By Tyler F. Thompson (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
NIXA, Mo. — The Nixa Eagles only had four hits Tuesday but defeated the visiting Springfield Catholic Irish, 9-6, at Nixa.
The win pushes the Eagles to 7-0 on the season.
The Eagles struck first as they lead 4-0 heading to the second inning behind the pitching of starter Parker Bridges, who went 3 innings allowing two earned runs.
While the offense did not illuminate the scoreboard, staying true to form was a pre-requisite for the win.
“The entire year they have been extremely hungry,” said first-year Nixa skipper Logan Hughes. “Just win and do whatever it takes. That is kind of what we have done. The last three games, we haven’t played real good baseball. But we found a way to win.”
The same sentiment can be said for Tuesday’s home tilt.
The first inning saw 10 batters dig into the box. Tanner Grant got the ball rolling on his 2-run single.
A base-on-balls walk by Reese Dirnberger plated the third run of the night, and Grant scored on a wild pitch.
Again, the Eagles just find ways to win.
A 2-run home run by Catholic’s Ben Smith pulled the Irish to a 2-run deficit, 4-2, in the third.
In the fourth inning, the Eagles kept the foot on the accelerator as Dirnberger and Ryan Retone both drove in a run: complementing the hurlers’ efforts.
Brayton Tangora entered the game in relief of Bridges, going 3 innings and allowing three runs.
“Our pitching, Tangora saved us in three games,” said Hughes. “Our starters have given us good starts. Offensively, we will be OK.”
Plate discipline came and went, Hughes said.
Something in which the Eagles will look to right in the coming days.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
The Eagles skipper said he expects as much intensity in the box as he does on the basepaths.
“Honestly, I thought we were a bit timid,” Hughes said of the offensive attack. “For some reason … as an offense, that is something we have to keep learning. I am an aggressive type of guy, and you can see that on the bases.”
Speaking of basepaths, the Eagles were more than active, swiping eight bags: putting the pressure on opposing hurlers from the onset.
“We want to be the same at the plate. I thought we took too many hittable pitches tonight,” said Hughes. “We will get better in the future.”
Up 6-2 with fewer than three innings to go, Nixa got the Irish’s best effort.
A sac fly by starter Jack Schoen cut the deficit to 6-3 in the fourth.
In the top of the fifth, Colton Galligos connected for the sacrifice fly, and Ben Ruter found a hole in the defense with his RBI single, as the Irish pulled to within two runs, 8-6.
But the Eagles responded in kind with another run: a common theme on this night.
Added Hughes: “We found a way to win. Just have to keep working. We have a really good group of seniors. They want to play; they want to win. Every inning when they [Irish] scored, we came back and scored. That kind of shows the dynamic of our group of leaders.”
One leader in whom the Eagles are leaning upon this season is senior catcher Jaret Nelson.
Last week, Nelson was named the O-Zone Athlete of the Week.
“He is our leader,” Hughes said of Nelson. “We go as he goes.”
Nelson finished with a double, two stolen bases, and one walk.
Nelson said he knew the pride that resides within the Irish program, and while he wasn’t familiar with their 1-9, he knew the battle would be a tight.
Said Nelson: “I really didn’t know their personnel. We came out and expected their best. That is all you can do when you don’t know what is going to happen. Just expect their best game. I feel like they hit the ball well.”
Leaders come in all forms; some are vocal while some set the tone without any verbalization.
“I feel like I am both,” Nelson said of his leadership. “At the end of the day, we are just going out there trying to win.”
Bridges was credited with the win while Catholic’s Schoen took the loss.
