RAIN DELAYS ORAN'S BID FOR 1A TITLE

COLUMBIA -- Rain, plus a little bit of hail, forced Wednesday's Class 1A baseball championship game at Simmons Field between Oran and Halfway to be rescheduled for today.

The two teams are expected to meet today at 9 a.m. with the 2A championship game, which was also postponed Thursday, to follow.

Heavy rains early Thursday morning had already forced the cancellation of the 1A and 2A consolation games in order to prepare the field for the two championship games later in the evening. The 1A championship game, scheduled to start at 5 p.m., was finally postponed at 6 after hail fell for a short period.

With the help of Oran's players, the Simmons Field ground crew had actually removed the infield tarp in an attempt to prepare the field for play. But after pulling the tarp to the outfield, heavy rain, mixed with hail began to fall. The tarp was quickly put back on the infield and the games were officially postponed.

With the 3A and 4A tournaments scheduled to begin this morning, the postponements will play havoc with the state championship schedule. MSHSAA media coordinator Rick Kindhart said the 3A-4A games will begin as soon as the 2A championship game is completed.

Both Oran (23-3) and Halfway (22-2) will be shooting for their first baseball titles.

Oran, ranked third in the state coaches poll, rallied from a 7-0 deficit Wednesday to beat No. 7 New Bloomfield 9-7 in the opening 1A semifinal. Halfway, ranked No. 1 since the start of the season, nearly lost a 7-0 lead to Macks Creek before prevailing 7-6 in the other semifinal.

Justin McAlister (8-0), who started Wednesday's semifinal but was chased in the third inning, will start for Oran. Halfway is still expected to throw No. 2 pitcher Mark Timmerman (8-1) at the Eagles.