MEXICO, Mo. — The North Callaway Thunderbirds turned around and beat an opponent they lost to earlier this season for the second straight game, beating the Mexico Bulldogs 4-3 in 10 innings on their home turf in the Fulton Tournament seventh-place game Saturday at Mexico High School.
North Callaway scored four runs on nine hits and committed two errors, while Mexico plated three runs on six hits and made an error.
Thunderbird reliever Sam Pezold earned the win in relief. Throwing one inning, he allowed no runs on no hits or walks.
Keaton Bell started on the bump for North Callaway, going nine innings (threw 92 pitches) and allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits and four walks while striking out nine.
The T-Birds’ Jordan Fishburn went 2-4 with a walk and a run scored, while Braydn O’Neal went 2-5 with two singles and scored two runs, including the game-winner.
Matthew Weber also had an excellent game for North Callaway, going 3-4 with a triple, double and single while scoring twice.
With the result, North Callaway improved to 13-7, while Mexico fell to 8-17 (lost its ninth straight).
“We played the type of baseball that we should be playing for five innings, then we made a couple of mistakes that hurt us that allowed them to get back into the ballgame,” North Callaway coach Zeth Lavy said. “But very pleased with the job of our pitchers, with Pezold picked up the win (second on the season) and great job from Keaton Bell for nine innings on what should’ve just been one run allowed. The big game comes on Monday.”
Weather permitting, the Thunderbirds (8-1 Eastern Missouri Conference) will host Montgomery County (11-5, 8-1 EMO) at 5 p.m. Monday, followed by a nonconference matchup versus Harrisburg (15-6) at 6:30 p.m. in Auxvasse. If North Callaway beats Montgomery County, it’ll win its first conference title in 11 years, when Missouri Tigers standout Zach Lavy was on the team; however, the conference title would be shared with Montgomery County and Elsberry (14-9, 9-1 EMO).
Source : Fulton Sun
