Mules suffer first-round exit with loss to Seckman

IMPERIAL — The Poplar Bluff Mules baseball team will have to wait another season in their quest to get a district championship with a first-round exit in this year’s Class 6 District 1 Tournament.

The Mules faced off against the Seckman Jaguars on Wednesday at Seckman High School, and despite senior Dylan Bratcher driving in four runs on two hits, it wouldn’t be enough to move to the next round. A big third inning from Seckman gave them the lead they needed to defeat the Mules 13-6.

Seckman got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Ryan Bradford homered to left field, and the Mules committed an error, each scoring one run. The Jaguars added one run in the second when Tyler Tipton singled after a 7-pitch at-bat, making the score 3-0.

Seckman scored nine runs on seven hits in the bottom of the third inning, which gave them the edge for the rest of the contest. Connor Day singled, scoring one run, Tommy Gibbar singled, scoring one run, Hayden Boyd singled, scoring one run, Tipton singled, scoring two runs, Brady Vessells hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run and Zach Walters homered to left field, scoring three runs.

Bradford added to Seckman’s lead after hitting a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the fifth.

Carter Hutsell earned the win for the Seckman from the mound. The starting pitcher allowed zero hits and zero runs over three and two-thirds innings, striking out four and walking three. Bratcher took the loss for the Mules. The right-handed pitcher went two and two-thirds innings, giving up 12 runs (10 earned) on 10 hits, striking out three and walking two.

Rylan Seesengood pitched three and one-third innings in relief for Poplar Bluff. He gave up three hits and one run while, striking out two and walking one.

The Mules collected nine hits in the game. Bratcher, Bryce Dobbs and Kolby Greenwall each collected two hits.

Seckman captured 13 hits in the game. Walters drove the middle of the lineup, leading the Jaguars with three runs batted in. The outfielder went 1-for-3 on the day. Bradford, Day, Tipton, Vessells and Nate Higgins each collected two hits for Seckman.

Bradford hit two home runs in the game. He went 2-3 with three runs scored and two runs batted in. Gibbar and Vessells each stole multiple bases, tallying six stolen bases for the game.

Seckman will play Oakville in the semifinals on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Lindbergh High School.