The Class One and Two semi-final games provided some drama and concluded with an upset, setting the stage for today’s championship games.

Class 1

Santa Fe vs. Oran

In the first game of the semi-finals, Santa Fe (22-2) defeated Oran (19-9) 3-2 in eight innings to advance to the championship game for the first time since 2009.

Santa Fe LHP Andrew Curry (participant in the Class of 2013 Midwest Futures Games) was the difference maker in this game, picking up the complete game eight inning win.  Curry struck out nine batters while scattering four hits and allowing one earned run, with that run coring in the first inning.

Santa Fe got the scoring started in the top of the first with a lead off single up the middle by Andrew Smith, who would eventually come around to score on a wild pitch, giving Santa Fe a 1-0 lead

Oran scored their only runs of the game in the bottom of the first, after Seth Ressel singled and came around to score on Alex Huering’s one out double. Huering crossed the plate after the next batter, Blake Caryle hit a hard shot that the Santa Fe third baseman had trouble handling, giving Oran the early 2-1 lead.

Santa Fe tied the score at 2-2 in the top of the fourth with a one out single by Curry, who would advance on a single by Keaton Graf and come around to score on a third consecutive single of the bat of Chad Tieman.

The game would remain scoreless, with Curry and Oran RHP Kody Moore matching each other out for out, until the top of the eighth inning.

Dalton Wilkinson hit a two out double to left center, and after intentional walks to Curry and Graf, Chad Tieman hit a hot shot to shortstop that Ressel threw away in trying to get the force at second, allowing Wilkinson to score the winning run, 3-2.

 

Norwood vs. Sturgeon

Norwood (22-5) slugged their way to a 10-0 win in five innings over Sturgeon (13-7) to advance to the Class One championship game.

Offensively, six different players collected an RBI, led by Cody Hull who drove in the final two runs. Hull was also one of five players with multiple hits on the afternoon.

Norwood got the game started with two runs in the top of the first. Hull collected the first of his two hits, a single to left center to start the game, and advanced to third on Jordan Chatwell’s single up the middle. Chatwell would steal second and Hull crossed the plate on a wild pitch, moving Chatwell to third. Brad Lachney’s sacrifice fly drove in Chadwell, giving Norwood a quick 2-0 lead.

Nowood would plate two more in the fourth after a leadoff single off the bat of Dakota Potter and a double by Ryan Forrest.  A fielders choice ground out by Zayne Tate allowed Potter to score followed by an RBI single by Chase McIntosh, extending the lead to 4-0.

The floodgates opened in the top of the fifth, with Norwood pushing six runs across the board and making quick work of Sturgeon in five innings. Six hits in the inning, including RBI singles by Jenkins, Potter, and McIntosh led to three of the runs, a fielder’s choice ground out by Dalton Rein led to another, and the knockout blow, they two RBI double by Hull extended the lead to 10-0 and putting an end to the game.

Hull was masterful in the mound, allowing one hit and striking out seven while overpowering Sturgeon with his fastball, and relying an a sturdy defense behind him to make play after play.

Norwood will advance to plat Santa Fe today at 1:00 for the Class One championship.

 

Class 2

Valle Catholic vs Summit Christian Academy

In what was the most intense game of the day, Valle Catholic (23-4) shut down the powerful Summit Christian (22-6) offense, 2-0, to advance to the Class Two championship game.

Tyler Litterest won his third game of the postseason with a complete game three hitter, striking out six and having command of the game from start to finish.

Valle broke through with the first run of the game in the fifth. With two outs, Evan Lauer got Valle’s first hit (one of two hits for Valle in the game) with a double to left center. Lauer would advance to third on Lincoln Stoll’s infield single.  With runners on the corners, Stoll took a big lead off first to draw the pickoff throw. Summit Christian pitcher Matt Verschelden forced him back and turned to third to try to pick off Lauer. An errant throw to third from Verschelden allowed Lauer to score the first run of the game and put Valle up 1-0.

Valle added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Alec Greminger came around to score on a bases loaded walk, putting Valle up 2-0.

Great defense and pitching by both teams kept this game close and players, coaches, and fans on their toes all game long.

Valle advanced to the seventh championship in school history, and they have one six out of seven times the have reached the championship.

 

Clever vs. South Callaway

South Callaway (20-5) kept their Cinderella run through the postseason alive, upsetting Clever (26-4) 5-2 behind a masterful pitching performance by Hunter Leeper. Leeper shut down and over powered a Clever offense that has put runs up in bunches this season, striking out eleven batters and allowing only four hits (two singles and two doubles).

South Callaway broke open the game in the fifth inning, scoring four runs. Justin Kimminau led the frame off with a double over the left fielders head and came around to score on a RBI triple downthe left field line by ben Seitz. Seitz would get tagged out at home after an attempted squeeze bunt. With two outs, Leeper drew a walk followed by a fielder’s choice ground out by Dax Hesel and a single by Cory Hanger to load the bases. Konrad Kemper blew the game open with a bases clearing triple that took the wind out of the sails of the Clever Blue Jays.

South Callaway scored an insurance run in the sixth when Mitchell Williams scored and an RBI single by Seitz, his second RBI of the game.

Clever put two runs across the board in the bottom of the sixth with a Chance Wolfe two RBI double, but that is al Clever could muster on the evening.

South Callaway will face Valle Catholic at 4:00 for the Class Two championship.