The North Callaway Thunderbirds are back to-back undefeated Eastern Missouri Conference champions, but Silex didn't make it easy on Wednesday night.
Class 3 No. 7 North Callaway (18-5) defeated Silex 4-3 in nine innings to finish 10-0 in the EMO conference for the second straight year and close five seniors' regular season home careers positively on Senior Night. Seniors Carter Moore (six innings, seven strikeouts, six hits, three unearned runs and two walks) and Keaton Bell (three innings, four strikeouts and two hits) pitched for the Thunderbirds until Bell walked to pick up his fourth walk and push across the winning run. Senior CJ Cunningham had one RBI, senior Caleb Sheets had a double and senior Justice Moore had one hit and a two-out walk right before Bell's winning walk. Chance Green went 2-for-4 with one run and one walk.
Chase Mullen struck out five and allowed six hits in five innings for Silex (9-7, 7-3 EMO) before Chase Verhige struck out nine and allowed two hits in 3 2/3 innings. Jack Johnson walked home the winning run.
"They've got a couple good arms that they're going to throw at us," head coach Kirt Kleindienst said. "You should always expect the other team to throw their best against us."
Tucker Sheets was credited with all three outs at third base in the sixth inning, including an inning-ending double play he turned after catching a liner and doubling off the runner at first base. In the seventh inning, Carson Bassett made a throw on the fly from right field to Carter Moore to tag out a runner trying to score.
"That 100 percent kept momentum at least in our dugout for those half innings," Kleindienst said. "We didn't capitalize right then and there, but we wouldn't be standing here happy without that."
North Callaway opens the Class 3 District 7 tournament at 4 p.m. Monday against either Centralia (16-12) or New Bloomfield (10-12) at South Callaway in Mokane.
"I don’t want this season to end because I haven't coached baseball before without these guys being on a team that I coach," Kleindienst said about coaching his seniors when they were in youth ball and these past two high school years. "I just want to finish the year strong."
Look for full story in the Wednesday, March 21, 2025, edition of the Mexico Ledger.
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