There was plenty of action around Thursday, including a no hitter, a couple of walk offs, and some hot teams staying hot.

In the game of the day, No. 1 ranked Lee’s Summit West used small ball to get by Northwest Cedar Hill 5 to 4 in eight innings in the Midwest Baseball Classic Tournament.

Northwest got on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the inning.  C Matt Fisher led the frame off with a walk and advanced to third on a double down the left field line off the bat of SS Adam Hanks. 3B Zach McKenney grounded out to the Lee’s Summit West first baseman, allowing Fisher to score and moving Hanks to third. CF Andrew Hughes hit a sac fly to deep center driving in Hanks and a taking a 2-0 lead.

The Titans of Lees Summit West responded in the top of the second inning.  A single by DH Matt Hall (ranked No. 17 in the Class of 2012 and signed at Missouri State) led the inning off. Hall would advance to third on RF Ryne Dowling’s double. 3B Jackson Schnurbush collected the third consecutive hit of the inning, a single driving in Hall.  Following a sac bunt by LF Boston Woodworth advancing Dowling to third, 1B Matt Graham laid down a squeeze bunt scoring Dowling and evening the score at 2-2.

The game would remain scoreless until the top of the eighth inning, with Lee’s Summit West scoring three runs without hitting a ball out of the infield and taking advantage of a few walks.  C Matt Fultz (Ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2012 and signed at Kansas State) and Matt Hall led the inning off with walks. A fielders’ choice groundout off the bat of Dowling loaded the bases for the Titans.  A squeeze bunt drove in the pinch runner for Fultz, Lee’s Summit West up 3-2. Dowling would come around to score on a wild pitch extending the lead to 4-2, and Woodworth laid down another squeeze bunt scoring Schnurbush and a 5-2 lead.

Northwest wouldn’t go away quietly. Hanks led the inning off with a single followed by McKenney being hit by a pitch and loading the bases with a CF Andrew Hughes walk.  Hanks scored on a ground out by Austin Christman cutting the lead to 5-3. Jake Denbow would follow with a single driving in McKenney and a 5-4 ball game. That is all Northwest would muster up, as Travis Stroup entered the game for Lee’s Summit West and picked up the save.

Starter Tanner Rosenthal went five strong innings, while Nate Bellman picked up the win in relief in his first varsity appearance.

“I am a firm believer that baseball is a game where anything can happen at any time and you have to do the little things right,” said head coach Jay Meyer.  On the performance of his team, “I have emphasized to the team the short game and running the bases, we did a lot of good things.”

Meyer went on to talk about the senior leadership on the squad, “This is a special group, I don’t have to worry about them getting their work in, I don’t have to worry about them wanting to be here to win, and I don’t have to worry about them being here for each other when they lose. That makes this group special, they are a tight bunch.”

 

Undefeated (7-0) Francis Howell blanked Waukegan (IL) 13-0 in the Midwest Baseball Classic. Junior LHP Austin Southmayd threw five innings of no hit ball, and got plenty of help from his defense and offense.

The Vikings collected 16 hits on the day, led by DH Kyle Nuetzel’s four for four day, with three singles, a two run homerun, and four RBIs.  CF Austin Schneider and 1B Calvin Munson, each pounded out three hits. Schneider and 3B Nate Green collected three RBIs each in the winning effort.

Ft. Zumwalt East got by Rickwood Summit 5 to 3 in Midwest Baseball Classic action.

Games continue today, with the championship round tomorrow at C&H Park.

 

In other action around the state:
Clever continues to be one of the hottest teams in the state, blowing Pierce City 15-1 in 5 innings.  Clever LHP Braydn Daniel went the distance allowing one hit and striking out nine. C Chance Wolfe stayed hot going at the plate going three for three with three RBIs. So far on the week, Wolfe has been unstoppable going seven for ten with nine RBIs leading Clever. Travis Pennewell went three for four.

 

Parkway South came back to beat Oakville with a walk off 10-9 victory.  Jacob Brentz went two for three on the day, and Danny Holst (No. 7 ranked player in the Class of 2012 and signed with Texas A&M) went two for four with a homerun, single, and scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Tyler Olmed contributed for the Patriots with three hits and Parker Bettendorf, Eric Kroupa, and Anthony Duke collected two hits apiece.

CJ Martin homered for Oakville in the losing effort.

 

Ethan Howser threw a no hitter and helped his own effort with a two hits and an RBI as Waynesville shut out Mansfield 8-0. Jacob Bautistia drove in four runs.

 
Oran powered their way with four homeruns in their win over Charleston, 12-2. Kody Moore (ranked No. 42 in the Class of 2013) led the Oran offense, going three for four with two home runs, four RBIs, and two runs scored . Trenton Hencey contributed with a two for three day with a home run three RBIs. Alex Huering also homered for Oran. Chance Tenkhoff picked up the win going five innings and scattering five hits.

Lindberg improved to 4-1 on the season, defeating DuBourg in a 1 to 0 defensive and pitching battle.

 

Billings pounded out twelve hits in a 7-4 win over Fordland. Connor Jenkins picked up the win for Billings.

 

Parkview outslugged Willard 15-9 in the Willard Leadoff Classic Tournament.  Wayne Manier smashed two home runs, Adam Kendrick and Wyatt Gann both homered and doubled for Parkview.

Cabool improves to 3-0 on the season with a win over Summerville, 14 to 1. The offense was led by C Drew Pearson’s (Ranked No. 32 in the Class of 2013) homerun and two RBI.

Cody Hall had a career day at the plate, going four for four with three home runs, a single, three RBIs and three runs scored as Purdy blanked Diamond 10 to 0.

Nixa over Carl Junction, 8-1.

CBC over Gibault (IL), 5-3

St. Clair over Rolla, 7-3

Crytal City over St. Vincent, 11-1