Bernie BB takes 'business-like' attitude to 3-0 start

The varsity baseball squads at Bernie and Woodland high schools split a pair of games during the 2023 calendar year.

The Cardinals thumped the Mules last spring, but Bernie bounced back with a win over the Cardinals last fall. Those results should have resulted in a close game on Tuesday between the two Stoddard County Athletic Association rivals, and it was – for a while.

Leading 1-0, the Mules put seven runs across the plate in the fifth inning to garner an 8-1 rout in Bernie.

“It’s been good,” veteran Bernie coach Marcus Massey said recently of his team’s attitude. “The atmosphere out here has been really good.”

Bernie improved to 3-0 this spring season, which bodes well for the program eventually achieving its (at least) 15th consecutive winning season.

“This is a group,” Massey continued, “that just comes to practice every day and they have a very business-like mentality when they get out here.”

Mule freshman Blayne Morgan opened the pivotal inning against Woodland by getting hit by Cardinal thrower Kiren Lindley.

Morgan moved to second base on a fielder’s choice, before advancing up to third on a single from sophomore Leightin Hicks.

Bernie junior Cody Massey brought both of his teammates home with a double for a 3-0 advantage and then advanced via a passed ball, which was followed by Lindley hitting Taylor Stanfield.

Mule sophomore Brayden Vaughn loaded the bases by drawing a walk, and then Lindley hit Bernie hitter Cade Arnold, which scored Massey for a 4-0 margin.

Bernie freshman Cane Hobgood laid down a bunt, which scored Stanfield (5-0) before Blake Nash connected for an RBI single that scored Vaughn for a 6-0 score.

Arnold and Hobgood were both able to come home on a sacrifice bunt by Morgan for the seventh and eighth Bernie tally.

Hobgood had a nice day at the plate, as he notched a pair of hits to go with his one run and one RBI.

Nash also had two hits in the win, as well as an RBI while Hicks (one run, one hit), Massey (one hit, two runs, two RBI), Stanfield (one hit, one run, one RBI), Vaughn (one run, one walk), Arnold (one run, one RBI), and Morgan (one run, two RBI) were also productive.

Massey and Nash each had doubles while Stanfield stole a base.

Stanfield also was stellar on the mound.

He threw a complete seven innings and allowed just four hits, no earned runs, walked one, and struck out 12 Cardinals.

Woodland senior Seth Abernathy led his team with a couple of hits and also scored his team’s lone run.

Cardinal sophomore Colton Jordan had one hit while Kale Landewee (one walk), Lindley (one hit), and Sam Tuttleton (one RBI) also contributed.

Abernathy had a double while Jordan stole a base.

Lindley worked 4 1/3 innings and allowed seven hits and as many earned runs. He walked one Mule hitter and struck out five.

Jordan closed the game with 1 2/3 innings of pitching and did not allow a hit, a run, or a walk while striking out two.

Woodland (0-1) will visit Greenville (2-2) on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

Bernie will visit Puxico on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.