North Callaway’s five-game win streak fell on Monday.

The Thunderbirds lost 8-2 at Mexico after being outhit 12-5. Kinser Groves pitched six innings for Mexico (10-6) with four hits, four strikeouts, three walks and two unearned runs. 

North Callaway (7-3) shot out ahead in the first inning when Coltyn O’Neal’s fly ball was dropped in the outfield on a windy evening. Chett Bassett singled and then Tucker Sheets hit a sacrifice fly that preceded a Chance Green single and Cody Kemp RBI single. Head coach Kevin O’Neal said it was a struggle at the plate after that.

North Callaway at Mexico Photo Gallery

“We did not do a very good job of adjusting at the plate quick enough in the game,” O’Neal said. “We got a lot of popups because we were out on our front foot.”

O’Neal said Groves kept North Callaway off-balance and pitched a good game. He said “the wind is the wind” as it is frequently a factor in the spring, but the Thunderbirds had to adjust to what Groves was offering.

“It is somebody that’s not overpowering but does a good job locating and mixing in his offspeed stuff,” O’Neal said. “The ball looks like a beach ball coming in. We get out on our front foot and want to hit it, but we’re either hitting ground balls or pop-ups.”

Mexico is a tough team to face, O’Neal said, and it resulted in 12 hits. The Bulldogs picked up three triples and could’ve had a fourth if North Callaway hadn’t thrown out Drew DeMint trying to leg out his second three-bagger. 

North Callaway sent four pitchers out to the mound. While there were five walks, O’Neal said the Thunderbirds didn’t have the command they needed.

“Mexico is an aggressive team,” O’Neal said. “I wanted us to work on location. I wanted to see all of our guys against a good hitting team because that’s going to help me later on in the year know who to use where. For the most part, we did a decent job. They hit the ball very well, especially at the top of their lineup, but we’ve got to cut down on walks and get ahead in counts with strike one.”

North Callaway’s top of the lineup has been stable with Coltyn O’Neal. He reached base three times and had a single in the seventh inning. 

O’Neal is one of four Thunderbirds with an on-base percentage over .500 so far this season to start off a lineup that is averaging 7.4 runs per game. North Callaway extended a streak of attempts without being caught stealing to 51 against Mexico before finally being thrown out later in the game, and O’Neal had a stolen base in the game.

“The leadoff guy has to show a lot of confidence at the plate and be able to talk to the hitters behind him,” O’Neal said. “Coltyn has done a good job. He’s hit leadoff in the past, so it’s not a spot he’s not used to.”

North Callaway has relied on underclassmen more this season, and they have produced. Kemp is a sophomore with some varsity experience last year, and he went 2-for-2 with one RBI against Mexico. Chett Bassett and Jude Shryock are in the starting lineup every day and each are hitting around .300. 

Bassett has pitched the second-most innings behind his senior brother Carson Bassett. They pitched against Mexico along with freshman Logan Young, and Shryock also has time on the mound this year. O’Neal said a lot of them have travel ball experience, but anybody — including him with 30 years of coaching experience — can learn something new from the game.

“They still have things to learn, but the way they come in and compete is probably the most impressive thing,” O’Neal said. “As a freshman, it’s hard to come in against an 18-year-old and compete. These guys are competitors and are confident in themselves.”

North Callaway hosts Eastern Missouri Conference foe Elsberry (3-3, 3-1 EMO) at 5 p.m. today.