Macon Rallies in Sixth, Mexico Upsets Defending District Champs

Photo Courtesy of Colin Schowe, Alpha Media Moberly

Macon and Mexico earned berths to the Class 4 District 7 championship game Tuesday night.

Macon punched its ticket to the title game in thrilling fashion, scoring all four runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 4-3 win over the Kirksville Tigers. The late-game rally began with a lead-off walk. Two runners were on base when Tanner Nelson hit an RBI double to score Ryder Lewis. Hayden Burns followed up with an RBI single to make it 3-2. Facing two outs, right fielder Drew Meisner entered the batter’s box.

Steven Findley Jr and Colin Schowe with the call on KTCM and centralmoinfo.com. Two runners scored on the play to give Macon its first lead of the game. That moment was the deciding factor as Logan Petre sealed the win for Macon on the mound in the seventh. Petre was awarded the win after retiring five straight batters. Macon had one hit in the game up until the bottom of the sixth. Manager Travis Mundahl said his team stayed solid at the plate.

Tanner Ferguson delivered six scoreless innings on the mound for Kirksville. The Tigers left 11 runners on base in the contest. Kirksville manager Derek Allen.

Macon improves to 20-7 on the season while Kirksville finishes 17-14.

The fifth-seeded Mexico Bulldogs Cinderella run through the district tournament continued as they knocked-off the top-seeded Hallsville Indians 6-1. The game was scoreless until the third inning when Andrew Runge (Runj) stepped to the plate with two runners on base.

Colin Schowe with the call. Runge scored on a balk immediately after the hit to make it 3-0. He capped his offensive output in the following inning with a two-run home run to left field to make it 5-0 Bulldogs. Tyler Thoenen (Fay-nen) added a solo homer in the seventh to push the advantage to six. On the mound Sam Ryan went six-and-two-thirds innings while allowing one run on two hits and striking out five Hallsville hitters. Mexico manager Daniel McCarty complimented Ryan on his outing.

Hallsville’s Colton Nichols got an RBI single off Runge in the bottom of the seventh inning to put the Indians on the board. However, Jackson Smith followed by hitting into a fielder’s choice to conclude the game. The Indians’ were held to just three hits. Hallsville manager James Smith explained what went wrong at the plate.

Hallsville’s season comes to an end with a record of 19-7. They graduate nine seniors from a team that claimed the Tri-County Conference title. Mexico improves to 10-18 and will face Macon Thursday for the district title. Pregame coverage will begin at 5:45 pm on KTCM 97.3 and centralmoinfo.com. You can hear full postgame interviews from the semifinals online at centralmoinfo.com

Macon coach Travis Mundahl: