C1S1BB: Pitching propelling Oran back towards State Finals

The Oran High School baseball program is inching its way closer to yet another trip to the MSHSAA Class 1 State Finals.

The Eagles dominated Gideon 13-1 on Monday in the Class 1 Sectional 1 at Oran and will now battle Norwood (14-12) on Wednesday in the Quarterfinal 1 (time and location TBA).

“I think having experience does help,” veteran Oran coach Joe Bickings said recently of his team’s postseason success.

The Eagles have seven seniors, who have been a part of a program that has won 77 games over the past four seasons, four District titles, a state runner-up finish (2022), and a state championship (2021).

“I also have to give credit to the schedule that we play,” Bickings continued. “We play some very tough competition, so it puts us in those pressure situations.”

A win over Norwood would give Oran its fourth trip to the State Finals in the past six springs, and deep pitching staff will go a long way in helping the Eagles (17-5) achieve that feat.

Against the Bulldogs, Bickings rode junior Parker Bryant throughout the game.

Bryant worked all six innings and only allowed one hit, no earned runs, walking one, and striking out 14 Gideon batters.

Junior Carson Kern has also gotten some innings recently, as has senior Gabe Dirnberger, who may take the mound against the Pirates on Wednesday.

“Gabe has been doing this all year,” Bickings said recently of Dirnberger’s strong spring. “He’s throwing all three pitches for strikes, competing in the zone, battling, and letting his defense work.

“For him to come in as a senior, and be able to do that in this game, for this club, is very, very special.”

In the District title game win over Bell City, Dirnberger threw six innings before having to be taken out after throwing 102 pitches. He only allowed Bell City to garner five hits while walking one and striking out nine.

“He was really hitting his spots,” Cubs coach Justin Simpher said of the Oran pitcher. “He located his fastball in, and then he would locate it out. He had his curveball where he could work it out and away.

“When you can spot things up, in, and out, and do that, it is tough.”

Oran recently blanked Kelly 6-0, a team that is hosting East Prairie in the MSHSAA Class 3 Quarterfinal 1 today at 4:30 p.m. after stunning 29-win Scott City in the Class 3 District 2 championship game, and Kern was the guy who took care of the Hawks.

In that win, Kern threw a complete game and didn’t allow a run while walking two and striking out seven.

Prior to the Bell City win, Dirnberger was also recently strong in a 6-0 thrashing of Sikeston.

Dirnberger pitched a complete game and didn’t allow a run while walking two and striking out four.

Against the Bulldogs (4-13), who had won the Class 1 District 1 championship, the Eagles broke a 1-1 tie in the second inning and put runs across in their first three at-bats, before exploding for seven runs in the sixth inning.

Eagle senior Brenden Campbell paced his team’s offense with three hits to go with one run, three RBI, and a walk.

Campbell also stole three bases.

Oran junior Rylan Mills had a couple of hits, as well as two RBI, and one run scored while junior Kole Burger crushed a home run and had one hit, three RBI, two walks, and scored three times.

Dirnberger chipped in a hit, a run, and an RBI while Kern (one hit, two runs, three walks), Bryant (two walks), senior Nolan Loper (one hit, two runs, two RBI, one walk), junior Rolen Heuring (one hit, one RBI), and senior Cooper Senciboy (one hit, two runs, one RBI) also contributed.

Burger added a pair of stolen bases while Senciboy and Mills also had thefts.

Gideon’s lone hit came from junior Hayden Lacewell while sophomore Brayden Knapp (one run), and freshman Pacey Lowrey (one walk) were also productive.

Bulldog sophomore pitcher Landon Weaver started the game and threw 2 2/3 innings before being relieved by Lacewell and later freshman Brayden Hollabaugh.