1A, 2A DIAMOND QUESTS: EAGLES ON TEAR ENTERING FINAL 4

Last year, it took a gift from the baseball gods to get Oran to the Class 1A championship game.

This year, The Eagles -- last year's state runners-up -- hope not to spot Marion C. Early (Morrisville) seven runs in the state semifinal at Simmons Field. The two teams will play at 5 p.m.

The winner will play the winner of Beviere (10-3) and Northwest (Hughesville) (16-6) at 8 p.m. Thursday for the state championship. The third-place game will be played at 2 p.m. Thursday.

In the state semifinal last year, Oran trailed 7-0 before scoring seven runs in one inning from the benefit of four errors by New Bloomfield, which was favored to win state.

This year, Marion C. Early (20-4) has already knocked off the state's second-ranked team, Fordland, 4-2 in sectionals after suffering a 15-3 loss to Fordland earlier in the year. Marion C. Early is ranked fifth in the state and Oran is fourth, according to the Missouri State High School Baseball Coaches Association's poll which was released prior to district play. The Panthers have won 15 straight games.

Oran (20-5) will send its ace, Dustin Glastetter, to the hill.

Glastetter is 11-2 with a 1.78 earned run average. He has fanned 105 batters in 82 2/3 innings pitched.

Dustin Dannenmueller (9-2, 2.55 ERA) will pitch Thursday.

"We'll probably throw Glastetter, because he could throw again the next day if he had to," Oran coach Mitch Wood said. "Dannenueller's arm doesn't come back as well the next day."

If Marion C. Early decides to go with its ace, Ryan Letterman will get the call. Letterman, a senior right-hander, has thrown almost 40 more innings than any other Panther pitcher this year and boasts a 1.49 earned run average. The 6 foot-2 inch, 170-pound junior has fanned 111 batters in 65 2/3 innings.

The Panthers have three other pitchers who have ranged from 20 innings of work up to 28.

Marion C. Early is led offensively by Tylan Holman, Derek Stanley and Josh Woodmansee. Holman, a catcher and pitcher, is batting .447, has hit 10 home runs and has driven home 35 runs. Stanley, an infielder, is batting .416 with seven long balls and 33 RBIs. Woodmanssee, another infielder, is batting .478 with five homers and 31 RBIs.

Wood said he hoped the team could control its emotions.

"The whole team will be nervous, but that's part of high school baseball," he said. "The team is excited and the town is excited. We had a big following and are anticipating another one this year."

Since facing Advance in the district finals, the Eagles haven't had much of a challenge in the postseason.

Oran stomped Bernie 10-0 in six innings in sectionals, then knocked off Van Buren 12-2 in five innings Saturday in the quarterfinals.

Marion C. Early downed Fordland in sectionals, then pounded Jasper 13-5 in Saturday's quarterfinal. It won its district championship game 10-2 over Weaubleau, thanks to an eight-run sixth inning.

The Panthers appear to be an offensive powerhouse, scoring almost 10 runs a game.

Oran left for Columbia at noon on Tuesday, and Eagles will get the opportunity to practice on one of the grass fields in the city before stepping onto Simmons Field.