North Callaway baseball hadn't won a district title since 1999.
On Wednesday for the conclusion of the Class 3 District 8 tournament at South Callaway in Mokane, the Thunderbirds defeated New Bloomfield 2-1 after playing in two district championship games in at least the past 18 years, with the most recent being a 3-0 loss to Father Tolton in 2021.
The other was a 1-0 loss to Fulton in 2010 and that was North Callaway's deficit against New Bloomfield (13-9) after four innings. Braden Jackson no-hit North Callaway through three innings but couldn't keep the Thunderbirds off the scoreboard in the fifth inning. AJ Haubner and Keaton Bell each had RBI.
Sam Pezold through five innings and Carter Moore through two innings combined to allow two hits and one walk. In the sixth inning, the shortstop Bell chased down a runner rounding second base to complete a double play turned from an initial throw from the first baseman Haubner. That play kept the tying run out of scoring position.
North Callaway (17-9) plays the District 7 champion on Tuesday.
Look for the full story on the Mexico Ledger website on Friday, May 17, 2024.
