District dogfights

Advance's Grant Gray scores as Chaffee's catcher Trevor Cannon attempts to tag him without the ball in the Class 1, District 3 Tournament on Monday in Chaffee. (Photo by Brent Shipman, Staff)

Chaffee, Oran both earn wins; Scott Central upset by Bell City, 9-7

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CHAFFEE -- It took an extra inning but the fifth-seeded Bell City Cubs defeated the fourth-seeded Scott Central Braves 9-7 to advance to the second round of the Class 1, District 3 tournament.

"We've been a team that's been a seventh inning team to come back all year and we just ran out of magic," Braves coach Matt Limbaugh said. "We had a lot of opportunities to win the ballgame so you have to give the boys credit for putting themselves in that position to win the ballgame. Just couldn't get that big hit when you needed it."

After Bell City took a one-run lead in the top of the seventh, Scott Central rallied back to tie the game with Nathan Ballard starting the inning with a double and eventually crossing the plate to send the game to an eighth frame.

While the Braves did tie the game, they were unable to capitalize on a chance to end the game when, with the bases loaded, they failed to bring in a second game ending run.

"You can't ask for anything more," Limbaugh said. "You have bases load with your No. 2 and 3 hitters up. As a coach you take that in any situation, but you have to step up and get the big hit and it wasn't there for us today."

Putting two more runs in the board in the eighth, the Cubs would once again put Scott Central in a do-or-die situation with its season on the line.

Unfortunately for the Braves, their offense couldn't put together one last season saving rally, leaving Bell City to take on first-seeded Bernie.

The loss leaves Scott Central at 9-8 to finish the season, tying a school record for wins.

Bell City will face Bernie, who beat Richland in the first round by forfeit, with the winner advancing to the finals today at 2 p.m.

WP -- Jeff Long (6-2). LP -- Josh Boese (5-1). Multiple-hitters -- (BC) Jerad Yates 2-4, Josh Overbey 2-5, Eddie Dembowski 2-5, Leonard Schaefer 2-4, Timmy Long 2-3; (SC) Nathan Holland 2-5, Nathan Ballard 2-4. 2B: (BC) Yates, Overbey, Dembowski; (SC) Josh Boese, Ballard, Steven Minner.

Chaffee 10, Advance 7

It was a solid afternoon at the plate for second-seed and tournament host Chaffee as the Red Devils took down the seventh-seeded Advance Hornets 10-7 to advance to the semifinals of the tournament where they'll face third-seeded Oran.

"We were very good at the plate today," Chaffee coach Brian Horrell said. "We took advantage of some things that they gave us.

"We still left a lot of base runners on but overall we got 10 runs in and you have to be satisfied this time of year doing that."

Chaffee's offense would bust out in the second and third innings scoring a combined eight runs in the frames to give the Red Devils a 8-4 lead after three innings.

After six innings of play Chaffee would hold a 10-5 lead needing only three to collect the win.

Not going quietly however, Advance would make a game of it, rallying for two runs in the seventh to cut the deficit to three with a runner on third and no outs.

That's when the Hornets luck would run out, however, as Darren VanGennip tried to score a routine fly ball to right, getting tagged out at home for a double play.

With Advance down to one last out Preston Beal would ground out to the pitcher to end the Hornets chance of a comeback.

The Red Devils finished the afternoon collecting 11 hits, with Alex Crowe leading the way with three, followed by Alex Davie, Andrew Dooley and Dustin Johnson contributing two apiece.

Starting pitcher Davie collects the win, going six innings allowing five runs four hits.

"He's been battling all year long for us," Horrell said. "The last couple of times he's not been as sharp as he needed to be with his control.

"He went the full count I think on the first four or five batters of the game, but he struck them all out. It was good to see him battle and get them."

WP -- Alex Davie (5-2). LP -- Ryan Moses. Multiple-hitters -- (A) Grant Gray 3-4; (C) Alex Crowe 3-5, Alex Davie 2-4, Andrew Dooley 2-3, Dustin Johnson 2-3. 2B: (A) Gray; (C) A. Dooley, Daniel Dooley. 3B: (A) Darren VanGennip.

Oran 17, Delta 4

Propelled by an 11-run second, third-seeded Oran cruised to an easy first-round over sixth-seeded Delta, beating the Bobcats 17-4 in the fifth on the mercy rule.

Oran came in to the second holding a narrow 3-2 lead. After Delta scored a run in the top of the inning to tie things up the Eagles broke out offensively scoring the above mentioned 11 runs on five hits and three walks to give themselves plenty of breathing room.

Oran would add another three in the fourth while Delta would put up a run in the fifth, but by then the game had all but been decided.

In all the Eagles had 10 hits on the day. Mac McConnell led the team with three hits and a double while Gabe Kielhofner collected two hits and also had a double.

Earning the win Kody Moore went 1 2/3 inning in relief of starter Trent Irwin. He allowed only one hit while striking out two.

Advancing to the semifinals the Eagles now face second-seed and host Chaffee at 4 p.m.

WP -- Kody Moore. LP -- Chase Crowden. Multiple-hitters -- (D) Shelby Kight 2-2; (O) Gabe Kielhofner 2-3, Mac McConnell 3-4. 2B: (D) Kight 2; (O) Kielhofner, McConnell, Nolan Urhahn, Zac Chasteen.