As hot as any team in the area, the Purdy Eagles sustained its winning ways with a 5-0 blanking over McAuley Catholic Warriors en route to their second consecutive Class 2, District 12 title.
"It's awesome (to repeat as district champions)," said Purdy senior and first baseman Dusty Videmschek. "It's something a lot of people look forward to in their lives and never get the chance too. Like last year, we beat the Pierce City seniors, and that was a group of senior who never got the chance in their life. I'm very honored and blessed by the good Lord for granting us to repeat."
"(It means) big, big-time," said Eagles ace Sydney Birge, who did his part by tossing a four-hit complete game shutout. "We're still holding our spot as that No. 1 team. We work hard, and our hard work equals this."
Birge and the Warriors starter Jake Doyle dueled it out, matching each other with zeros over the first three frames.
However, a McAuley fourth-inning hiccup occurred as Doyle plucked Videmschek and Birge back-to-back before Hunter Cook dropped a bunt down the third base line and the Warriors hurler, going for the lead out at third, made an errant toss, plating Videmschek for the game's first run.
Thriving via small-ball, Purdy's Mason Schallert reached on a walk before swiping second on a wild pitch. Kyler Propps then followed with an infield single off a bunt and took second on another Doyle wild pitch, setting it up for the meat of their lineup.
"That's a very capable part of our team," said Eagles head coach Joshua Hughes of the small-ball. "We can come up with five straight hits some nights. Some nights we've got to get things going with the bunt.
Jonatan Salazar extended the Black and Gold's lead to 2-0 with an RBI single which opened the floodgates for Purdy as Videmschek ripped a 2-run RBI single to right field and a run-scoring balk put the game out of reach, 5-0.
"When I went up in that at-bats, I knew I wanted it," said Videmschek. "As soon as they changed pitchers (from Doyle to Brendyn Taylor, I was like 'give me it.' They threw me that first pitch, right there and I missed it. I fouled it off my foot, and I was mad; very mad. Then he threw it again, and I missed it again. Then I was like, 'there's no way I'm missing it a third time.
"Then he threw it a third time; I told myself 'Whoa, just swung through it, got a solid swing, put the bat where it needed to be, and drove him in.'
For McAuley Catholic, they struggled to generate offense against Birge and a sound Purdy defense. Doyle finished with two hits of the Warriors four hits, two singles. Michael Pearson and Miles Shelfer both had singles as well.
"I thought the boys competed very well tonight," said McAuley head coach Jason McVey. "Purdy's a good ball club. We knew that coming in. They executed a couple of key at-bats and defensively we couldn't execute back.
"Our pitchers can't say enough about Jake Doyle and Brendyn Taylor. They kept us in the ballgame early. Purdy had that one big inning, and we shut them down. We hoped for a better outcome, yes."
McAuley Catholic finished their 2016 season 11-7 and things appear to be trending upwards for the Warriors. They only lose one senior to graduation
"We've got the same kids back," said McVey. "We're losing one, and we have a couple of key freshmen coming in. Our sights are set on returning back to this game next year."
As for Purdy (22-5), they're twelve game winning streak is on the line as they will oppose Galena, the Class 2, District 11 champs, at state sectionals on Monday, May 23rd.
"We're going to show up just ready to play," said Hughes. "We know what Galena is; they are good. They are ranked in state as we are too right now. It's at our place, so we're going to roll the ball out and see what happens.
"(Playing at home) gives us a shot, but we are not overlooking Galena. They are better than anyone else we've played so far. They are deservedly the No. 3 and four team in the state.
"We know Coach Richardson does a good job, we know those kids, and we played them four times already this year. Twice in the fall, twice in the spring, and they beat us all four times. We're excited to get a chance.
Box score
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
McAuley Catholic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
Purdy 0 0 0 1 4 0 x 5 6 1
