Kansas champ ousts Squids

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- The Chaffee Senior Babe Ruth Squids baseball team dug itself a big early hole for the second straight day.

That normally is not a recipe for success. It wasn't for the Squids.

Chaffee fell behind 12-0 after three innings Sunday and lost to Kansas state champion Columbus 12-8 in an elimination game of the Midwest Plains Regional at Hillhouse Park.

The Squids, who fell to Iowa state champion Ottumwa 7-3 on Saturday, finished the eight-team tournament 1-2. Chaffee ended its season 33-12.

"We just didn't play a full seven innings again today, just like yesterday," Chaffee coach Aaron Horrell said.

One day after falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, the Squids trailed Columbus 4-0 after one frame. It was 9-0 after two innings and the Kansas squad tacked on three more runs in the third.

"We came out flat like we did yesterday," Chaffee's Connor Scott said. "We started battling back but it was too little too late, I guess."

Chaffee staged a spirited comeback, scoring three fourth-inning runs and making things interesting with a five-run fifth inning that featured the Squids losing a runner on the bases and leaving the bases loaded.

"Down 12-0, it'd be so easy to roll over and quit," Horrell said. "These kids don't do that. They just kept battling and clawing."

Chaffee starter Blake Keasler recorded two quick outs in the bottom of the first inning before things began to unravel.

A hit batter, a single and another hit batter loaded the bases. A walk forced in a run before Damon Simmons delivered a two-RBI single. The fourth run scored when Simmons' hit was misplayed for an error.

Keasler was knocked out during the five-run second inning that featured five hits. He gave up six hits and nine runs, eight earned, in 1 2/3 innings.

Columbus got four more hits off Alex Davie during its three-run third inning but all the runs were unearned thanks to an error.

"They're a good-hitting team," Chaffee's Jared Walker said of a Kansas club that banged out 16 hits off four Chaffee pitchers.

The Squids, in danger of being run-ruled after five innings, gave their fans something to get excited about.

Scott's two-RBI single highlighted a three-run fourth inning. Chaffee then took advantage of five errors during its five-run fifth inning. Only one run in the fifth was earned.

"We finally started putting the ball in play, and they helped us with some errors," Scott said.

But Simmons, who came in from left field to relieve starter Codie Perry, ended Chaffee's comeback.

Simmons recorded the final out of the fifth inning with the bases loaded, then allowed just one runner over the final two frames.

Simmons also led Columbus offensively, going 4 for 4 with three RBIs.

"You tip your hat to them," said Horrell, whose squad committed five errors that led to four unearned runs. "They hit the ball well and put pressure on us."

Walker and Keasler both had two of Chaffee's eight hits. Scott had three RBIs.

Scott, the winner in Chaffee's tournament opener, worked the final two innings Sunday, allowing no runs. Alex Crowe hurled a scoreless fourth inning.

Despite the two latest losses, Chaffee had an impressive inaugural season with a young squad that included just four 2011 high school graduates.

"We probably did a lot better than most people thought," Scott said.

The Squids, who featured nine players from Chaffee High School and six from other communities, finished second in the state to earn their regional berth.

"We didn't show what type of team we had these last two games," Horrell said. "But I told the kids, for our first year putting this team together, to go 33-12 is something to be proud of. I couldn't be prouder.

"I did this for two reasons. One, to be competitive. Two, to get the Chaffee kids playing time, especially the ones that will be coming back [to high school] next year."

Defending regional champion Ottumwa advanced to today's 2 p.m. championship round with Sunday's 4-2 victory over host Charleston, the Missouri state champion, in the winners bracket final.

Ottumwa is the only team without a tournament loss.