CARTHAGE, Mo. — Carthage jumped out to a big lead early and staved off Monett late before pulling away to a 17-7 six-inning win to open the second day of the Bill O’Dell Tournament.
The Tigers (2-5) scored seven runs in the first two innings on the way to an 8-1 lead through four complete. The Cubs (4-6) rallied with six unanswered runs with three in the fifth and three in the sixth to trim CHS’ lead to 8-7. Carthage ended the game early with nine runs in the bottom of the sixth to invoke the run rule.
“It was really nice to see our bats get going a little bit and smack seven up there in the first two innings,” Carthage coach Luke Bordewick said. “In the middle innings, we got complacent and let them get back in it. Credit to Monett, they did what they needed to do to make it close. I just think they ran out of pitching there at the end … and we took advantage of it. It was really nice to see.”
ON THE MOUND
Kaden Arr earned the win after allowing four runs on seven hits, three walks and three strikeouts.
“I think he got a little fatigued at the end,” Bordewick said. “He was locating well early before losing it a little late, which is when he got into trouble. Overall, It was a really solid start from him.”
Zach Geter allowed three runs on three hits, one walk and a strikeout in one inning. Wil McCombs pitched 1/3 of a scoreless inning, walking one and striking out one.
Doss Nation took the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits, a walk and two strikeouts in 1 2/3 of an inning. Alex Huntress allowed six runs, five earned, on five hits, four walks and three strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Carlos Valenciano and Harrison Merriman combined to allow four runs on four hits and two walks without recording an out.
GAME ACTION
The Tigers blanked the Cubs over the first two innings while crossing home seven times in the process. After back-to-back one-out singles in the first inning from Nate Norbury and Kaden Kralicek, Kanen Vogt smacked a line drive to the gap in left center for a two-run double to give the Tigers the initial lead.
An inning later, Sylas Browning doubled to left field with one out before coming around to score on a Monett fielding error to give Carthage a three-run lead. With two outs and the bases full later in the frame, Vogt came up clutch again with a three-run double to left to double the Tigers’ lead, 6-0.
“Those were two big-time doubles that really set the tone for us,” Bordewick said of Vogt’s early doubles. “Those first two innings set the tone for us. He jumped on a fastball early in a hitter’s count on the first one, and the second one was a curveball that he really stuck with and kept his bat speed on it. It was cool to see him get fired up for his team because he is an even-keeled kid.”
Grant Collier got in on the offensive burst after a pitching change, ripping his own RBI double to left field to plate Vogt and push the lead to seven to wrap the scoring in the inning.
Monett’s Marcus Young singled up the middle to lead off the third before coming around later in the inning to score on a wild pitch to get the Cubs on the board.
Kralicek reached on an infield hit in the last of the fourth and promptly stole second and third base before scoring on a groundout by Collier to make the score 8-1.
Young singled to lead off the fifth and scored on an error. With two outs in the inning, Estin McBroom yanked a ball over the wall to left for a two-run home run to bring the Cubs within four of the lead, 8-4.
Young again led off with a single in the top of the six before coming around to score on a wild pitch. Monett then used a walk, a single and a hit-by-pitch all with two outs to load the bases. Josh Wallace brought one run home with a single too left to trim the deficit to 8-6. After a pitching change, Daniel Geiss cut the Tiger lead to one with a bases-loaded walk.
Carthage’s Wil McCombs got out of the jam without allowing the tying run to score by striking out Cole Davis looking.
The Tigers put the game away in the bottom of the sixth with nine runs crossing the board. Norbury led the inning off with a double to left before moving to third on a sacrifice bunt from Kralicek, which he beat out for a hit. Norbury scored on a sac fly from Vogt, and Kralicek touched home after scoring on a first-and-third delayed steal when the pickoff throw went to second. Two batters later, Logan Carmickle doubled to center to score a run and push the lead to 11-7. A bases-loaded walk from Caden Kabance was followed by a two-run single through the left side by McCombs, with a third run coming around to score on a Monett error, to push the lead to 15-7. Kralicek and Collier each had RBI singles to end the game with one out in the sixth.
“I was just playing for one run,” Bordewick said with a smile. “It was nice to see our kids finish a game.”
AT THE PLATE
Vogt led Carthage with two doubles and a game-high six RBI at the plate. Norbury and Kralicek each had four hits, and RBI and scored four times. Collier had two hits, including a double, three RBI and scored a run. Carmickle had two hits, drove in one and scored one.
McBroom homered and had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored for Monett. Young had three hits and three runs scored.
UP NEXT
Carthage takes on Neosho at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
