Eagles snare crown

~ Oran claimed an 8-3 victory over Advance in the Class 1 District 2 final.

ORAN, Mo. -- Advance's Jeremy Limbaugh and Oran's Chase Seyer hooked up in a pitcher's duel last season in the Class 1 District 2 championship game, which Advance pulled out 2-1.

Limbaugh held the Eagles to six hits in last year's championship game, and he hurled five innings of shutout ball in a win over Oran earlier this season.

The two pitchers squared off again Thursday in the Class 1 District 2 championship at Oran, with the Eagles finally figuring out the second-seeded Hornets' senior right-hander in an 8-3 win.

"It was a little deja vu," Seyer said. "This time, I felt a little stronger."

Oran will host Cooter in a sectional game Wednesday.

Advance second baseman Cory Roper ranged to his left but couldn't prevent an Oran hit during the second inning.

The top-seeded Eagles chased Limbaugh after 2 1/3 innings on Thursday. Oran was able to handle Limbaugh's steady diet of breaking balls to the tune of six hits, six runs and two home runs.

"We just took a ton of curveballs in practice yesterday," Oran coach Mitch Wood said. "Right now, that's what we're concentrating on. One good thing about seeing someone you've seen before is it gives you a heads up."

Advance coach Bob Moses said he had no doubts about starting Limbaugh.

"Jeremy's pitched three years for me," Moses said. "He's been a monster. I couldn't think of anyone I'd rather have out there."

Seyer, who did not start against the Hornets in the regular-season meeting, had the key hit off Limbaugh. Following a one-out, RBI single which put the Eagles up 3-2, lefty Seyer blasted a two-run home run into the trees in right field. Tyler Beardslee followed with a solo home run that ended the day for Limbaugh.

The four-run third gave the Eagles some breathing room after Seyer had been a little shaky on the mound during his first three frames. Advance had five hits after three innings, including a solo home run by Limbaugh for the game's first run.

"That pumped me up a lot," Seyer said of his home run. "It always helps when you're hitting good."

Oran made the four-run lead stand thanks in large part to a strong defensive effort. The Eagles had a pair of big plays in the outfield, and the infield defense was nearly flawless.

Seyer pitched his way out of a few minor jams the rest of the way for the complete-game victory. After missing several weeks at the start of the season, Seyer is rounding into form on the mound.

"It seems like every game, it's getting more and more in the groove for me," Seyer said.

The district title was the fourth in five years for the Eagles. Oran went to three straight state final fours before Advance ended Oran's state playoff run last year.

Oran (23-4) now has won 12 of its last 13 games. Among those wins was a victory over Class 3 district champion Kennett.

"The big difference is not who we're playing, we're just playing well right now," Wood said. "We're finding ways to win. We're playing good defense and getting good pitching."

Advance finished its season 12-4. The Hornets started the season late after their basketball team, which included many of the school's top baseball players as well, made a run to the Class 2 state final four.

"It's been a really frustrating season," Moses said. "We started late and we only played 13 ballgames. There'd be times when we'd have a week and a half with nothing scheduled. We couldn't get any rhythm, that's how the season's been.

"We'd get a little momentum going and then sit out 10 days. That's been frustrating. We were just consistently out of rhythm the entire time. You need those repetitions."

Now into the sectional round, history is on Oran's side. The Eagles have advanced to the state final four in each of their past five state playoff appearances but have never come home with the grand prize.

"This year I hope we can do a little better," Seyer said. "We're still looking for that championship."

Oran 8, Advance 3

Advance 011 001 0 -- 3 9 3

Oran 024 011 X -- 8 10 1

WP -- Chase Seyer. LP -- Jeremy Limbaugh. HR -- Limbaugh (A), Seyer (O), Tyler Beardslee (O). 2B -- Kevin Atkins (A), Beardslee (O), Austin Dumey (O). Multiple hits -- Advance, Atkins 2-3; David VanGennip 2-3; Oran, Seyer 2-4; Beardslee 2-4; Dumey 2-4; Paul Bucher 2-4. Records -- Advance 12-4, Oran 23-4.