Portageville Bulldogs - two-time C2D1 Tourney champs

SENATH, Mo. - The Portageville High School baseball program was reclassified a year ago, and entering the 2024 baseball season the team were winners of the Class 3A District Tournament the last four years in a row.

The squad entered the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 Conference Tournament on Monday as the No. 1 seed, and the players lived up to their billing against a hard-nosed, gritty Senath-Hornersville squad that was making its first championship appearance in 15 years.

The Bulldogs increased the team's C2D1 championship record to two by defeating the Lions 4-0.

The Lineup Cards exchanged.Photo by Tim Caldwell

Senath-Hornersville team members had all the confidence in the world.

They were playing at home and playing their best baseball in a couple of weeks. They had defeated a very good Bernie Mules team on their turf three days earlier 8-3 and had their ace rested and prepped to go Monday after pitching only one inning against the Mules.

They also felt like they had a psychological edge against the Bulldogs in head-to-head games.

The lefty starter and winner for Portageville, starting pitcher Aaron Dunlop on the mound.Photo by Tim Caldwell

Even though the Lions had lost the last two encounters against the Bulldogs, the Lions stayed in both games to the end and had several chances to win each game.

But the Lions could not get big hits in key spots.

Back on April 23 at Portageville, Senath-Hornersville loaded the bases twice in the game, failed to score a run and lost 4-2.

One week later on April 30 at the Bootheel Conference Tournament semifinals at Caruthersville, Senath-Hornersville played the Portageville Bulldogs again.

And still, Senath battled the Bulldogs tooth and nail but could not get the big hit in the big spot.

Two times as in the first game, the Lions loaded the bases and could not score. The result was a very close game and another Senath loss, 5-4.

The losing pitcher for Senath-Hornersville, Noah Rhodes on the bump Monday.Photo by Tim Caldwell.

Lions baseball head coach Chris McClain acknowledged before Monday's contest, that he was banking on Monday's game being a third-time charmer, and said, "It is very hard for a team to beat an opponent three times in a row."

He was banking on that also.

But it was not meant to be.

As fate would have it, Senath-Hornersville was matched up against the hard-throwing southpaw for Portageville, Aaron Dunlap to start the game.

Although Dunlap threw fire, he was inconsistent up and below the strike zone.

In the game's initial inning, Dunlap walked Lions' center fielder Ayden Goff and second baseman/relief pitcher Chayse Laden back-to-back.

Then he struck out pitcher/second baseman Noah Rhodes looking on three pitches.

Lions' catcher Jesus Mendoza walked to load the bases but Lions' third baseman Madox Belcher failed to drive in a run with less than two outs by striking out looking.

Lions' shortstop Christian Garza continued the drought against the Bulldogs by popping out to second for the third out.

Portageville's Rylan Partin knocks a key double in the third inning for the Bulldogs.Photo by Tim Caldwell.

Thus the Lions, for the fifth time in the last three games against the Bulldogs, did not score a run with the bases loaded.

Their box score after the first half inning Monday was no runs, no hits, three walks, three strikeouts and a pop out to end the inning.

Senath-Hornersville once again had multiple chances in the top of the second, when after two outs right fielder Glacian Johnson drew a walk, followed by Goff reaching base, which placed runners at first and third with two outs and Chris Laden at the dish.

Laden struck out on a ball in the dirt, but was thrown out, catcher to first for the third out.

And the Lions stranded two more runners.

With momentum turned toward Portageville, outfielder Carson Bradley started the side with a pitcher's worst nightmare, a leadoff walk.

Senath-Hornersville Lions relief pitcher Chase Laden loads up Monday.Photo by Tim Caldwell.

The next hitter, one of three left-handed hitters for the Bulldogs, outfielder Dylan Partin stung a line-drive into the gap in right center and sent Bradley to third base.

A two RBI single for third baseman Conner Johnson followed by a sacrifice fly by catcher Jayquan Bogen bumped the lead quickly to 3-0 Bulldogs.

The outcome of the game may have been predicted in the top of the third.

The Lions' Noah Rhodes walked, stole second and moved to third on a groundout by Mendoza. Belcher struck out swinging on what would have been the second out of the inning.

But the pitch got away and Belcher was safe at first, which moved Rhodes to third and set up runners on the corners with just one for the Lions.

Next up was Garza, who hit a grounder on the infield and the Bulldogs had Belcher caught in a rundown between first and second.

The first baseman began running to try to tag Belcher, but out of the corner of his eye, saw Rhodes break for home plate.

Bulldogs' first baseman Owen Roberts had to turn and fire toward home in an effort to knab Rhodes at the plate.

The throw appeared late, and the tag was high on Rhodes' shoulder. The runner was called out and instead of runners at first and second with one out, and a runner in, it was first and second with two outs and no one scored.

The save from Mason Adams, No. 9 for the Bulldogs.Photo by Tim Caldwell.

DH Christian Small grounded out to end the threat.

Portagevillle finished the scoring in the bottom of the third when shortstop/pitcher Mason Adams led off the inning with a solid single to left, then reached third promptly on two passed balls, and scored on an error by Mendoza.

This stretched the Bulldogs lead to 4-0.

The undoing for the Lions was stranding eight runners in the first four innings and loading the bases in the first inning with no one out and failing to score.

Topping off the great defense played by the Bulldogs all game, the contest ended on an outstanding 6-4-3 double play.

The winning pitcher for the Bulldogs was lefty Aaron Dunlap. He went two innings, allowed no runs on only one hit, walked five and struck out four.

The save went to Mason Adams, who went five outstanding innings, allowed only one hit and one walk with four strikeouts.

The tough loss belonged to Rhodes, who lasted two innings, gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits, three walks, and no strikeouts.

Chase Laden relieved in the third, pitched four strong innings, gave up only one hit and one walk.

McLain, when asked on what he based his decision to start Rhodes over Laden, replied, "We the coaches decided that Noah posed a bigger threat to the Bulldog lineup with his pitching weapons and control."

When asked about his team going forward, he replied, "To get where we were today for the first time in 15 years, is a tremendous testament to what this team has accomplished. This sets the bar on what this team and this program can accomplish in the future."

Teammates for Senath-Hornersville accept the C2D1 Tournament runner-up award Monday.Photo by Tim Caldwell

On the outcome of the game, McClain said stranding the bases loaded in the first, and leaving eight runners on base in the first four innings really set a negative tone.

He concluded by saying he was super proud of his boys and the sacrifices by everyone involved in the success of this season.

Portageville finished the spring season with an outstanding 28-7 record and are two time C2 D 1 champions.

The Bulldogs' sectional first-round opponent is yet to be determined. Those games begin Monday, May 20.

Senath-Hornersville's summer schedule will be posted on its website soon, McClain said.