Experienced Portageville tops Lions in C2D1 title game

The experience level between host Senath-Hornersville and Portageville on Monday in the championship game of the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 Baseball Tournament could not have been more disparate.

The Lions, though immersed in the program’s most successful season in six years, had a group of seniors who hadn’t won a postseason game before Friday’s 8-3 victory over Bernie. Meanwhile, over the past four years, the Bulldogs are 14-3 in postseason play.

That was evident as Portageville limited the Senath-Hornersville bats to just two hits in a 4-0 win. The title was the Bulldogs’ (28-7) fifth consecutive and sixth in the past seven springs.

Naturally, a Portageville senior played a pivotal role in the win, as Conner Johnson drove in two runs with a single in the second inning, which gave his team all it needed to win.

“Conner has shown a lot of maturity this year,” veteran Bulldog coach Tyler Trover said. “He has grown up a lot, especially since his freshman and sophomore years.”

Johnson hit in the No. 6 hole for the Bulldogs on Monday, which has its most potent lineup at the plate since 2019.

He also added a run in Monday’s game.

“Right now,” Trover said late in this season, “he leads the team in hitting. His approach has gotten a lot better over the course of the last few years.

“With that hard work has come confidence.”

In Saturday’s semifinal rout of Campbell, Johnson added a run and a walk, and Trover said he provides a steady defensive presence at third base.

“He’s done a really good job (defensively),” Trover said. “He’s been solid at third for the past couple of years.”

Johnson tallied one of the five Portageville hits against Lion pitchers Noah Rhodes and junior Chayse Laden.

Portageville senior Mason Adams added a hit, one run, and a walk while senior Carson Bradley (one run, one walk), junior Rylan Partin (one hit, one run), junior Owen Roberts (one hit), and junior Xayvion Bogan (one hit, one RBI) also contributed.

Adams added three stolen bases in the win and was also dominant on the mound.

The Mineral Area Community College signee threw five innings of relief and gave up just one hit, no runs, one walk, and struck out four.

Senior Aaron Dunlap started for the Bulldogs and allowed one hit, no runs, and struck out four in two innings.

Senath-Hornersville was paced by junior Spencer Goff, who had two hits and a pair of walks while Laden (one walk), Rhodes (one walk), senior Jesus “Chewy” Mendoza (one walk), senior Christian “Pookie” Garza (one hit), and freshman Glacian Johnson (one walk) were also productive.

Rhodes threw two innings and allowed three hits and as many earned runs while walking just one.

Laden worked four innings and gave up one hit, no runs, one walk, and struck out seven.

Portageville will face the winner of Greenville (23-7) and Van Buren (18-7), who play in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 2 Tournament championship game today.

The Class 2 Sectional 1 game will be on Monday (time and location TBA).