Kirksville Beats Centralia, Mexico Run Rules Moberly

Photo Courtesy of Austin Ward, Alpha Media Moberly, MO

Kirksville and Mexico advanced to the Class 4 District 7 baseball semifinals with wins Saturday.

The Kirksville Tigers used a three-run first inning as a cushion for starter Keaton Anderson in a 4-1 win over the Centralia Panthers. Shortstop Jalen Kent got the ball rolling for the Tigers.

Steven Findley Jr with the call on 97.3 and centralmoinfo.com. Kent would also reach home on an error in the opening inning. Anderson delivered eight strikeouts in the complete game win and shutdown an early offensive chance for Centralia in the top half of the inning. Coach Derek Allen.

Centralia managed just four hits in the contest, but made some noise in the top of the seventh with an Ethan Adams RBI to give the Panthers their first run. Coach Mike Rodgers said his seniors showed heart despite the deficit.

Adams settled into the contest after the opening inning going 6 2/3 innings with six strikeouts. The Panthers graduate five seniors from the team and finish the year 12-13. Kirksville moves on to face second-seed Macon in an epic third-contest between the schools this season, the two previous decided by just one run.

To start the day, Mexico smacked 18 hits and run-ruled Moberly 11-1 in six innings. The Bulldogs began the burst in the third.

Austin Ward with the call. Mexico scored five runs and batted around in both the third and fourth. Seven different batters drove in a run and had a multi-hit day. Landyn Kleinsorge and Austin Maxwell each had three hits and drove in two. Coach Daniel McCarty said extra practice time this week paid dividends.

Kleinsorge was the winning pitcher after tossing five innings and giving up the lone run. For Moberly, Jackson Engel gave up five runs, two of them earned, over 2 2/3 innings. Carson Fletcher was tagged for four runs and Kyler Fanning surrendered two runs over three frames. Coach Tony Vestal…

Moberly’s run came on a sac fly by Conner Moore in the third. The Spartans end their season 15-14. Mexico snaps an 11-game losing streak and moves to 9-18.

Kirksville coach Derek Allen: