C3D2: Kelly stuns Scott City behind dominating start from Ross Peters

SCOTT CITY - A season filled with ups and downs culminated in a massive moment on Wednesday for the Kelly Hawks.

The No. 3 seeded Hawks battled the No. 1 seed Scott City Rams, and a masterful pitching performance from Ross Peters and a two-run home run from Reece Eftink led the Hawks to a 4-1 to claim the Class 3 District 2 championship.

“In my baseball career which is 37 years I’ve either been playing or coaching, this is the most special moment of my career,” Kelly coach Josh Hopkins said. “These kids have been through so much and they just fought and fought. They had every reason in the world to hang it up and quit and they wouldn’t. They just found a way and this week it all came together.”

Kelly’s Ross Peters led the game off with a single off Scott City starting pitcher Blake Wilburn.

Wilburn however wasn’t phased and retired the next three Kelly batters to send the Rams to the plate in the home half of the first tied at zero.

In the bottom half of the inning, Mark Panagos reached to lead off the inning via a dropped third strike, setting the Rams up with an early base runner.

Lane Holder bunted Panagos over and the next batter, Kobe Watson, grounded out, putting Panagos on third base with two outs.

Lane Miller worked a two-out walk giving Luke Umfleet a prime opportunity with runners on the corners and two outs.

Kelly starting pitcher Ross Peters worked the count full to Umfleet but snapped off a curveball that Umfleet waved at, stranding a pair and ending the inning.

It appeared as if Wilburn was going to cruise through the top of the second but a two-out double off the bat of Brody Oesch gave the Hawks some life.

Jacob Dannenmueller followed up Oesch’s double with a walk, setting the stage for Tyson Carr who eventually lined out on a hard-hit ball to Scott City left fielder Gavin Venable, ending the threat.

“I came back to the dugout after the top of the second and told them we were going to be OK,” Hopkins said. “We were making hard contact in the top of the second and once I saw the hard contact I knew we had a real chance.”

Things looked bleak to begin the bottom of the second for the Hawks.

Peters walked Jackson Gloth and that was followed up by a botched double play with Levi Senn at the plate, giving the Rams runners on the corners with nobody out.

Gavin Venable drove in the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly, scoring Gloth and giving the Rams a 1-0 lead.

However, Peters managed to keep it there, striking out the next two hitters to limit the damage.

“That’s not Ross’ run,” Hopkins said. “That’s my run because I made a bad pitch call there. Ross was good enough that he shouldn’t have allowed a single hit today. He was dynamite.”

Kaleb Yount gave the Hawks life with one out in the top of the third as his speed forced a throwing error by Rams first basemen Luke Umfleet.

Kelly’s Reece Eftink made the Rams pay, launching a two-run home run to left field to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead.

“That’s the Reece we all know,” Hopkins said. “He’s been struggling this year at the plate. He’s been doing a much better job this week.”

Perhaps an underrated play in the game looking back came in the bottom of the third.

After striking out to end the top of the third, Kelly’s Brandon Herrion snagged a line drive off the bat of Lane Miller, preventing a run from scoring and keeping the Hawks in front 2-1.

“We’ve talked about it all year,” Hopkins said. “You can’t let one mistake become two. Brandon knew he had to make the play or it could be the ballgame.”

Clinging to a 2-1 lead and searching for insurance, Kelly’s Tyson Carr led the top of the seventh off with a walk, stole second and then advanced to third on an errant throw.

The next batter, Ross Peters, hit a ground ball to second base, but with the infield in, there was no play at first base as Carr scored to make it 3-1 and Peters reached first base safely.

Kaleb Yount singled home Peters to make it 4-1 and on the throw home, moved up to second base.

After striking out the Rams’ Kayden Lowery to begin the seventh inning, the Hawks turned the ball over to Dalton Forck.

Peters was magnificent for the Hawks, tossing 6.1 innings, allowing just one run on one hit, while striking out seven batters.

“We had no other pitching,” Hopkins said. “If (Scott City) was up we weren’t going to risk hurting Dalton (Forck) but if we had a chance then we would go with Dalton. Ross gave us a chance and threw his best game.”

Forck retired Panagos and Holder on strikes, sending the Hawks and their fans into a frenzy.

Scott City ends the regular season with a record of 29-4.

Kelly (13-15) advances to Class 3 sectionals where the Hawks will host Class 3 District 1 Champion East Prairie on Tuesday, May 21 at Kelly High School.

“We played them at their place and threw a no-hitter and lost 3-1,” Hopkins said. “We’re looking for redemption on Tuesday. I think we match up well but they’re a very good ballclub. They throw it well and they hit it well and we’re going to have to do the same.”