Small schools, big rivalry

~ The two schools will again be vying for the district crown.

The Oran and Advance baseball teams are ready to add a new chapter in what has become quite a rivalry in recent years.

The teams come into 2006 off a classic district championship game that ended in bizarre fashion. Oran, trailing by a run, had baserunners on second and third base erased on a groundball in the seventh inning. That play ended the season for the Eagles, who had been to six final fours in the last 10 years. It prolonged the year for the Hornets, who lost in the next round to Holcomb.

Both teams return a number of key players and all signs point to another meeting for the chance to play in the Class 1 postseason.

"You just had to shake your head after the way the game ended in districts last year," Advance coach Bob Moses said. "We felt very fortunate to beat a team of Oran's caliber. They are the perennial district champions and just have an awesome program."

Advance, which finished 22-3 last year, also won the regular-season meeting with the Eagles.

The Hornets return a trio of talented pitchers in seniors Daryl Wade and Jeremy Limbaugh and junior Trenton Moses. Limbaugh and Moses are also two of the team's top hitters. Limbaugh had 11 home runs last season, while Moses added five.

Seniors Kevin Atkins (left field), Cody Roper (outfield/catcher) and Cory Roper (second baseman) and junior Rusty Hendricks (shortstop) all return.

"We have everybody back, and the kids are hungry," Moses said. "Six of the starters are also a part of the basketball team which made it to the final four for the first time in 31 years. I think getting a taste of the big show in basketball will do nothing but help this baseball team.

"They have the feeling of, 'Hey we did it in basketball. Let's do it in baseball.'"

Oran has done it in baseball many times, although it has never won a state title.

The Eagles were 17-8 last year. They return top pitchers Austin Dumey and Chase Seyer. Dumey, a senior right-hander, was 6-1 with a 2.98 ERA, while Seyer, a junior lefty, was 4-5 with a 1.20 ERA.

Sophomores Caleb Seyer and Kody Campbell are back after leading the team in hitting as freshmen. Caleb Seyer hit .420 with nine homers and 33 RBIs, while Campbell hit .404.

"If we play the way we should, we can win 15 to 20 games again," Oran coach Mitch Wood said. "We just want to be playing well at the right time."

And that time could well include another district championship game against Advance.

"There is no doubt that Advance is the team to beat in districts this year," Wood said. "They had a great year and have everybody back. If you told me now that the scenario would be the same with runners at second and third and one out in a one-run game in the seventh inning of the district championship game, I would take it."

Wood just would hope for a different ending.

Moses realizes that if his team wants to accomplish what the Hornets basketball team did, it has a big bump in the road in Oran.

"The schools are 18 miles apart and the kids from both teams know each other and are friends," Moses said. "It is a good rivalry and it is not an ugly one. Oran is always good, and we realize we have to get through them to move on. That is the way it is.

"People are saying that we are the favorite after last year, but I feel that Oran is still the team to beat."