Indian Classic Notebook: St. Joseph, Cutter-Morning Star and Poyen Pick Up Wins
Three teams came away with victories Saturday during action at the Indian Classic in Poyen as St. Joseph, Cutter-Morning Star and host Poyen each earned wins in tournament play.
St. Joseph Rides Fast Start Past Magnet Cove
St. Joseph wasted little time taking control, scoring four runs in the first inning and never looking back in a win over Magnet Cove.
Cy Davis ignited the Bulldogs early with a two-run triple in the top of the first inning. Owen Coney followed with an RBI single before Xavier Stobaugh added another run-scoring single to give St. Joseph a quick advantage.
The Bulldogs extended the lead in the third inning with additional runs coming on a fielder’s choice by Stobaugh and a walk drawn by Patrick Royal.
Travis Jackson earned the win on the mound for St. Joseph, allowing two hits and one run — none earned — over four innings while striking out four without issuing a walk. Spencer Jewett appeared in relief to close things out.
St. Joseph finished with 10 hits. Stobaugh, Jackson and George Heer each recorded two hits, while Stobaugh, Heer and Clayton Lee drove in two runs apiece.
The Bulldogs were aggressive on the basepaths, stealing six bases in the victory.
Magnet Cove received one hit each from three different players.
St. Joseph returns to action Monday when it faces Bigelow.
Smith’s Grand Slam Sparks Cutter-Morning Star
Jacob Smith delivered the biggest swing of the day, blasting an inside-the-park grand slam as Cutter-Morning Star defeated Hampton 15-7.
Smith drove in four runs on three hits, also adding an RBI double in the first inning and an RBI single in the second.
The Eagles broke the game open in the third inning, scoring eight runs. Brody Speers started the surge with a two-run double before Smith’s inside-the-park grand slam highlighted the inning. Brynden Fustin later added an RBI after being hit by a pitch.
Cutter-Morning Star also scored four runs in the first inning. Smith doubled home a run before Ty Kelloms singled, Owen Calvi doubled and Fustin walked, each bringing home a run.
The Eagles added three more runs in the second inning on RBI singles by Smith and Kelloms.
Bentley Gigerich earned the win after striking out four across two scoreless innings to start the game.
Speers and Kelloms each had multiple hits for Cutter-Morning Star. The Eagles showed patience at the plate with nine walks and were aggressive on the basepaths, stealing 14 bases.
Cutter-Morning Star also played clean defense without committing an error.
Hampton drew 10 walks and stole seven bases in the game. Caleb Evans recorded the Bulldogs’ lone hit and also drove in a run, while Blaze Smith added two RBIs.
Cutter-Morning Star will host Foreman on Monday in its next game.
Poyen Outlasts Rison in Back-and-Forth Battle
Host Poyen survived a wild back-and-forth contest to defeat Rison 9-8 in one of the most dramatic games of the tournament.
The lead changed hands multiple times before Poyen delivered the decisive run in the fourth inning. With the game tied at eight, Sutter Speer singled to bring home the winning run.
Rison jumped out early in the first inning when Brayden Terry singled and Brody Howard walked, each driving in a run.
Poyen answered in the bottom of the inning. Hayden Murray grounded out to score one run before Jackson Ellis delivered a two-run single to put the Indians ahead.
Rison reclaimed the lead in the second inning when Trent Southerland drew a bases-loaded walk and Noah Matheson delivered an RBI double to center field.
Speer doubled in the third inning to give Poyen a 5-4 lead, but Rison responded with a four-run fourth inning. Mason Weaver doubled to drive in a run before Easton Billings singled home two more and Logan McGarity added another RBI single.
Poyen answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Murray doubled to score two runs, Colt Barrett singled home another, and Speer delivered the go-ahead RBI single.
Speer, Layton Russell and Barrett each had two hits for Poyen, while Speer and Murray drove in three runs apiece.
Kaden Rushing earned the win in relief for the Indians, pitching 1⅓ scoreless innings.
Rison received RBIs from Billings, Weaver, McGarity and Matheson. Southerland also reached base three times with three walks.