Bluejay Baseball Falls on Hard Times, Drops Two

A jamboree that had been full of promise for Northeast Nodaway’s baseball team turned into bitter reality as they dropped two lopsided games to start the season.

Their first loss was Friday against St. Joseph Christian. The Bluejays had ended the jamboree on a high note and had walked off Albany to cap it off. They built on it as Jordan Dannar was hit by a pitch, as was Reece Gray. Jace Burns and Wyatt Scadden singled to bring them home, and Northeast Nodaway was up 2-0 after one.

But St. Joseph Christian had won 20 games last year for a reason, and all hell broke loose in the second inning as they teed off on Bluejay pitching, getting seven runs. Northeast didn’t get another hit as Christian score one in the third, one in the fourth, and three in the fifth to secure the 12-2 win.

The Lions ran wild on the basepaths, stealing six bases. They took advantage of seven walks, 10 hits, two errors, and three hit batters in the win.

There was no rest for the weary as the Bluejays had to travel to King City. The Wildkats had posted their best season ever last year as well as their first-ever winning season, and it didn’t look to be any different this year after they dropped a close game to Nodaway Valley, who is expected to contend for the 275 title this year.

King City got an upgrade this year as Vance Proffitt, who coached the Bluejays to many wins over the last decade and the early part of this one, became the head baseball coach at King City.

The game was over early as the Wildkats scored three in the first and four in the second to lead 7-0 after two. Brady O’Connell picked a runner off third to prevent even further damage.

Northeast Nodaway got one run back when Jordan Dannar walked, stole second, and came home when Reece Gray beat out a grounder to short and Dannar came home when the ball got away to make it 7-1.

But King City continued to tee off, adding two in the third and one in the fifth to go home early.

Northeast had baserunners galore throughout the game, getting four hits and six walks, but they could not get the big hit to score them. Jace Burns had a double for the Bluejays, while Reece Gray, Wyatt Scadden, and Liam Cordell had singles.

Meanwhile, King City took advantage of six Bluejay errors to fuel their rallies. They had seven hits, four walks, and were plunked three times. Coy Cordonnier and Ryder Sample had home runs for the Wildkats.