PLEASANT HILL, Mo. — Led by a strong pitching performance from Case Sanderson, second-seeded Nevada knocked off top-seeded Pleasant Hill 8-0 in the championship game of the Class 4 District 12 baseball tournament on Wednesday night.
It’s Nevada’s first district title since 2018.
Nevada will meet either Monett or Seneca in the sectional round of the state tournament on Tuesday. The Cubs and Indians meet for the District 11 title on Thursday night.
Sanderson delivered a masterful performance on the mound. A Nebraska recruit, Sanderson struck out 12 and gave up just three hits and one walk in the complete-game shutout.
Helping his own cause, Sanderson went 3-for-5 at the plate with four RBI.
Nevada scored once in the first inning on Sanderson’s RBI single that allowed Drake Ketterman to score.
Nevada erupted for four runs in the fourth inning. Barrett Nadurata contributed a run-scoring single, Ketterman delivered a two-run single, and Sanderson followed with an RBI single for a 5-0 lead.
The Tigers added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Kellan Ast scored on a passed ball and Sanderson smacked a two-run triple to center, scoring Jett Snyder and Ketterman.
Ketterman and Hunter Seaver each had two hits for Nevada. Cade Beshore doubled, while Kennedy D’Elia, Snyder and Nadurata had one hit apiece.
Riddick Shook walked twice and scored a run. Ast drew three walks and scored once.
