Another upset bid comes up just short in 8-5 loss
CARROLL – East Buchanan’s effort kept them within striking distance.
Every time the Buccaneers threatened to take control Saint Ansgar did just enough to thwart the charge.
No. 3 Saint Ansgar built a four-run lead and answered two East Buchanan rallies with two runs in fifth and the sixth innings for an 8-5 victory in the Class 1A state high school baseball semifinals Wednesday night at Scott Parcher Field of Merchants Park. The Saints (23-7) will face No. 4 Martensdale-St. Marys (32-5) in the 1A title game Friday at 5 p.m.
The Buccaneers battled back to pull within one run on two occasions but couldn’t get over the hump.
“Very proud of the way the team battled until the end,” East Buchanan Coach Thomas Crawford said. “St. Ansgar got a run early, and we made some uncharacteristic mistakes, but we stayed in it and battled back, just came up short.
“The guys have been battling all postseason, so them battling back tonight was no surprise to us coaches.”
The Saints opened the scoring in the first. Anthony Schnable smacked the team’s first triple to lead off the bottom of the inning. He scored on Gus Walk’s RBI groundout.
Their lead climbed to 4-0 with a three-run fourth, getting a two-run single from Colton Wynia, who scored on Zade Schell’s triple.
East Buchanan began to climb back into the game in the next half-inning. Camden Long and Kyle Peck drew back-to-back walks followed by consecutive singles by Will Hansen and Keenan Pals, who plated Long. Tristan Cornell was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in Peck. Pals alert and aggressive baserunning allowed him to score from second on a failed double play attempt, cutting the deficit to 4-3 in the fifth.
Saint Ansgar answered with two more in the fifth. Walk singled and reached second on a balk. He scored on a Jayce Schwiesow base hit. Schwiesow moved to second on an error and scored when Porter Schwiesow reached on another miscue for a 6-3 advantage.
East Buchanan cut into the lead again in the sixth. Nolan Peyton led off with a single and Brady Hogan was plunked to put the first two batters on base. Both scored on an errant throwing trying to turn a double play, closing the gap to 6-5.
Jayce Schwiesow added an RBI double and scored on an error to cap the scoring. Porter Schwiesow retired the Buccaneers in order in the seventh to earn the save.
Peck had two hits and an RBI, while Pals and Cornell had a hit and an RBI apiece for East Buchanan.
The Buccaneers (18-10) made their first state appearance and defeated No. 2-seed and defending state champion Lynnville-Sully in its debut Monday. They also beat No. 8 Don Bosco and No. 4 North Linn in the postseason run to Carroll.
“It certainly was a big step forward,” Crawford said. “We navigated unchartered waters and made some big waves while doing it. The biggest thing to take away from our first trip to state is just knowing that we can do it and do it well.
“We weren’t the biggest, oldest or most experienced team in the tournament, but it didn’t phase the guys and they put up a big game in the first round.”
The Buccaneers have two seniors on the roster – Will Hansen and Tod Dawes – and return the rest of the team that has made gains all three seasons under Crawford. East Buchanan’s success was a collective achievement and the knack of rising to challenges. Crawford reiterated his pride in the team’s accomplishment this season.
“It was a true group effort that took all 15 guys on the team,” Crawford said. “They made history, and were the underdogs almost the whole postseason and we never backed down. I can’t thank the players enough for the effort they put forward this whole year.
“As a team we owe a huge thank you to our community. They stepped up big time, making sure we had everything we needed for our time in Carroll, and they were right there with us cheering us on. It wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
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