In the game of the day pitting what could be a Class Four Championship game preview, No. 2 Vianney came back from a 5-0 deficit to defeat No. 1 Lee’s Summit West by a score of 7-6 to win the Midwest Classic Tournament

The Titans of Lee’s Summit West got off to a quick 5-0 lead after two innings. In the top of the first, C Matt Fultz singled down the right field line, and pinch runner Nathan Fry would come around to score on a double down the left field line, putting the Titans up 1-0.

Lee’s Summit West would tack on four more runs in the top of the second inning, with four consecutive hitters reaching base.  RF Ryan Dowling would start off with a single and move to second when LF Boston Woodworth got hit by a pitch.  3B would lay down a bunt and reach first safely, loading the bases for CF Monte Harrison, who drilled a line drive to deep centerfield, scoring Dowling and Woodworth.  SS Travis Stroup would follow with a hard single, driving home Rosenthal.  2B Orencio Fisher hit into a fielders choice, and Harrison would cross the plate and give Lee’s Summit a 5-0 lead.

Vianney would start chipping away at the lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second.  CF Tyler Picha smashed a one out double down the left field line to get the rally going. Following the double by Picha, RF Kevin Dvorak would reach after getting hit by a pitch, and both would come around to score on a double by tournament MVP Aaron Bossi, cutting the lead to 5-2.

The Griffins of Vianney tied the score in the bottom of the fourth inning.  SS Nick Ulrich led the frame off with his second single of the afternoon and would advance to third after fielder’s choice groundouts by Picha and Richard.  A Kevin Dvorak single would drive in Ulrich, cutting the lead to 5-3.  Vianney would load the bases after a single by Bossi and C Jack Klages getting hit by a pitch.  With the bases loaded, 2B Jake Walters came through with a clutch two RBI single, scoring Dvorak and Bossi, tying the score at 5-5.

“I was just saying to myself, don’t try to do to much. I got a fastball in the zone and tried to put a good swing on it, and luckily it got through,” Walters said on his bases loaded, two RBI single.

Vianney would take their first lead of the game, 6-5, in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tyler Picha would drive in LF Petey Spradlin, who reach base after being hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a Ulrich fielder’s choice groundout and moving to third on a wild pitch.

Lee’s Summit West responded with a run in the top of the sixth to knot the score at 6-6.  Boston Woodworth led the inning off with a single, and would come around to score from first on a double to deep left center off the bat of Rosenthal.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Vianney would take the lead for good.  Bossi would draw a one out walk and advance to third on a perfectly placed hit and run single by Klages. Once again, 2B Jake Walters would come through, this time with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Bossi and giving Vianney a 7-6 lead.

On his go ahead sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, Walters had to say, “I was looking for a pitch up in the zone that I could put in the, try to get a sac fly, the first pitch I got one and glad I got a good pitch to drive.”

Closer Teddy Rule threw one and two-third innings to secure the win for Vianney. Starter Tim Agne went five and a third innings, scattering eight his against the powerful Titan offense, improving Vianney’s record to 8-1.

“They (Vianney) wanted to go into this week to show they were a good team, and really want to step it up,” said Vianney head coach Scott Brown. “Our defense has played, in my mind, outstanding the last couple of days. It is nice to win this thing because it shows where we are against some of the other teams in the area and the state, but ultimately we need to keep getting better, and the understand that.”

For Lee’s Summit West, CF Monte Hall collected two RBIs  and 1B Matt Hall went two for three with an RBI in the loss. On the week, the Titans went 7-1.

In the third place game, Francis Howell North defeated rival Francis Howell 7-5. 

Howell North jumped out to a 7-0 lead. In the first inning, CF Yoonjae Nam led off the game with a triple and came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of RF Justin Watkins.

North would extend their lead to 4-0 in the top of the third. After loading the bases, Kyle Shikore delivered an RBI single. Two more runs cross the plate after 2B Kevin Henke reached on a error and a sacrifice fly by Andrew Curran.

Three more runs would be added to the 4-0 lead in the top of the seventh inning, highlighted by a two run homerun by Kevin Henke over the left center field wall.

Francis Howell put up a fight in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring five runs, including a grand slam by C Nic Perkins, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the large deficit.

 

In the Willard Lead Off Tournament, runs-a-plenty crossed the plate throughout the day.

In the first game of the day, Parkview continued their winning ways, defeating Jefferson City 9 to 4. Parkview was led by Landon Ruff, who went one for two, with a homerun.  Wayne Manier and Tyler Nemmers collected two hits a piece for Parkview.

 

Host Willard defeated Jefferson City in game two, 8-7. Ryan Stewart and Jed Owen powered the Willard offense, Stewart with a three run shot and Owen with a two run blast.  Michael Pfeifer went three for four and Trevor Bowling contributed with two hits in the win. The win advanced Willard to the championship game.

 

Parkview and Rogersville met in the semi-finals of the Willard Lead Off tournament, with Rogersville outslugging Parkview 12-10.

Tome Kirkland led the Rogersville with three hits and three RBIs. Evan Gruener and Bailey Jenkins each had two hits and two RBIs in the contest.

Spencer Johnson broke out in a big way in the losing cause, with two homeruns and four RBIs.

In the championship game, Rogersville blanked Willard 10-0. Justin King from Rogersville was named tournament MVP

 

SLUH defeated Rockhurst 7-4. RHP Brian Howard continued to impress and solidify his spot as one of the top players it the Class of 2013, going seven strong innings and striking out nine, while scattering five hits and giving up three earned runs.

“My stuff was working for me today, I had a little velocity on my fastball; my change up and curveball were working. The defense played a great game behind me, and has played great defense so far this season,” said Howard on his pitching and defense today.

“When things weren’t going well in the game today, he (Brian Howard) kept his composure and pitch around some tough stuff today,” said SLUH head coach Steve Nicollrat.

CF Paul Simon led the SLUH offense, going two for four with two runs scored.   C Charlie Kretchmer and DH Luke Robinson each drove in a pair of runs for SLUH

No. 11 Clever, once again behind the pitching and hitting of Chance Wolfe, defeated Aurora 10-0 in five innings.  Wolfe threw all five innings, surrendering three hits and fanning nine batters. At the plate, Wolfe went two for four with two RBIs. Ranger Curtis also drove in three RBIs in the win.

In other action around the state:

Waynesville beat up on Ash Grove, 8-2

No. 17 CBC over Marquette, 10-0

No. 13 Parkway South South was upset by Edwardsville

Chaminade defeated O’Fallon Christian, 7-6

Barat Academy over Whitfield 7-3

Updated team ranking to be released on Monday, 4/2