C3D2 BB: Hodges is 'a dude' in East Prairie W over Kelly

CHARLESTON – The East Prairie High School baseball squad won a postseason game on Tuesday by beating Kelly 3-2 at Hillhouse Park in Charleston. However, the origins of the MSHSAA Class 3 District 2 semifinal victory can be traced to Monday’s postseason domination of the host Blue Jays.

In the initial win, Eagle senior pitcher Peyton Hodges only had to throw 30 pitches in two innings, as East Prairie bombarded Charleston 16-1. That limited day allowed veteran Eagle coach Gary Scott to bring Hodges back 24 hours later against the Hawks, and Hodges showed physical stamina all day, and mental toughness late.

“It is just how it played out,” Scott said of the scenario. “He was on a full week’s rest (against Charleston) and we had planned on him going the distance. But things just worked out where we got a comfortable lead, and we were able to get him out early and save him for today.”

The Kenyon College recruit limited the Hawks (19-9) to a mere two hits, while allowing just one earned run, walking none, and striking out four.

“Peyton has been big for us for four years,” Scott said. “He was not coming out until we reached his pitch limit.”

Hodges threw 104 pitches against Kelly, 71 of which went for strikes.

“Hats off to Peyton Hodges,” first-year Kelly coach Josh Hopkins said. “He is a heckuva pitcher. He is going to the next level to pitch.”

The Eagles (18-12-1) opened the game with a double from sophomore lead-off hitter Noah Johnson, which was followed by Hodges reaching on a fielder’s choice, but moving on to second base on a Hawk error, which allowed Johnson to score and put East Prairie up 1-0.

Eagle freshman Rayne Jernigan pinch-ran for Hodges and made it a 2-0 margin on an RBI single by sophomore Ty Wallace, who later stretched the score to 3-0 on a connection from Leven Turner, who reached on another Kelly miscue.

“We’ve got good players,” Scott said. “They work hard. They put the time in. They play all summer, and they love the game. Right now, they know how to win.”

The Eagles will face Scott City (19-8) in the championship game today at Hillhouse Park at 4:30 p.m. A win will give East Prairie its second straight District championship.

The Rams have beaten the Eagles twice this spring (12-4 and 2-1), but Kelly had dominated Hodges and East Prairie 6-1 earlier this season, for what that was worth on Tuesday.

“We wanted to keep the ball in Peyton’s hands and have him keep mixing it up,” Scott said. “He was a dude today.”

Kelly added runs in the second and third innings and put the tying run at third base in the seventh inning. However, Hodges after allowing a lead-off walk in that final inning, Hodges got the next batter out on three strikes and finished the game by throwing four strikes in his next five pitches, which resulted in a ground out (by Hodges) and a flyout.

“When the runner was on second (base),” Hodges explained, “I was a little bit worried, because I know, at that point, anything can happen. When the runner was on third, we had the infield in, and with (needing just) one out, I have faith that I can get a ground ball, at least, and get him out at home.”

When left fielder Turner caught the final Kelly out, Hodges knelt to the ground, more so in mental fatigue, than physical.

“I’ve done this before,” Hodges said of going consecutive days, “and my arm has been sore. Today, I did my best to recover, get ready for the game, and go the whole game.

“I was good to go. Towards the end, I was worn out and it was hard to make it through, but I ended up doing it.”

In seven innings, Hodges allowed two hits, one earned run, walked three, and struck out eight.

Wallace paced the Eagle offense with a couple of hits while adding a run and an RBI.

Owen Knight chipped in a hit, while Turner (one hit) also contributed.

Hawk senior Drew Klipfel had one of the two Kelly hits, as did sophomore Jett Hull, who also added an RBI.

Kelly junior Dalton Forck had a walk, while senior Mason Eubanks (one run, one walk), senior Colton Essner (one walk), and sophomore Ross Peters (one run) were also productive.

On the mound, Klipfel threw 6 2/3 innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits, while walking one and striking out five.

Peters got the final out on a strike out of an East Prairie batter.

Scott City blanked Woodland 8-0 in the other semifinal.