Oran overpowers Gideon, 13-1, in Sectional Round

ORAN, Mo. — Another postseason, another step closer to the ultimate prize for No. 4 ranked Oran.

A 13-1 victory over Gideon in the MSHSAA Class 1 Sectional Round on Monday, May 20, propelled the Eagles (17-5) to the state quarterfinals for the fourth time in the past six seasons.

“We put the ball in play when we needed to with hard hits,” said Oran junior Parker Bryant. “It’s good to see the bats working.”

Oran's Kole Burger (12) slide into home for a run during 13-1 win over Gideon in the MSHSAA Class 1 Sectional Round at Oran High School on Monday, May 20, 2024. Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

While the bats were booming, Bryant's arm was equally impressive. The right-hander controlled the game from the mound, keeping the Bulldogs (4-13) off-balance with a mix of pitches and pounding the strike zone with authority.

He finished with 14 strikeouts in a complete-game effort, allowing just one unearned run on a single hit.

“My fastball was working in the first and second innings,” he said. “The second time through the lineup my curveball and changeup really started going. So having all three pitches helped out.”

Oran wasted no time establishing a lead, with Kole Burger crossing home plate in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Rylan Mills. 

Gideon briefly knotted the score in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on an Oran error to score Brayden Knapp. But the Eagles' offense was just getting started.

Burger again ignited a rally in the second, reaching base and eventually scoring on a timely single by Brenden Campbell.

Later in the inning, Mills added an RBI single, bringing home Campbell and extending the lead to 3-1.

Oran continued to build to the lead in the third inning as Nolan Loper started the rally with a single that scored Carson Kern. Brenden Campbell followed suit with a two-run single, scoring Loper and Cooper Senciboy and bringing the score to 6-1 in favor of the Eagles.

“That was key for us getting the momentum back on our side,” said Oran coach Joe Bickings. 

The sixth inning saw the Eagles truly spread their wings

Gabe Dirnberger started the scoring with a single to bring home Mills, followed by another run when Drinberger scored on a bases-loaded walk. Rolen Heuring added fuel to the fire with an RBI single, and Marshall Bradley scored on a fielder’s choice, bringing the score to 10-1. 

But the highlight of the inning came when Burger launched a towering three-run homer, putting an emphatic stamp on the dominant win. 

“The pitcher had been shaking off fastball all day,” Burger said. “I knew a curveball was coming and I just put the bat on the ball and hit it hard.”

Oran's postseason journey now takes a three-hour road trip to face Norwood (13-12) in the state quarterfinal, scheduled for Wednesday, May 22, at 4 p.m. 

The game is weather permitting, as a strong chance of rain looms. 

The teams haven't faced each other this season, but the Eagles hold a 2-0 edge in their previous quarterfinal meetings in 2021 and 2022.

Oran will be favored, but a cross-state bus ride could present challenges, and while the Eagles’ recent history suggests an advantage, playoff baseball is known for its unpredictability.

“It going to be a good battle,” Bickings said. “Our kids are going to have to be ready and mentally prepared. It’s going to be a long bus ride, but we’ll try to break it up and deal with that the best we can.”

A win would mark Oran's seventh trip to the final four since 2011, an impressive feat for any program

“We just have to take it one game at a time,” Bickings concluded. “We can never overlook anybody because anything can happen in the game of baseball. Where going to take it pitch-by-pitch, inning-by-inning and game-by-game.”

__ORAN 13, GIDEON 1__

Oran 123 007 x — 13 11 1

Gideon 100 000 x — 1 1 1

W—Parker Bryant. L—Landon Weaver. HR—Oran: Kole Burger.