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By Chris Parker
Republic baseball is a district champion for the first time since 2006 after beating Joplin 13-3 in six innings in the Class 6 District 6 title game.
“It is a special group of guys. From day one they had a goal and they have achieved quite a few of them along the way. I am just so happy for the kids. It is all about them. They have put in all the work. They are a fantastic group of kids,” Republic head coach Curt Plotner said.
Joplin jumped out to an early lead on Republic in the first inning scoring a run in the top half of the first on an Alex Curry RBI single. Republic answered with one of its own in the home half of the inning. Vincent Pyeatt drew a lead-off walk followed by a Gavyn Beckner single to give the Tigers runners at first and second with no outs. Jared Hughes came up with two outs and battled until he was able to knock a single to bring home the tying run.
Beckner went back to the mound in the second inning and shut the Eagles down. That was when the Tigers went to work.
In the bottom of the second inning, Bryce Messier drew a four-pitch walk for Republic to start things. Richard Potter blooped a single to left to give Republic two runners on base. Gavin Walker then laid down a perfect bunt that didn’t even draw a throw to load the bases with no outs. Pyeatt worked a walk to score Republic’s second run. Beckner helped his own cause with a single to right to bring home two more runs and make it 4-1, which forced Joplin to change pitchers.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
With runners on first and third, Ryker Harrington hit a single to left-center to make if 5-1. Kyle Hill hit a ball deep to center but a diving catch turned an extra-base hit into a sacrifice fly. Adam Brown tagged up from second and came all the way around to score to make it 6-1. A sac fly by Hughes rounded out a six-run second inning that gave Republic a 7-1 advantage.
The cushion was more than enough for Beckner on the mound.
“It (the second inning) gave me so much confidence. I knew if I went out there and threw strikes that my team would back me up,” Beckner said.
Beckner pitched 5.1 innings with one strike out yielding three runs.
Republic’s bats stayed silent until the sixth inning when the Tigers used another relentless attack to score six more runs and close out the game via run rule at 13-3.
“You don’t have to do a whole lot of coaching because they can all swing it one through nine. We have been doing it all year, and they just continued to do that today,” Plotner said.
Beckner finished with a team-high four RBI. Hughes was just behind him with three RBI.
The district title is special for a group of eight seniors who didn’t get to play their junior year last year. They also did it for the six seniors who lost their final high school season.
“We had six (seniors) last year that didn’t get a season that I think were looking forward to playing with them (Class of 2021). I know these guys are going to enjoy it, but they did it for those six guys last year that didn’t get an opportunity. It is just a great group of kids,” Plotner said.
Republic now holds the distinction of COC champion and district champion, but the Tigers have not been able to find their way into the state rankings.
That is just fine with Republic.
“At the end of the day, we are really good ball club. We know it and that is all that matters,” Plotner said.
Republic will travel to face Jefferson City on Saturday, May 29 with a berth in the Class 6 Final Four on the line.
