Indians Win District Title
By Mike Scott
The Clark County Indian won the Class 3 District 7 tournament in convincing fashion, blowing out Highland 15-0 in three innings, and overcoming a late-season improving Palmyra Panther team.
Clark County was slated to host the tournament, but less than an inning into Monday’s opener between South Shelby and Highland, the skies opened and the field was saturated, leading to some games being moved to South Shelby and one to Hannibal, before returning to Kahoka for Thursday’s championship round.
On Wednesday, two games were played at South Shelby-the rest of the South Shelby- Highland game, which Highland won 11-3. Clark County then played Highland, dispatching the Cougars 15-0.
At the same time, Palmyra was facing Monroe City in Hannibal. After a close few innings, the Panthers finished with an 11-6 win to advance the title game against the Indians.
Clark County vs. Highland
The top-seeded Indians came into the district tournament with a first round bye, and face the Cougars of Highland on Wednesday.
Chayse Webster got things going for Clark County with a single to open the game. Grayson Holsted hit a long fly ball, scoring Webster, but Holsted was thrown out at second.
Drew Holsted popped out, and Matt Miller, Tristen Pitford and Lucus Eddleman all singled to load the bases, but a fielder’s choice ended the inning with a 1-0 Indian lead.
Highland went down in order in the second.
A twelve run second inning for Clark County sealed the win. Corrick Hunziker started with a walk, and Caleb Nelson hit a fly ball and reached on an error. Webster singled. G. Holsted, scorsing Huniziker. D. Holsted hit a sacrifice fly to bring Nelson home. Miller walked, and Pitford cleared the bases with a grand slam. Eddleman was hit by a pitch, and Koy Nixon reached base on an error. Hunziker doubled. Nelson grounded out, scoring Hunziker. Webster walked, followed by G. Holsted. D. Holsted hit a hard grounder and reached on an error to load the bases again. Miller walked, scoring Webster, Pitford walked to bring in courtesy runner Elijah Miller, and Eddleman walked to bring home D. Holsted, putting the Indians up 13-0.
Nixon set down the next three Cougar batters in order, two with strikeouts.
The Indians continued to press their advantage in the third, with a Hunziker single, and walks issued to Nelson and Webster. A two-RBI single by G. Holsted put the game at 15-0, and it ended on the mercy rule.
Nixon struck out four in three innings pitched, allowing no runs, hits or errors.
Pitford had five RBI’s to lead the Indians. As a team, they had 10 hits and 10 walks.
Clark County vs. Palmyra
The much-improved Palmyra Panthers entered the district championship game after winning six of their last eight games.
Conner Shatley retired the first two Panther batters, then gave up back to back singles. The Panthers scored on an error to take a 1-0 lead.
The Indians answered with a six-run third inning. Eddleman flew out to start the inning, and Nixon reached base on an error. Hunziker singled to tie the game, and Nelson’s single put runners on the corners. Webster singled home two runs. G. Holstend was out on a long fly ball, and D. Holsted hit a grounder and reached base on an error. Matt Miller homered to put Clark County up 6-1..
The Indians added a run in the third, then Palmyra got back on a roll, scoring two in the fourth to close the gap.
The Indians would finish one run in the bottom of the fourth, and two more in the sixth to take the 10-3 win.
Miller led the Indians with RBI’s. Miller, Webster and Pitford had two hits each.
On the mound, Shatley pitched five innings, allowing seven hits and three runs. Amos Phillips closed for Clark County, giving up only two hits.
Clark County advances to the Sectional at North Callaway on Tuesday night.
