in three days at the Southern Boone Classic from Thursday through Saturday, so three pitchers were used against Centralia. 

Carter Moore started the game and Tucker Sheets and Keaton Bell followed as each went at least two innings. They combined for eight strikeouts, seven walks, six hits and one earned run.

"Carter threw strikes after a few getting away early," Kleindienst said. "I told him four free passes max. The strike zone is something that guys have to adjust to regardless. We did a good job of settling into that."

Moore allowed an unearned run for another outing without an earned run. He has three starts of at least six innings with at least eight strikeouts, at most three hits and no runs allowed. 

After putting in offseason work with Danny Hill, who is a former University of Missouri pitcher and owner of skills training place Big Hitters in Columbia, Moore said his pitching has improved this season. Over a shorter period of time, Moore said North Callaway played a cleaner game a day later.

"In the field, there weren't as many mental errors," Moore said. "It's just preparation and being ready to go from pitch one."

Moore went back to usual spot behind the plate to catch Sheets and Bell. He said they hit their spots and made the adjustment after missing up in the zone.

North Callaway scored in every inning but two innings and finished with four stolen bases and scored two unearned runs off three Centralia errors. Caleb Sheets scored two runs and stole two bases, and Tucker Sheets, CJ Cunningham and Justice Moore (who hit his first career varsity double) each had one RBI. Kleindienst said he especially like how the Thunderbirds only struck out six times as lowering the strikeouts was a preseason goal.

"Whenever we put the ball in play, our chances go way up," Kleindienst said. "It was one of our most aggressive games on the basepaths. Everybody did a great job of getting a real lead and a fantastic jump."

Kleindienst couldn't look over the defensive contributions from freshman second baseman Cody Kemp, who recorded six putouts and three assists. Kemp made two diving catches and doubled off a runner at first base after catching a liner. 

"Cody was frustrated with his plate appearances, but he did not let is faze him on defense," Kleindienst said. "If he makes one or two of those plays only, they score four runs somehow, some way."

North Callaway opens pool play in the Southern Boone Classic at 4 p.m. Thursday in Mexico against Mexico (15-10).