By Don Abernathy (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
OZARK — Inning after inning, Licking High School threatened to score in the Class 3 semifinals on Wednesday, but time after time they lacked the timely hit.
The Wildcats loaded the bases in each of the final four innings against Duchesne, but stranded 14 runners on base in a 10-3 loss at Ozark Mountain Sports Complex.
“I think we can call that a ‘Murphy’s Law’ game, because whatever could have gone wrong, did,” Licking coach Harv Antle said.
“We out-hit them, we had fewer errors, but we played some less than clean baseball in the early innings.”
The Pioneers (of St. Charles) scored four runs in the home half of the first on two hits, a walk, and an error.
“Anytime Duchesne had a chance to take advantage of a situation, they did,” Harv Antle said.
“They had big key hits to stack up those early runs.”
Duchesne added four more runs off four hits in the bottom of the second, sending 10 batters to the plate, but Licking senior pitcher Silas Antle bailed out the Wildcats in relief, getting three outs and leaving the bases loaded.
Silas Antle allowed just two runs in five innings of relief and struck out five batters.
“That’s a hard job to come in and you’re down by that much,” Harv Antle said.
“(Silas) allowed us to stay alive. I thought he did a really good job of managing their lineup.”
Licking stranded two or more runners on base in every inning except the first inning.
“They kept trying to let us back into the game all night long,” Harv Antle said.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
“One or two key hits, especially with the bases loaded and two outs, that changes everything.
“But baseball comes down to execution, doing what we do as a team, and we just didn’t get the job done tonight.”
Trailing 9-0 in the top of the fifth inning, the Wildcats got on the scoreboard when senior shortstop Keller Davis singled and scored on an RBI base hit from junior Kale Cook.
“It just comes down to walks and situational hits,” Davis said.
“We had some unfortunate errors, and they had a few soft hits fall in, but it comes down to leaving too many runners on base. We were in double-digits. We just didn’t execute with runners on.”
Licking added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning, when senior Keyton Cook doubled and later scored on a throwing error while attempting to steal third base.
Junior Jordan Ritz drew a pinch-hit walk and scored on an RBI double by sophomore Karson Walker.
Walker and Davis each finished 2-for-5 at the plate, and Keyton Cook went 2-for-3 in the loss.
“We didn’t play our brand of baseball tonight,” Davis said.
“There will definitely be some somber tones back at the hotel tonight, but we have to bounce back tomorrow and really show what we are made of.
“If we execute and play our brand of baseball, there’s no doubt in my mind that we will come out on top.”
Licking will play West County (of Leadwood) for third place May 30 at 4 p.m. at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark.
“We were super spotty at the plate, and we left too many runners on,” Licking sophomore Karson Walker said. “But Thursday, we can go out with our last game being a win. That’s how we have to look at it.”
