CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Despite having a 12-5 advantage in the hits department Monday against their former Big 8 Conference rival Seneca, the host Carl Junction Bulldogs left 14 runners on base during a 5-3 loss to Seneca.
Carl Junction left the bases loaded in the second, the third, and the fifth, as well as two runners in the fourth and seventh. Deacon Endicott lined into a double play to end the fourth, one of three innings where the Bulldogs loaded the bases and failed to produce one run.
The Indians scored two runs in the first and answered with three in the third after Carl Junction plated two in the second.
Seneca’s Colton Curtis and Grant Houchin delivered back-to-back run-producing doubles in the third, Curtis with a two-run double bringing home Lincoln Renfro and Conner Ackerson for a 4-3 lead and Houchin with a double scoring Curtis to close out the scoring.
Houchin earned the win with three runs allowed (all earned) on 10 hits with three strikeouts and five walks over 6 1/3 innings and Payne Sikes came on in relief and worked through a pair of hits allowed to pick up the final two outs.
Sikes made his 20th appearance of the season in Seneca’s 27th game, tying a state record for most pitching appearances in a season with Francis Howell’s Geoff Harrison (2002), Leeton’s Clifford Kiely (2006), and Joplin’s Josh Harryman (2020).
“Both sets of runs we scored in the first and third we scored with two outs,” Seneca coach Chris Yust said. “That’s big, and we got them, and they didn’t, which is part of the game. We’ve been in situations like that all year and for the most part, we’ve been able to battle through them and leave those runners on base. Grant did a good job (Monday) battling through adversity today and got the job done when it was needed.”
“I know we had three innings where we had the bases loaded,” Carl Junction coach Phil Cook said. “You’ve got to get a key hit, and we didn’t get it. I thought our guys fought. Gaige (Carson) threw a good game; I’ve seen him have better outings, but he threw a good game. We gave them free bases and that’s been our theme all year long. We don’t have much time to get that corrected. We have districts in one week. Our Achilles heel all season long has been giving opposing teams free bases.”
The Bulldogs honored their seniors Carson, Logan Eck, Jacob Ford, Drew Massey, Mekhi McGarry, Lucas Vanlanduit, and Arlen Wakefield after the game Monday, making it an especially bittersweet loss to the Indians.
“It’s a good group,” Cook said. “A couple of them are going to be hard for us to replace moving forward. They’ve worked hard and they’ve put in their time. The only one we didn’t have in the offseason is Lucas Vanlanduit, he was a basketball player. He’s our shortstop, and he came in and had an outstanding season.
“They set a good example for the younger guys. We’re establishing a culture here, we’re going to get there, and they were on the ground floor of that. I’m proud of them, and we’re going to miss them. We’re going to pat them on the back, and we wanted to get a win for them tonight. They’ll be successful in life, and that’s what matters.”
Carson took the loss and allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits with eight strikeouts and two walks over six innings, while Vanlanduit pitched a scoreless inning with one hit allowed and one strikeout and one walk over his 15 pitches.
At the plate, Wyatt McAfee, Wakefield, Cody Hollingsworth, and freshman Brody Pant each had two hits and McGarry, Vanlanduit, Ford, and freshman Brayden Larery each had one.
Logan Eck worked a walk to lead off the second and Ford and Pant loaded the bases with Bulldogs after their consecutive hits.
Eck scored on a Hollingsworth sacrifice fly and McGarry’s double to right-center brought in Ford and Pant for a short-lived 3-2 lead for the Bulldogs.
Carl Junction dropped to 8-17 overall entering Tuesday’s game against St. Mary’s Colgan (Kan.), weather permitting.
The Bulldogs would be attempting to avoid a four-game losing streak entering their Class 5 District 7 quarterfinal game next Tuesday against tournament host and fourth-seeded Warrensburg (10-12).
Seneca improved to 16-10 overall and the Indians take a four-game winning streak overall into their Big 8 Crossover game Tuesday at home against Springfield Catholic, the third-ranked team in Class 4 in the latest poll released by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association.
The Indians also possibly have one more game remaining in the last week of the regular season against a school from the Central Ozark Conference before their Class 4 District 11 quarterfinal game Saturday against Reeds Spring (4-22).
“We want to be challenged at this time of the year, whether it’s conference or playing these guys, Carl Junction today, we’ve got Catholic (Tuesday), and we’ve got Neosho on Thursday,” Yust said. “Playing them will prepare us for districts, which is what we want to be. We’re right where we want to be. We’re battling and we’re improving every game.”
The third-seeded Indians have the most wins of any team in their six-team district.
