Oran reaches state final again

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- For the second straight game, Oran had to come from behind to pull off a Class 1 state baseball playoff win.

And while the Eagles' 8-2 comeback victory against Bevier on Wednesday in the semifinals at Taylor Stadium was not as dramatic as their quarterfinal win against Thayer, it did catapult them into the championship game for the second straight year.

Oran will play Archie (17-4) at 5 p.m. today in the Class 1 title game at Taylor Stadium on the campus of the University of Missouri. The Eagles are 23-3 and have won eight straight.

"Their big goal was to make it, to get the chance of playing in this game," Oran coach Mitch Wood said.

The Eagles will try to win their first state title by beating the Whirlwinds, who never trailed in an 8-3 semifinal win against defending state champion and previously unbeaten Sparta.

Oran did trail -- albeit briefly -- against Bevier (15-2). The Wildcats struck in the bottom of the first inning, taking advantage of a leadoff walk from Oran starter Matt Seyer for a 1-0 lead.

The Eagles did not wait to respond, getting all the runs they needed in a five-run second inning.

With two outs, Oran picked up hits from Chase Seyer and Austin Dumey. Wildcats starter Clark Dalrymple then walked three straight batters to put Oran ahead 2-1. Trevor Irwin lined a flyball over the center fielder's head to clear the bases. It was ruled an error.

"I was just hoping for a strike," Irwin said. "I was hoping to get something to hit. I was looking for a fastball.

"It was definitely big coming out early and scoring, getting those five in the second."

Bevier scored a run in the second inning. Second basemen Calvin Wilson led off with a triple, and David Fredman drove him home with a sacrifice fly.

Oran put up single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to move into its third championship appearance in school history.

The Eagles are in their seventh final four appearance, with two second-place and four third-place trophies so far.

Irwin said he's looking forward to bringing home that first championship trophy.

"We've got third and second; now we want a one," he said.

While Oran's two final four veterans -- Matt Seyer and Garrett Roslen -- were held hitless, Irwin and freshman Chase Seyer were the offensive stars with two hits apiece. Seyer had an RBI in addition to the hitting the ball that drove in three on the error. Chase Seyer added another RBI.

"I've been waiting for this all my life," Chase Seyer said.

Matt Seyer, Chase's cousin, did his damage from the mound. While he did get behind in the count early in the game, Seyer allowed only five hits, struck out four and walked three.

"He's really come through for us every game," Chase Seyer said.

Another key for the Eagles was a sparkling performance from their defense. Oran went without an error for only the second game this season. The Eagles turned two double plays and got an outfield assist from Craig Friga, who threw a runner out at home in the fifth.

"You see that no errors up there?" Matt Seyer asked. "That's key."

Added Oran coach Mitch Wood: "We were tickled to death to have a good game defensively. As everyone knows, we've struggled defensively at times."

Oran's only problem against Bevier may have been plate discipline, as Dalrymple struck out 12 Eagle batters. The Eagles did draw seven walks off Dalrymple, including three in the second.

"There at the end I was giving them the take sign," Wood said. "Usually it's just 3-0, but I was giving the take sign a lot."

The Eagles now pin their hopes for a first state title on the left arm of freshman Chase Seyer. Seyer is 6-0 this season.

"He's our go-to-guy right now," Wood said.

Archie 8, Sparta 3

Defending champion Sparta, which entered Wednesday's semifinal with a perfect 20-0 reocrd, fell to Archie. The Whirlwinds jumped out to an 8-0 lead and held on from there.

Sparta went with its No. 2 starter, not using ace Chase Stallcup, the winning pitcher in last year's championship game. Archie took advantage of nine walks, and four hit batsmen.

Sparta will face Bevier in the third-place game at 11 a.m. today.