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The Student News Site of University of Central Missouri

Muleskinner

The Student News Site of University of Central Missouri

Muleskinner

Warrensburg claims district baseball title

By ALEX AGUEROS
(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) — Nevada’s record-setting baseball season came to an end Wednesday, dropping the district championship game to the Warrensburg Tigers by a score of 15-4.
A disaster fourth inning was the difference for Nevada, as Warrensburg scored six runs on three hits and five walks. The Nevada Tigers finished the season with a 17-7 record.
Jaxon Janvrin, junior, pitched all five innings for Warrensburg. The Tigers travel to Seneca, Mo., Tuesday for the sectional tournament.
Junior Cole Sanderson started the game for Nevada, and struggled to find his rhythm from the beginning, allowing three runs in the first inning.
“It was a little rough.” Sanderson said. “I didn’t have it tonight but my teammates never gave up on me.”
Nevada struck back in the bottom of the first, after a Sanderson sacrifice fly scored fellow junior Easton Mitchell. The Tigers pulled even at three in the second inning on a two-run home run from freshman Andrew Heathman.
With the top of the order due up, Warrensburg worked three more runs on Sanderson’s time, after a three-run home run barely passed by the right field foul pole. After being retired in order, Nevada trailed 6-3 going into the fourth.
Nevada’s district championship bid took a major hit after Warrensburg piled on six runs in the fourth inning. The inning saw five walks, two singles, and a grand slam by Brett Marr, senior. When the damage was done, Nevada faced a nine-run deficit.
First-year head coach Danny Penn noted his pitcher’s struggles, along with the windy conditions to explain the tough inning.
“When we didn’t throw strikes and get ahead, the ball was elevated.” Penn said. “With the wind blowing out, if you put a good swing on the ball it went a long way.”
Sanderson started the fifth inning, managing one out and allowing another run. With the score at 12-3, the righty was pulled in favor of Easton Mitchell. Mitchell allowed two more runs, one of which he inherited from Sanderson. The score was pushed to 15-3, and with the mercy rule in effect, the season was on the line.
Nevada managed one more run in the fifth, stringing together three singles and a sacrifice fly to score junior Brett Norton, who led off the inning with a single of his own. Warrensburg snuffed out Nevada’s rally, and season, after a groundout stranded three base runners.
“I think today we can honestly say we lost to a better team. It’s as simple as that.” Penn said. “We gave 100 percent through the last out.”
As the door closed on Nevada’s season, coach Penn can look to build on a successful year, one that saw the school record for wins fall.
“We’re excited with the talent we have coming back next year,” Penn said. “This gives us something to shoot for. Looking at Warrensburg, I hope we can get to that level next year.”

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Warrensburg claims district baseball title