Squirrels win opener in own 21-team tourney

The Charleston Fighting Squirrels jumped out to a 6-2 lead after two innings of play and hung on for an 8-6 win against the Mid-Missouri Peacocks in its opening game at the 21-team Fighting Squirrel Classic on Thursday in Charleston, Missouri.

Mid-Missouri brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh inning after No. 9 hitter Levi Rafferty drew a two-out walk, leadoff hitter Lane Thebeau was hit by pitch, No. 2 hitter Sam Niedergerke reached base when he struck out and No. 3 hitter Wyatt McDowell drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the Fighting Squirrels' lead to 8-4.

Charleston Fighting Squirrels manager Michael Minner lifted reliever Chandler Young for closer Blake Simmons, who yielded a two-run single to cleanup hitter Clay Theabeau to cut the deficit to 8-6.

Simmons secured a one-out save a few minutes later when Fighting Squirrels catcher Garrison Keene threw out Clay Theabeau as he attempted to steal second base.

The Fighting Squirrels recorded five of their 13 hits in a four-run first inning.

Ty Househoulder recorded the win on the mound, allowing two runs and three hits over five innings

Palmer Campbell, Kyle Moore 2-3 and Braden Dobbs each had two hits for Charleston.

Mid-Missouri 020 001 3 -- 6 4 1

Charleston 420 020 x -- 8 13 2

WP -- Ty Householder. LP -- Lane Thebeau. SV -- Blake Simmons. 3B -- Clay Thebeau (M), Kyle Curtis (M). 2B -- Jon Kellams (CH). Multiple hits -- Charleston: Palmer Campbell 2-4, Kyle Moore 2-3, Braden Dobbs 2-3, Kellams 2-3; Mid-Missouri: Clay Thebeau 2-4.

Fighting Squirrel Classic Scores

Thursday

at Notre Dame

Farmington Legion 4, River City Redbirds 3

Farmington Legion 5, Charleston 16U 4

SEMO Pirates 14, Mineral Area Panthers 0

at Sikeston

Cape Girardeau Legion 4, Blytheville Legion 2

Blytheville Legion 10, McCracken County 1

Cape Girardeau Legion 12, McCracken Co. 1

Wayne County 4, Sikeston Legion 2

at Charleston

Kennett 8, Charleston 18U 1

Missouri Rage 12, Kennett 0

Charleston Fighting Squirrels 8, Mid-Missouri Peacocks 6

Chaffee wins

The Chaffee Honey Badgers defeated the Southeast Rippers 6-0 on Thursday.

Gabe Henson and Cole Priggel had two hits apiece for Chaffee.

Dallan Stotts picked up the win win on the mound for Chaffee, while Wyatt Rowland took the loss.

Chaffee out-hit Southeast 6-4.

-- From staff reports