Baseball

DeMint stars as Mexico wins district matchup at Centralia

From the opening batter, Mexico's offense appeared to be ready.

Drew DeMint homered to lead off the game and finished 4-for-5 with three RBI and two doubles to lead the Bulldogs to a 13-3 victory at district foe Centralia (6-5). Mexico (10-6) finished with nine hits and had three drive in multiple runs, including Sam Ryan's three RBI and Landon Hilderman's two RBI, to win its sixth straight game.

DeMint also had a two-RBI double to cap an eight-run third inning for the Bulldogs, which carried a 9-1 lead going into the fourth inning.

Centralia finished with eight hits and scored one each in the next two innings, including a home run by Chase Kempker in the fourth inning. Micah Danielson and Mattie Robinson each had RBI as well.

Brady Fox pitched 5 1/3 innings for Mexico with four strikeouts, two earned runs and one walk.

Mexico hosts district foe Hallsville (4-7) at 5 p.m. today, and Centralia hosts South Callaway (5-8) today.

Community R-6 shuts out Sturgeon 8-0

Community R-6 didn't have to worry much in Thursday's conference game.

The Trojans won 8-0 at Central Activities Conference foe Sturgeon (5-5, 1-3 CAC) behind seven four-hit innings pitched by Mason Carroll (four strikeouts and two hits) and Cooper Rohan (two hits, one strikeout and one walk). 

Community (7-3, 2-0 CAC) scored five runs in the first two innings to give its pitchers some early support. Brant Cope, Mason Rohan and Eli Johnson had RBI in that span. Rohan finished with three RBI, and Cope had two RBI.

Community hosts Marceline (5-5) at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Van-Far loses 22-7 at Mark Twain

It wasn't Van-Far's night on Thursday.

The Indians lost 22-7 in three innings at Eastern Missouri Conference foe Mark Twain (3-6, 1-3 EMO). They couldn't find an answer on the mound for the Tigers with the four arms they threw.

Mark Twain finished with 13 hits and stole 26 bases.

Van-Far (4-7, 2-3 EMO) had a solid offensive night with seven hits. Tyson Douglas led with two RBI, Carson Huff was 2-for-2 with a RBI, and Gage Gibson and Garrett Hopke each had a RBI.

The Indians' offense carried the team to only a 10-7 deficit after two innings but a 12-run inning for Mark Twain ended the game early.

Van-Far plays in the MMA Baseball Classic on Saturday in Mexico against Missouri Military Academy (0-5) and Paris (1-4).

North Callaway effective with two outs, win 11-2 at Elsberry

North Callaway stayed cool with two outs to remain hot in the conference.

The Thunderbirds scored seven two-out runs to win 11-2 at Elsberry (5-6, 3-1 EMO) and push their Eastern Missouri Conference record to 4-0. 

"Two-out hits were key," head coach Kirt Kleindienst said. "Coltyn O'Neal and Sam Pezold were huge with two outs."

Pezold and O'Neal picked up their respective two and one RBI with two-out hits, helping to build a 3-0 lead for North Callaway (7-4, 4-0 EMO) after three innings for Keaton Bell.

Kleindienst said Bell worked well down in the zone while changing speeds to finish with a good line of five hits, four strikeouts, two earned runs and one walk in seven innings.

Tucker Sheets finished with three RBI, and Carter Moore went 3-for-4 to support Bell some more, contributing to the Thunderbirds scoring eight runs in the final two innings.

North Callaway plays at conference foe Clopton (5-2, 2-1 EMO) at 5 p.m. today.

Mexico tennis this week

Mexico 6 Boonville 3 on Tuesday at Fairgrounds Park Netplex in Mexico

• Brendan McKeown (8-1 singles, 8-0 in doubles), Boston Davolt (8-1 in singles, 8-0 in doubles) and Brixton Goerne (8-3 in singles, 8-2 in doubles with Carter Blackburn) each with two victories. Trevor Wright wins singles 8-2

North Point 5 Mexico 4 on Wednesday in Mexico

• McKeown (8-0 in singles, 8-6 in doubles) and Davolt (8-6 in singles, 8-6 in doubles) each with two victories. Brixton Goerne won in singles 8-3.

The Bulldogs are at 4-5 and host district foe Lutheran St. Charles (0-4) at 4:30 p.m. today.