Kinser Groves wasn't in Wednesday's starting lineup.
After Mexico starting pitcher Brady Fox had to exit due to injury, Groves took his spot in the lineup and laid down a squeeze bunt that scored Drew DeMint (three walks and two runs) to earn the 5-4 walkoff victory over Fort Zumwalt East in the Mexico's home opener. The Bulldogs fell behind 3-0 in the third inning but tied the game thanks to three RBIs by Zach Jahn (2-for-3 with a double) and tied the game when Colton Dickey scored on a passed ball in the seventh inning.
Once Dickey, DeMint and Jahn reached base, Groves knew what to do with that speed on the bases and told the coaching staff.
"When I came into the dugout, I said if Drew, Colton and Zach all get on, I'm going to bunt it," Groves said. "I wanted to sacrifice and tie the game, but in this case, it won us the game."
"I was already three-fourths of the way there," DeMint said about his confidence in Groves. "If he didn't get it down, it probably would have been a pickle."
Chance McCarty finished 3-for-4 with two runs and one double. Head coach Daniel McCarty said Mexico had to face Fort Zumwalt East's top four pitchers and got the job done despite striking out too much.
"The key thing about today's game is our offense hit in key spots," McCarty said. "Zach Jahn came through in those RBI situations and put the bat on the ball and hit a gap."
Pearson Kleinsorge took of his catcher's gear when Fox left in the second inning with a shoulder injury he sustained on a hit by pitch in Branson over the weekend. 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.
"(Kleinsorge) made his debut (on the mound) and kept us in the game," McCarty said. "They could have kept on scoring, but he rallied behind our defense."
Look for the full story about the Bulldogs' beginning to the season in the Wednesday, April 1, 2026, edition of the Mexico Ledger.
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