The Neosho Wildcats scored six runs in the fifth inning on the way to a 7-1 win over the McDonald County Mustangs in the opening round of the Missouri Class 5 District 12 Baseball Tournament held Saturday at Webb City High School.
McDonald County starter Jaime Hanke had shut out the Wildcats on two hits before Neosho put together four hits, two walks, a hit batter and two McDonald County errors to score six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to erase McDonald County's 1-0 lead.
McDonald County scored its lone run in the top of the first. Emanuel Baisch led off the game with a single before walks to Boston Dowd and Hanke loaded the bases. After a strikeout, Jordan Platter drove in Baisch with a ground ball.
Neosho added an insurance run in the sixth off of reliever Charlie Moore on a triple and a wild pitch.
Hanke took the loss, allowing six runs on five hits in four plus innings. Brandon Burt came in the fifth and allowed one hit before Moore got out of the inning. Moore finished the game, working two innings, allowing a run on two hits.
Neosho's Austin Wren allowed one run on three hits in five and two-thirds innings while striking out 10 to pick up the win. Jared Stevens worked the final inning and a third without allowing a hit, striking out two.
Baisch finished with two of the three Mustangs hits while Oakley Roessler had the other.
The loss ends the Mustangs season with 10-17 record.
Galena
The Galena Bears spoiled Senior Night by handing McDonald County a 4-3 loss on May 9 at MCHS.
The Bears broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the fifth inning off reliever A.J. Madewell to key their win. Tyler Sellers worked the first four innings, allowing two first-inning runs. Sellers settled down after the first, scattering seven hits in four innings while striking out five. Burt closed out the final two innings on one hit.
After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first, the Mustangs answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie.
Boston Dowd walked before Hanke doubled him home for the Mustangs first run. With two out, Platter singled up the middle to tie the game.
In the fifth, a hit batter, two stolen bases and a single led to two runs for Galena.
McDonald County cut the lead to 4-3 on a hit batter, bunt hit and sacrifice fly by Baisch in the bottom of the seventh, but Galena escaped further damage when Jon Martin's hard hit ground ball was turned into a force out for the final out.
McDonald County was held to five hits, two from Platter and one each by Baisch, Hanke and James King.
In post-game ceremonies, McDonald County recognized its senior baseball players and its senior members of the Diamond Dolls.
Senior baseball players include Hanke, Sellers, Baisch, Burt, Madewell and Mark Kailbourn.
Senior Diamond Dolls were Payton Walters, Lauren Goff, Paige Jones, Carlie Dill and Hanna Schmit.
Sports on 05/18/2017