On Monday, the varsity baseball team hosted a rematch of last year’s state championship against Blue Springs South High School — the team that cut the historic season just short of their goal. A dominant performance by the Falcons ended the game in a run rule in the bottom of the sixth inning, not from a grudge but by great execution by the team that was needing a win.
After last year’s record-breaking season, the new varsity team had to put the right pieces together to put another winning team on the diamond. Before the game, the team carried a record just below .500 and lost their two previous games each by one run. Head coach Dionandre Josenberger and his squad needed something to get back in the swing of things.
“To be able to come out and beat a good team like that decisively was a lot of fun,” Josenberger said. “Last year is over. We can’t focus on that; we’re just trying to play good baseball and figure out how to be super competitive and win games.”
The game started with a pitching duel through the first three innings between senior Landon Schreifels and the Jaguars’ southpaw who threw in last year’s state championship.
After three and a half innings of zeroes on the scoreboard, the offense got started by a huge swing from senior Elliot Glidewell to center field which got over the head of the outfielder for a triple that scored junior David Hernandez from first. Glidewell would also score that inning from a sacrifice hit by junior Connor Jones.
“It was more of a team effort,” Jones said. “We came out from the very beginning, and Schreifels threw a great game on the mound. It made our job easy at the plate.”
The team also displayed an efficient bunt offense and took advantage of the Jaguars’ fielding errors in the bottom of the fifth, as two misplays off bunts by the pitcher allowed senior Brandon Perkins and junior Brandon Wilson on base. They both ended up scoring from a throwing error. The runs didn’t stop that inning from RBI hits by junior Andrew Maultsby, Jones and Schreifels.
“I feel like we did good. The bats came alive,” Schreifels said. “Pitching was really good. I just hit spots.”
In the sixth inning, Schreifels continued the pitching performance, carrying a shutout and striking out seven batters, giving the offense a chance to hit with the comfort of a healthy lead. Going to bat in the bottom of the inning with a hefty lead of eight, they finished the run rule, scoring two runs that inning.
One run scored by a double steal with sophomore Krue Patrick and senior Alexander Paul who got home safely. Then, with a lead of 9-0 and Patrick in scoring position, one run was needed to win the game right there. Hernandez and Maultsby walked to load the bases, bringing up Glidewell, who was already having a great day at the dish. In the at bat, Glidewell found a pitch he liked and shot a single up the middle to score the game-winning run through six innings.
“We got the big win here, and that was my only goal,” Glidewell said. “Every time I go up, I just get the barrel and wherever it goes. The ball was landing today, so I’m happy about it.”
With their fifth win of the season, the team was still two games below .500, but the efficient pitching by Schreifels and on-point offense are great signs going forward for the team. The team will play St. Thomas Aquinas High School Thursday on the road.
