In the kickoff game of the Skip Schulz/Western Central Baseball Tournament, No. 6 Raymore-Peculiar survived a scare, defeating Harrisonville 6 to 4.

The Raymore-Peculiar bats came out in attack mode in the bottom of the first inning, with each of the first five batters reaching base and scoring. CF Christian Arnold reached on an error to get the inning started, and would move to second on a single off the bat of SS Seth Parker. 1B Jacob Boylan would follow with an infield single, loading the bases for C Garrett McKenzie, who singled to left center driving in Arnold and Parker. Ray-Pec would load the bases again after DH Jake Scribner reached on an error. Boylan would come around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of RF Cort Lesmeister, putting Ray-Pec up 3-0. The big hit of the inning came on a three run blast to right field by LF Austin Cochran and giving Ray-Pec a 6-0 lead. That is all they would need for the win, though Harrisonville didn’t go down without a fight.

“We came out with fire and intensity and it was something we talked about last night, jumping on a team quick,” said Raymore-Peculiar head coach Gary Renshaw on the big first inning. “We had good approaches at the plate and got key hits and key situations.”

After being held scoreless for five innings, Harrisonville would score four runs inthe sixth inning, cutting the lead to 6-4.  2B Brett Bearden would start the inning off reaching base on an error, followed by a walk to the starting pitcher Tanner Foerchler and would load the bases after a single by C Mitchell Haug.  Pinch hitter Landon Hern got an RBI after getting hit by a pitch, bringing home Bearden.  A bases loaded walk to SS Jake Cooper would score the second run of the frame. 3B Brance Neal delivered a two RBI single, putting Harrisonville within striking distance, 6-4.

“We came out a bit flat,” said Harrisonville head coach Jade Samborski. “We woke up a bit and got some runners on and scored a few in the fifth inning. Our guys showed a lot of heart. We are a young team learning how to be a team and how to play the game together and compete together. I was glad with what they did.”

Closer Seth Parker would enter the game in the top of the seventh, and with the bases loaded, was able to get back to back strikeouts to preserve the 6-4 win for Raymore-Peculiar.

“Seth is a competitor and loves that situation at the end of the game, he has that attitude for a closer,” said Renshaw on parker closing out the game with the winning run on base

In the second game of the day, host Smith-Cotton gave Rock Bridge everything they could handle, but it wasn’t enough as No. 8 Rock Bridge scrapped their way to a 4-2 win.

Rock Bridge got on the scoreboard in the top of the first, with RF Beau Burkett driving in SS Ryan Phillips on a long line drive triple to deep right center. Burkett would score on a sacrifice fly by CF Ryan Schmidt, giving the Bruins a 2-0 lead.

Smith-Cotton would get on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning. DH Dalton Christian led the inning off with a long solo home run to left field. The next batter, CF Charles Chadwick was hit by a pitch and would advance to third after single by RF Jeremy Williams and fielders choice ground out by SS Cody Brown. Another fielders choice ground out, this time by C Dalton Martin, would allow Chadwick to score, knotting the score at 2-2.

“We played pretty well tonight, they are a great team, and we played a good game, “said Smith-Cotton head coach Jeff Mays. “We have been hitting the ball well this season. I am real proud of the guys and the waythe fought.”

Rock Bridge would retake the lead in the fifth inning after starting pitcher Kyle Teter led the inning off with a single and advanced to third on back to back singles by Phillips and 2B Mike Nemec. Burkett would collect his third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly, driving in Teter and putting Rock Bridge up 3-2.

“I was just trying to be aggressive early, I got pretty good pitches to hit and jumped on the fastball," said Burkett on his offensive performance.

Rock Bridge would score an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when DH Jansen Smith would come around to score after his leadoff single and the Bruins loading the bases with a walk to 1B Blake Durkow and single by 3B Kory McDonald, taking a 4-2 lead.

Sophomore Kyle Teter, making his first varsity start, went the distance, allowing six hits and striking out six.

On the performance of Teter, Towe said “He is a sophomore, this is his first time pitching on varsity with Bruins across his chest, so it makes a big difference. He is a battler. He did his job and we did our job in the field.”

The Skip Schulz/Western Central Baseball Tournament continues today at Liberty Park Stadium in Sedalia and Crane Stadium on the campus of University of Central Missouri. Click here for a schedule of games.

In other action around the state:

No. 1 Vianney won their tenth consecutive game, defeating CBC 5-1. Nick Ulrich picked up two RBIs, while Matt Brown, Petey Spradlin, and Jack Klages each drove in a run apiece. Michael Dillon picked up the win on the mound.

No. 9 Springfield Catholic shut out Hollister, 11-0. Tim Gewell and Josh Knox each drove in two runs to pace the offense.

No. 14 Francis Howell ended a three game losing streak, beating Duchesne 8-6.  Austin Schneider led the Howell offense, going three for four with two doubles, two RBIs.

No. 18 Parkway South beat up on University City, 11-3. Jake Brentz continued to swing a hot bat, going three for three with two doubles, four RBIs, and one run scored. Danny Holst had a one for two afternoon, with two RBIs and two runs scored. Sam Rugen picked up the win on the mound, going five strong innings scattering three hits and fanning ten batters.

No. 21 Oran scored five runs in the first inning on their way to a 10-2 win over Scott City. Blake Carlyle went three for four with two RBIs and two runs scored.  Adam Schaefer contributed by going three for four with one RBI and two runs scored.

No. 25 Kennett put up twenty-two runs in an easy win over Caruthersville, 22-2. Tyson Campbell led the offense going four for four with two doubles, a homerun, and five RBIs. Kevonte Martin also homered and drove in three runs.  Collin Smith had a two for four day, with three RBIS and two runs scored.

Lafayette won their second game in as many days against Lindbergh, 7-6 in dramatic fashion. Anders Fladda hit a go ahead two RBI double in the top of the seventh inning to put Lafayette up 6-5, and would score what ended up being the winning run on a single by Taylor Baden, who would collect two RBIs on the afternoon.

Ladue got by Affton 6-2. Lex Kaplan led the Ladue offense, going two for four with three RBIs and one run scored.

Francis Howell Central blanked Jefferson City 10-0. Austin Boden led the Central offense, going two for three with four RBIs and two runs scored. Starting pitcher Alex Erb picked up the win, going five innings and striking out five.

Oakville picked up an 11-4 win against Northwest Cedar Hill. Corey Chambliss continues to swing a hot bat, going three for five with two RBIs and two runs scored. Greg Gralicke had a career day, going five for five with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Branson shut out Lebanon, 10-0. Sam Perez was the star of the game, pitching five innings surrendering two hits and striking out eight. Perez helped himself at the plate going one for three with three RBIs, two of which came in a seven run third inning for Branson. Parker O’dell homered and drove in two and Alex Stephens went two for three with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Eureka defeated Fox, 3-0

Perryville outslugged Windsor, 12-11

Festus over St. Charles West, 13-8

Clayton defeated Holt, 4-2