WHEATLAND - The second-seeded Macks Creek Pirates hopes for a District title fell short as they dropped a 9-2 game to the top-seeded Weaubleau Tigers in Class 1 District 8 baseball action on Wednesday night.
Macks Creek was able to put a runner at second in the top of the first when Colton Walter walked and moved to second on a balk call. Back-to-back strike outs ended the frame with no damage done.
Weaubleau put two runs up in the bottom of the first and never looked back. Cadan Kauffman singled to left with one out and then stole second. Cameron Ott walked but was erased at second on Briar Tucker's ground ball to short. Tucker reached first on the play. Treyton Foster then laced a two-RBI-double to the gap in left-center for a 2-0 lead. A strike out ended the frame.
The Pirates looked to respond in the second. Tanner Smith walked with one out but was out at second on a Zane Whitworth fielder's choice to the second baseman. A fly out would end the half inning with no runs scored.
The Tigers plated two more runs in their half. After a fly out to center Tate Burkhart was hit-by-pitch. An errant pick-off throw to first went down the right field line and allowed him to reach third. A strike out for out number two brought Freddie Weider to the plate. He smacked an RBI-single to right to plate Tate. He stole second and Cadan Kauffman was beaned. A balk call moved them each up a base before Cameron Ott singled up the middle to bring in Weider and push the advantage to 4-0.
In the top of the third the Pirates plated their first run. With two outs Colton Walter singled down the right field line. He moved to second on Hunter Lane's single to left and came around to score when Trever Smith singled to right. Lane would move from first to third on the play when the ball went by the right fielder. Smith would reach second on the play. A walk to Oscar Cortez would load the bases, but Lane would be out at home trying to come in on a 3-2 count. It was now 4-1.
Weaubleau responded with two more runs of their own in the bottom half of the third. Sam Rutherford reached on an error at short with one out, moved to second on another errant pick-off attempt at first, and advanced to third on a passed ball. Tate Burkhart would walk and steal second before Tucker Hilliard's single up the middle plated both runners for a 6-1 Tiger lead.
Macks Creek looked to creep closer in the fourth. Zane Whitworth reached on a strike out-wild pitch. Grant English then hit a ball back to the pitcher, but the throw to second was in the dirt and bobbled by the short stop, allowing both Zane and Grant to reach base. A strike out brought Cole Register to the plate, who pushed a single through the right side of the infield to score Whitworth from second. Grant would reach third on the play but a strike out ended the threat.
The score would remain 6-2 until the sixth, when the Tigers plated three more runs to create the final margin. The Pirates went 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh to end the game.
"Offensively we didn't make some adjustments at the plate and defensively we had a few costly miscues," said Macks Creek Coach Jason Trusty.
Hunter Lane (3-4) was tagged with the loss. He worked the first five-and-a-third innings and allowed seven runs, three earned, on seven hits while striking out six, walking two, and hitting two batters. Cole Register relieved and gave up two unearned runs on two hits.
Freddie Weider picked up the win with his four innings of work. He allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out eight and walking three. Cameron Ott collected the three inning save and struck out one.
For the Pirates offensively Cole Register, Colton Walter, Hunter Lane, and Trever Smith collected the only hits. Cole singled in a run, Colton singled, walked, and scored a run, Hunter Lane singled, and Trever Smith had an RBI-single. Oscar Cortez and Tanner Smith walked, Zane Whitworth reached on a fielder's choice, a wild pitch-third strike, and scored a run. Grant English reached on a fielder's choice.
Weaubleau's offense was paced by Treyton Foster, Cadan Kauffman, and Tucker Hilliard, who each collected two hits on the night. Foster doubled in two runs and singled, Kauffman singled twice, scored once, and was hit-by-a-pitch, and Hilliard singled twice, had two RBI's, and one run scored. Freddie Weider singled in a run and scored, Cameron Ott singled in a run, walked, reached on an error, and scored, and Briar Tucker singled in a run, scored twice, and reached on a fielder's choice. Sam Rutherford reached on an error and scored, and Tate Burkhart walked, was hit-by-a-pitch, and scored two runs.
The Pirates's season comes to an end with an overall record of 12-7. The District championship appearance is the third in four years for Macks Creek, as they finished last season as the District Runner-up to eventual Class 1 Runner-Up St. Elizabeth. The Tigers improve to 17-9 overall and advance to Sectional play against either Sheldon or McAuley Catholic from District 7.
"This isn't exactly how we wanted to finish our season, but the name of the game is to survive and advance," said Trusty, "we do have a good nucleus returning next season and some younger guys eager to step in a fill some holes left by our graduating Seniors."
"I want to say a special 'thank you' to our Senior. They came in prepared to work each and every day and we will miss the leadership that they provided," he added.
VARSITY BOX SCORE
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
MC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
WEAU | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | X | 9 | 9 | 2 |