Red Sox take third at state

The Nevada Red Sox suffered a tough loss to Sedalia in the American Legion AA state baseball championship tournament Saturday afternoon.

With the loss, Nevada takes home a third place finish in the state tournament, but the Red Sox still have reason to keep their heads held high. "That's what I told the guys, assistant coach Jason Irwin said,."We have nothing to be ashamed of."

Nevada starter Ryan Austin got off to a strong start in the game, putting Sedalia down in order on two soft grounders on the infield and a line drive to straightaway center. Sedalia's pitching struggled early, giving up two consecutive singles to start to the game, followed by a throwing error by the pitcher that gave Nevada runners on first and third with nobody out.

Nevada quickly followed with a run after a passed ball, before a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases, still with just one out. The Red Sox went on to score one more run in the inning, taking a 2-0 lead into the second.

Austin's dominance continued in the top of the second inning, retiring the side 1-2-3 once again and still holding a two run lead. Sedalia starter Jordan Dey fell into his groove in the bottom half of the frame, putting Nevada down in order and holding the game steady at 2-0.

Austin started to struggle a bit in the top of the third, but was still able to keep Sedalia off the board. Dey stayed strong in the bottom half, holding Nevada hitless and keeping the game within reach.

After keeping Sedalia off the board again in the top of the fourth, Nevada threatened in the bottom half with a one-out triple by Tyler Dobson, but were unable to score. Both teams were kept off the scoreboard in the fifth, but Austin did allow a hit and a walk, stranding two runners in the top half of the frame.

Austin stayed strong through the sixth inning, putting Sedalia down in order again and keeping the slim 2-0 lead steady. He came out of the game after recording the first out of the seventh, still holding a two-run lead and giving up the mound to Ron Johnson.

Johnson gave up a double and a hit batter to start his relief effort, and things went down hill from there for the Red Sox. Johnson allowed two runs in the inning, giving Sedalia a 2-2 tie and the momentum going into the bottom half of the seventh.

Dey looked to put Nevada down in order in the inning, but was unable to complete the sweep when Andy Yarick knocked a base hit through the hole at short. Nevada was held off the scoreboard in the inning, taking the game into extra innings, still tied at 2-2.

The pitching woes continued for Nevada in the eighth when Ross Wolfe gave up a walk to the first hitter he faced. The runner advanced to second on a passed ball, and was sacrificed over to third with one out.

Wolfe was able to recover, keeping Sedalia off the scoreboard and taking the game into the bottom of the eighth, still knotted up at 2-2. Wolfe led off the bottom half of the frame with a base hit past first before Ron Johnson was hit by a pitch for the third time in the game.

The Red Sox were able to load the bases with two out, but Tyler Dobson struck out to end the inning. Wolfe again shut Sedalia down in the ninth, putting them down in order and holding the score steady at 2-2.

Nevada got their lead-off man on in the ninth, but the runner was erased when he was picked off at first and Nevada went scoreless once again. Sedalia went on to score the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth inning, taking the lead 3-2.

Nevada rallied back in the bottom half of the frame, tying the game once again at 3-3.

Wolfe's control seemed to fade in the eleventh and he gave up a double to Dustin Broaddus to score the go-ahead run. After making a pitching change, Nevada went on to allow six more runs, giving Sedalia what would turn out to be a 10-3 win.