Bryant’s bird’s-eye brilliance lifts Oran to 11-0 win over Bernie

ORAN, Mo. — As the Oran baseball team continues its remarkable start to the season, it’s hard to decide what’s more impressive: the team’s flawless 7-0 record or its jaw-dropping 73-5 scoring differential.

The Eagles left no doubt about their dominance, thrashing Bernie (8-3) with a commanding 11-0 victory on Monday, September 11.

“We came out with a lot more intensity than we did in our last game,” said Oran coach Joe Bickings. “I challenged them to come out ready to play and try to put good swings on it. We were a lot better today. We had some good hits to the right side. That’s what we work on in practice all the time, trying to stay up in the middle and away, don’t try to pull everything because you’re just going to get yourself in trouble.”

Oran's Nolan Loper (4) throws�during an 11-0 win over Bernie at OHS on Monday, September 11, 2023.�Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat

Oran wasted little time in asserting its authority, quickly gaining a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The offensive onslaught commenced when Parker Bryant delivered a double, propelling Kole Burger and Nolan Loper across home plate.

Bryant raced home on a passed ball, while Brenden Campbell further fueled the team’s momentum with an explosive double, scoring Carson Kern.

In the second inning, the Eagles continued their relentless assault, extending the lead to 8-0. The scoring frenzy began when Cooper Senciboy displayed smart baserunning skills, tagging up and crossing the plate after a fly out to center field.

Bernie's Chandler Spitzer throws a pitch�during an 11-0 loss at Oran on Monday, September 11, 2023.�Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat

Shortly thereafter, Rylan Mills and Burger capitalized on a scorching triple by Bryant, racing home to further amplify the team’s advantage. Bryant wasn’t done contributing to the offensive barrage, as he scored on a well-placed single by Gabe Dirnberger.

Oran continued to pile on the runs in the third inning, with Campbell crossing the plate to extend the lead to 9-0 after a sacrifice fly by Burger.

The Eagles scored two more runs in the fourth inning. Kern’s clutch double allowed Mills and Bryant to touch home plate, widening the gap top 11-0.

Oran's Cooper Senciboy (3) scores�during an 11-0 win over Bernie at OHS on Monday, September 11, 2023.�Dennis Marshall/Standard-Democrat

Bryant had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a triple, a double, four RBIs and scoring three times.

He also dominated on the mound, throwing four scoreless innings, allowing only four hits, recording four strikeouts and issuing no walks.

“[Bryant’s] curveball wasn’t working the greatest but he kept his changeup down,” Bickings said. “He threw it five or six times and they were pretty filthy. He was out there pumping strikes.”

Burger pitched the final inning for the Eagles, didn’t give up any runs, hits, or walks, and struck out two.

Oran went on to win 14-0 in five innings at Puxico (1-5) on Tuesday, September 12.

The Eagles' top performers were Burger (2-for-2 with two doubles, three RBIs and four runs), Mills (2-for-3 with two RBIs and scored a run) and Bryant (2-for-3 with a double, a RBI and two runs). Loper earned the win on the mound, throwing a perfect game through five innings with nine strikeouts.

Oran hosts Bell City (5-2) on Thursday, September 14.

“We just have to keep the same mentality every time we hit the field,” Bickings concluded. “We’re going to be pretty good if we do that.”