Oran gets payback, overwhelms Cooter in commanding 11-1 victory

ORAN, Mo. — Oran’s vengeance was written in the scoreline as the team trampled the Cooter Wildcats 11-1 at OHS on Tuesday, September 20.

Powered by a relentless offensive attack, clutch pitching and the memories of last year’s heartbreak, the Eagles (11-0) left no doubt that they were on a mission of redemption.

“It was great and meant a lot to everyone,” said junior Parker Bryant. “We were all super excited and stoked before this one.”

Oran's Kole Burger (12) throws a pitch�during�an 11-1 win over Cooter at OHS on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.�Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

Motivated by the bitter memory of being eliminated by the Wildcats (7-8) on a devasting walk-off home run in last year’s district tournament, Oran crushed its biggest nemesis, reclaiming its rightful place on top in the fierce rivalry.

“It’s always good to face Cooter because they’re a quality opponent,” said Oran coach Joe Bickings. “It’s great any time you get a win against them because they always come out ready to play and do a lot of little things right. It was nice to see us do what we did today.”

The Eagles wasted no time taking the lead in the bottom of the first inning as Kole Burger crossed home plate on a throw following a fielder’s choice, giving the team a 1-0 advantage.

Oran coach Joe Bickings waves Parker Bryant into home base�during�an 11-1 win over Cooter at OHS on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.�Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

Expanding its dominance, Oran further solidified its lead in the bottom of the third inning after Cooper Senciboy and Nolan Loper capitalized on errors, Parker Bryant’s single brought home Burger and Rylan Mills sealed the inning with a run scored on a bases-loaded walk, propelling the Eagles to an impressive 5-0 lead.

“We played hard and did our jobs by putting the ball in play,” Bryant said.

Cooter’s lone run came in the top of the fourth inning after Jeremy Synder scored on an error.

Cooter's Brayson Green (20) takes a swing�during an 11-1 loss at Oran on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.�Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

Oran swiftly answered in the bottom of the inning by unleashing a flurry of runs in the bottom of the inning, widening the margin to 10-1.

The offensive outburst was fueled by opportunistic moments as they capitalized on defensive miscues and strategic plays. The scoring spree began as Loper took advantage of yet another error. Building on the momentum, Gabe Dirnberger delivered a clutch double to right field, driving in both Bryant and Mills. Kern followed suit with a solid single on a hard ground ball to bring home Dirnberger. The final run of the inning came when Nathan Pobst scored on a bulk.

The Eagles inflicted the mercy rule and ended the game in the bottom of the fifth after Bryant singled on a fly ball to score Loper.

Oran catcher Brenden Campbell (2) makes a catch�during�an 11-1 win over Cooter at OHS on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.�Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

‘It felt great going to right field on that ball,” Bryant said. “It meant a lot to put a run rule on Cooter after they ended our season last year.”

Bryant finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBIs and one run scored.

Loper earned the win after pitching the first three innings. He didn’t allow any runs on one hit with five strikeouts and two walks.

Oran celebrates after�an 11-1 win over Cooter at OHS on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.�Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

Burger finished the game, throwing the final two innings and allowing one unearned run on one hit with three strikeouts and three walked batters.

“Cooter had us in some pressure situations and we were able to get out of it with some strikeouts,” Bickings said. “Kole Burger hasn’t seen a lot of mound time, so it’s great to see him come through.

Nolan Loper hasn’t thrown a whole lot in his career, but he faced some adversity and limited them to one run. Our defense stepped up and made some plays behind them.

Oran's Nolan Loper (4) gets a hit�during�an 11-1 win over Cooter at OHS on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.�Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

“They battled out through some slippery conditions with the field and balls being a little wet,” he continued. “They had a couple get away from them, but when they needed to, they made a good quality pitch.”

The Eagles’ 11-0 start to the fall season marks a significant achievement, not witnessed since 2017. This exceptional run has seen Oran shine both offensively and defensively. Averaging an impressive 11.5 runs per game, the team has reached its highest scoring average in a fall season.

Equally impressive is the defensive prowess, allowing a mere 0.6 runs per game, the lowest ever during a fall season.

“These kids have been playing since they were freshmen and sophomores, and now as juniors and seniors, they’re really stepping up. We expected some good things and they’re making the most of every opportunity and it’s great to see them being rewarded. Achieving these accomplishments is a testament to their dedication and growth. It’s a pleasure to see them excel in every aspect of the game.”

Oran concludes the fall season with a trip to Greenville on Saturday, September 23. The Eagles

The team will face the Bears (13-1), the 2023 MSHSAA Class 2, District 2 champions (fall season), and the South Pemiscot Bulldogs (1-10).

Cooter hosts Risco (10-6) on Thursday, September 21 and Delta with Hayti (1-6) on Friday, September 22.

The Wildcats will conclude their fall season at the Tri-County Conference Tournament, beginning on Monday, September 25.