Written by Ethan Silverman

Hartville, MO: Cabool HS held on to defeat Licking HS in the second round of district play in Class 2, District 10 by a score of 5 to 3.

This game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning. Cabool 3B Austin Holmes was hit by a pitch to start the inning. The next batter, Drew Pearson (right) drilled an RBI double off of the left field wall, just missing a homerun, allowing Holmes to score from first and giving Cabool a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Licking finally got on the board. 1B Kyle Kinder walked and was advanced to second on Cody Roberts? sacrifice bunt. Wyatt Porter drew a one out walk, putting runners on first and second. After C Jake Hood lined out to shortstop, Tyler Hood singled to load the bases. Consecutive bases loaded walks to Josh Hood and Tyler Wade put Licking up 2-1.

Cabool came back to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman 2B Nathan Stillwell led off with a single and advanced to second when 1B Markus Rader reached on an error. CF Austin Baker drew a walk to load the bases. With one out, Stillwell came around to score on SS Randy Brill?s sacrifice fly extending Cabool?s lead to 2-0.

The big inning for Cabool came in the sixth. After back to back singles by Austin Holmes and Drew Pearson to open the inning, and a walk to RF Todd Wood, Cabool loaded the bases with one out and Nolan Stillwell at the plate. Todd Wood broke for home and Stillwell executed a perfect sacrifice squeeze bunt, putting Cabool up 3-2. The next batter, Ethan Stuart laced a single, scoring two more and extending the lead to 5-2.

Licking made it interesting in the top of the seventh. A two out walk Josh Hood, followed by consecutive singles by Tyler Wood and Dakota Smith allowed Hood to score, and put the tying run on base and go ahead run at the plate. Cabool turned to the ace of the pitching staff, Austin Holmes, who threw three pitches to close out the game and preserve the 5-3 win.

Senior RHP Jordan Noirfalise put in a solid effort on the mound, picking up the win going 6.2 innings, giving up seven hits and five runs.

Cabool will go on to play Mansfield on Thursday at 5:00 for the District championship. Mansfield defeated Thayer 7 to 5.