By Ethan Silverman
Missouri Scouting Director

From a team that won only 6 games a few years ago, Hartville came back in the bottom of the seventh to take home their first ever state championship, defeating West Platte 4 to 3. 

The Hartville Eagles wasted no time getting a lead in the bottom of the first.  Leadoff hitter Hunter Simmons lead off with a single and advanced to third after a Matthew Keith single and an error. AJ Bufourd’s fielder’s choice groundout scored Simmons to put Hartville on the board. After advancing on a Drew Ince fielder’s choice, Buford eventually came around to score on a wild pitch and a 2-0 lead. 

Down 2-1 in the top of the fifth, West Platte mounted a rally to take the lead. After back to back walks and a hit batter to load the bases with no outs, Hartville forced consecutive outs at home plate and it looked like pitcher Drew Ince woul dget out of the jam. Determined not to leave the bases loaded, Lucas Horseman came through with a two run double to give West Platte the lead 3-2, and a major shift in momentum. 

Hartville showed no quit, and that effort showed in the bottom of the seventh inning, down by a run after being held scoreless for five innings and recording only two hits during that time. Buford led off with a single, followed by a double by Drew Ince, driving in Buford to tie the game at 3-3. Ince would advance to third on a fielder’s choice groundout, and with two outs Kevin Prock came to the plate. Prock hit a slow ground ball to second base and beat the throw to first, while Ince crossed that plate with the winning run.

Ince was also the winning pitcher for Hartville, with a complete game five hitter.