North Nodaway was supposed to be outclassed by St. Joseph Christian after two disastrous outings earlier in the week against Albany, a team that the Lions had run ruled, and North Andrew, which got their first win in the process. But they went the distance against the Lions before falling 5-1 Friday in districts to end their season with three wins.
It looked like they could be completely overpowered by Camden Lutz, who was mowing Mustang batters down right and left, striking out eight out of the first nine batters he faced. Meanwhile, Lutz dug out one of Andrew Blackford’s offerings for a base hit in the first inning to score Brad Boyd to put the Lions up 1-0. But just as the Lions looked set to score some more runs and break it open, North Nodaway turned a perfect 6-4-3 double play in the second to kill the rally in the second and keep their deficit at one run.
Nonetheless, Christian scored two more runs in the third after Josh Peek walked and consecutive singles from Blake Ray and Brad Boyd loaded the bases. Caleb Carlson grounded into a force at second, but a run scored on the play, and Lutz hit a grounder to Jordan Jenkins with runners on second and third. Jenkins’ attempt to gun down Blake Ray at the plate was unsuccessful, and the Lions led 3-0. Blackford froze Carson Bowman at the plate and Ethan Fry made a spectacular play at second, robbing Jacob Clabaugh of a base hit to keep the score at 3-0.
North Nodaway finally got to Lutz in the fourth with one out as Andrew Blackford singled to right and Karson Oberhauser hit a squib down the third base line and beat out the hit. But Lutz recovered to strike out Aydan Blackford and Dakota Wray to preserve the shutout.
St. Joseph Christian elected to pull Lutz after four to save him for Platte Valley Monday, and North Nodaway had a chance after Cody Cline singled to left and advanced to second on a passed ball. But Damian Dailey was called out on strikes, Keegan Keho popped out, and Ethan Fry grounded out. Meanwhile, in the fifth, like a missile crashing out of the sky, Caleb Carlson crushed one out of the vast ballpark at Guilford, scoring Brad Boyd to make it 5-0 after five. It would have been worse if Dakota Wray hadn’t have made a sensational running catch of Jacob Clabaugh’s drive to take extra bases away.
Jordan Jenkins hit a towering fly ball that was lost in the sun for a double, and he went to third on a balk with no outs. Andrew Blackford grounded out to third and Karson Oberhauser popped out, but Aydan Blackford singled him home to finally break the shutout and make it 5-0.
Cody Cline chased a high pitch to start the seventh and hit a pop fly that dropped behind the pitcher’s mound before anybody could get to it for a base hit. He took second and third on wild pitches, but nobody could get him around and get the ball in play.
Playing in their last game were Karson Oberhauser, Cody Cline, Dakota Wray, Andrew Blackford, and Jordan Jenkins.
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