Oran routs Bernie for district title

~ Oran claimed its 15th district crown with a 12-2 victory.

The beat goes on for the Oran baseball team, which wrapped up its fifth district title in six years Thursday with a 12-2 rout of Bernie in six innings at home.

Oran has now won 15 district titles, including seven in the last 10 years. The last six times the Eagles have won their district they have gone on to make the state final four.

The Eagles will visit District 1 winner Cooter on Wednesday in the sectional round.

"That's a tribute to the kids," Oran coach Mitch Wood said. "They feel disappointed if we don't win [the district]. They do a good job holding their composure."

Oran senior starter Chase Seyer got the Eagles' offense going with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. The blast came after Bernie starter Marcus Massey retired the first two batters. Tyler Beardslee doubled with two out, and Seyer followed with a no-doubter to right field.

"It was a curveball that got me out on my front foot," Seyer said. "I was just lucky to put some good aluminum on it. I was trying to hit it down so the wind wouldn't affect it."

Seyer was aided by a pair of strong defensive plays in the early going. Bernie threatened to score in the first, but a flip from first baseman Chris Asmus to Seyer just beat Bernie cleanup hitter Tyler Trover to the bag and saved a run.

Bernie put its first two batters aboard in the third, but the Mules came up empty when Oran center fielder Cody Dirnberger ended the threat with a diving shoestring grab of a line drive.

Oran's powerful offense, which had 11 hits, then went to work. In the third, the Eagles scored four runs after the first two batters were retired. Asmus drove in a pair with a double and Steven Dooley added an RBI double.

Caleb Seyer added a solo home run in the fourth to make it 7-0.

"We've been swinging the bats lately," Wood said. "When you're swinging the bats, good things will happen."

The seven-run lead was more than enough for Chase Seyer. Bernie managed just one hit through five innings. The only blip on the day came in the sixth, when Bernie scored two runs on three hits and an error. The Mules also had a miscue in the inning, as they had a runner thrown out on a failed squeeze attempt.

Overall, Chase Seyer allowed four hits, walked four and struck out four in six innings.

"Any time you get run support like that it really gives you a big relief," Chase Seyer said. "I'm just glad those guys are on my team."

Chase Seyer helped his own cause, driving in two more runs in the deciding five-run sixth and finishing with four for the game. Kody Campbell and Alex Chasteen added RBIs in the sixth.

Chasteen went 3-for-4 for the Eagles, who improved to 23-4. The Eagles have won 12 straight following a three-game losing streak midway through the season.

"I'm proud of them," Wood said. "We got back up ready to play at the right time."

Oran 12, Bernie 2

Bernie 000 002 -- 2 4 2

Oran 204 105 -- 12 11 1

WP -- Chase Seyer. LP -- Marcus Massey. HR -- Chase Seyer (O), Caleb Seyer (O). 2B -- Tyler Beardslee (O), Kody Campbell (O), Chris Asmus (O), Welch (B). Multiple hits -- Oran, Alex Chasteen 3-4; Chase Seyer 2-3. Records -- Bernie 0-0, Oran 23-4.