Menu
Not just underdogs, NMCC right team at the right time
NEW MADRID -- New Madrid County Central senior Tim Clayton never thought he'd have another chance at a state championship.
Neither did senior Tripp Keene.
They both played on the same little league team when they were 12 years old that made it to little league's version of a state tournament.
"I haven't felt like this since I was 12 years old," Clayton said. "I almost did when I was 14 and we lost in extra innings in the playoffs. I thought I'd never be in that position to travel far with a team and go to state again. The guys here, I couldn't be more proud of them. We keep proving everyone wrong."
Now, they'll share another trip to state together. One that no one from New Madrid County Central has been on before.
"It kind of brings that experience back," Keene said about their little league state tournament trips. "It's just like we're kids again and this will be the last time we get to do this again."
For the first time in school history, the Eagles will play in the MSHSAA Class 3 state tournament. Due to weather delays Monday and Tuesday, NMCC's semifinal game was pushed back a day until Thursday at 4 p.m. against Springfield Catholic.
"It's just an amazing feeling," Clayton said. "Since we've made this run, I've never seen New Madrid like this. Everywhere I go, people are congratulating me. I'm just thinking, "how do they know?" It's nice to know people know what we're doing and what we're doing for this town."
It's been a magical ride so far for the Eagles this postseason, who entered the playoffs with a record under .500. Not many expected them to get past their district semifinal opponent Twin Rivers, much less be two wins away from a state championship.
"We've been the underdogs all year," Keene said. "A lot of people didn't have us picked to win districts or even get the the district championship game. We deserve to be here. We've played a tough schedule all year and they've looked past us because of that."
"Once the postseason starts, everybody is 0-0," NMCC head coach Joe McClarty added. "The 24 ball games beforehand was practice for the postseason. It only matters what you do in the postseason and they took heart to that. They're a confident group right now and they're feeding off of one another's energy and they're having fun. When you're having fun, good things are going to happen."
NMCC (15-14) have emulated successful postseason baseball teams of the past with great pitching and solid defense. It can't hurt when all three facets -- pitching, defense and hitting -- come together at the right time.
It's the kind of baseball McClarty, who is in his second year as head coach, knew his team could play.
"We just started playing good ball at the right time," he said. "Gelling, getting hot...we're just doing all the phases of baseball. I feel like we're finally playing up to the potential that I've seen all year long."
So far the Eagles have been on a tear. Ever since their 10-2 loss to Sikeston to end the regular season, NMCC has outscored opponents 41-6 and committed just three errors in the field.
Couple that with outstanding pitching outings from McDaniel and junior Austin Godwin, and the Eagles have been tough to slow down.
"Everybody is stepping up," Clayton said. "Even the young guys, who don't get a lot of playing time...little Jake Reed was big against St. Pius. It's just a big role they play and they come ready to play. We actually have a good future to win more district titles and make more runs like this in the future."
McDaniel has been the shutdown pitcher the Eagles have leaned on. The senior, who stands with a 1.15 ERA and 81 strikeouts heading into the semifinal, has pitched NMCC to three wins so far this postseason and has given up just one run in their last three wins.
"I've been pitching good, but it's my defense," McDaniel said. "Lately I've given up a few hits but, thankfully, my defense has been getting it done."
Although some would say the Eagles have rode McDaniel's arm, he's the first to point out it's more than just his pitching that's got them here.
"It's not about one player," he said. "You have to have a whole team, even the bench players. It's not just about me or up to me to win the game. It's about the whole team, the offense and defense."
Godwin can't be overlooked on the hill. The junior gave NMCC a huge lift by taking out Twin Rivers in the district semifinals and gave his team five shutout innings against St. Pius in the quarterfinal game before McDaniel closed out the 3-0 win.
"He's pitched his butt off," Keene said about Godwin. "Plus Jashawn, we're making plays and not making errors and everybody is hitting. Everybody is contributing at the right time."
McDaniel is expected to get the start for NMCC Thursday against the Fighting Irish.
Springfield Catholic (22-4) defeated Fair Grove 7-2 in their quarterfinals game to advance to state. In 2011, the Fighting Irish left Meador Park in Springfield with fourth place after falling to Kennett in the third place game 9-4.
"I don't know anything about them," McDaniel said about Springfield Catholic. "I'm just going to pitch my game."
Matthew Tipton, who is also a threat with a bat in his hands, is considered Catholic's ace. The junior struck out eight during his 7-2 complete game win over Fair Grove last Wednesday in their state quarterfinal.
Another arm for the Fighting Irish is Tyler Ast who threw a 7-0 shutout against Cuba, ranked ninth, during sectionals.
Catholic is led at the plate by Eric Smith whose batting average sits over .450 with over 20 RBIs on the season as well.
"I know they have a couple good pitchers and they throw strikes," McClarty said about Catholic. "They seem to hit well up and down their lineup. It's going to be a challenge and one that we accept. They were in the final four a few years ago, so there's a bit of tradition there. We're going to go up there and give them all we've got."
Although Springfield Catholic, who has outscored their postseason opponents 47-7, topped out the latest state rankings at No. 3, the Eagles have took out highly-ranked teams before. Malden, the team they defeated 15-0 for their first district championship since 1994, was No. 4 in Class 3.
"They're No. 3 in the state and Malden was No. 4. Everybody knows what we did to Malden," Clayton said. "We know what we're capable of doing and we have good pitching. It seems like we've been putting the bat on the ball good against other team's ace. Hopefully that carries over and we keep seeing the ball."
The Eagles have been offensively proficient during the postseason and throughout the regular. Eight players are batting above .300 for NMCC including freshman Drew Pikey, who leads the team with a .429 batting average in just 43 plate appearances.
In 85 appearances, senior Lane Chamberlain has a .386 average with 27 hits (3rd on the team) and 15 RBIs. Clayton is batting .349 with 29 hits and 27 RBIs (both team highs) while Keene holds a .337 average and a team-leading eight stolen bases.