By Calen VanNess
At a young age, every baseball player dreams of getting the winning hit in the championship game. For Mountain Grove junior shortstop Hayden Newberry that dream became a reality as the Panthers (15-5) defeated the Ava Bears 8-7 in the Class 3 District 10 championship game on Tuesday.
After a back-and-forth game, Ava sophomore Caleb Johnson hit a two-out, three-run home run to left field in the top of the seventh inning to give Ava a 7-6 lead.
That only set the stage for Newberry’s dramatic heroics.
In the bottom half of the inning, Panthers designated hitter Raleigh Wakefield came right back at Ava (17-6) with a lead-off single. Left fielder Logan Sheppard then proceeded to hit a long double to left field that put runners at second and third base. After right fielder John Felker was intentionally walked, Newberry put an outside pitch over the head of Ava right fielder Chase Dodson that scored two runs and gave Mountain Grove their third straight district title.
“I came up to the plate, and my mindset was just “do a job,” for my brothers,” said Newberry about his game-winning hit. “I prayed before the at bat, and it came true, and I was just so happy.”
Newberry finished the game going 3-for-5 with 2 RBI.
Mountain Grove head coach Derwin McGownd was excited that the game ended in his team’s favor.
“Jubilation,” said McGownd as he described what he felt when he saw Newberry’s hit land in the outfield grass. “It was a wild one. I mean that was a nail-biter, and it usually is when these two clubs get together. It’s just throw the ball out there and see who is left standing at the end of it. It was just one for the ages.”
Mountain Grove struck early as pitcher Connor McNew hit a two-out double that scored two runs.
Ava came right back with three runs of their own in the second inning on a RBI double by Dodson and a RBI single by left fielder Wyatt Gastineau. Dodson would later score on an error at third base.
Panthers starting pitcher Connor McNew was sharp in the middle of the game, as he kept the Bears from getting a hit from the third inning through the sixth inning. McGownd knew that things might have turned out differently had he not pitched so well.
“He pitched a heck of a game,” said McGownd. “We gave up some runs early that we shouldn’t have because of errors, but he pitched a heck of a game. We told him to keep his head high.”
For Mountain Grove, first baseman Cade Coffman and second baseman Brock Coffman ended the game with three hits apiece.
Ava’s only other run prior to the three-run home run came in the third inning in an unconventional way. Johnson walked to begin the inning and then promptly stole second base. After a groundout and then a strikeout, a balk by Mountain Grove put Johnson at third base. He then scored on a wild pitch.
Even though they had their backs against the wall, McGownd had faith that his team would not give up in their final at bat.
“These kids are so resilient,” said McGownd. “They’ve done it all year. They’ve done it their whole careers, especially this senior group. They’ve come from behind, so I knew we weren’t out of it, but just to give ourselves an opportunity [to win] is all we ask for, and that’s what they gave us, and we were able to come away with the victory.”
As he rounded first base and pumped his fists, Newberry had a simple and happy thought.
“We won the game. We’re going on, baby.”
Mountain Grove will be moving on to play a tough South Callaway team next Monday night.
Ava 7, Mountain Grove 8
Ava 031 000 3–7
Mountain Grove 210 111 2–8
