Advancing to the semifinals of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 3, District 7 Baseball Tournament following a 10-0 victory over Missouri Military Academy last Monday night, Wayland McKague’s Hermann Bearcats took on the top-seeded Centralia Panthers Friday night at Dick Ochsner Ball Park with a spot in Monday’s district title game on the line.

Only able to scratch across a fourth-inning run when Kruz Eldringhoff walked and scored on a Nolan Ogroski RBI double, Hermann saw their season end at 8-16 following an 8-1 district semifinal loss to Centralia.

Along with Ogroski’s RBI double, the Bearcats got a double and a single from Humphrey and an Eldringhoff single in the bottom of the sixth inning to account for their four hits.

Bracksten Carr threw all six innings taking the loss allowing eight runs on 13 hits and two walks.

Also drawing a walk apiece for the Bearcats against the Panthers were Braden Schutt and Eldringhoff.

Bearcats vs. MMA

Entering opening-round action of districts fresh off a 7-6 come-from-behind victory on senior night over Wellsville-Middletown last Monday night, Hermann welcomed the Missouri Military Academy (MMA) Colonels out of Mexico to northern Gasconade County for the opening game of the MSHSAA Class 3, District 7 Baseball Tournament last Wednesday night.

Scoreless through two innings, Hermann scored three runs in the top of the third and fourth innings before plating four runs in the top of the fifth inning helping the Bearcats to a 10-0 victory in five innings over the Colonels.

Ogroski earned the win pitching a no-hit shutout allowing just one walk to go with four strikeouts.

Hermann broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third inning when Carr reached on an error and scored along with Eldringhoff on a two-RBI single off the bat of Kyle Koch.

Koch then scored on a balk capping a three-run top of the third inning for the Bearcats.

Using a two-out rally to double their lead in the top of the fourth inning, Carr singled and scored on an error before Eldringhoff walked and scored on a Humphrey RBI double.

Humphrey scored when Koch reached on a dropped third strike capping another three-run frame for the Bearcats.

Adding four runs in the top of the fifth inning, Corbin Sadler singled and scored when Cole Brinker reached on an error.

Trent Chasteen then entered as a courtesy runner for Brinker before scoring on a balk.

Carr then reached base on a fielders choice before Eldringhoff drew his second walk of the game.

Another Colonel miscue of the bat of Humphrey allowed by Carr and Eldringhoff to score giving the Bearcats their final margin of victory.

Brady Traub also had a hit for the Bearcats against MMA with a single in the top of the fifth inning.

Bearcats vs. Wellsville-Middletown

Celebrating senior night last Monday in a Highway 19 diamond showdown against the Wellsville-Middletown Tigers at Dick Ochsner Ball Park, Hermann trailed up until a four-run bottom of the seventh inning helped them walk off the Tigers by a final score of 7-6.

Brinker earned the win pitching an inning and a third of relief allowing two unearned runs on two hits and a walk to go with one strikeout.

Koch started the game pitching an inning and two-thirds allowing an unearned run on three walks and two strikeouts.

Kohlt Witthaus then threw four innings of relief allowing three unearned runs on three hits and three walks to go with six strikeouts.

Down 4-0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Hermann plated three runs started by a Carr single, Humphrey walk and Koch being hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Ogroski cut the Tiger lead in half with a two-RBI single scoring Carr and Humphrey before Schutt walked with the bases loaded allowing Koch to score after he was hit by a pitch.

Looking to bat around again in the bottom of the seventh inning, Hermann nearly did that before eventually turning an early 4-0 deficit into a memorable senior night which also featured the recognition of the 1986 District Champion Hermann Bearcat baseball team.

Carr singled and scored starting the frame before Humphrey also singled and scored on a wild pitch.

Koch also singled and scored on a RBI single from Sadler before Schutt delivered a walk-off RBI sacrifice fly scoring Ogroski with the game-winning run.

Postseason honors for Hermann Bearcat baseball will be highlighted in an upcoming issue of The Republican once they are voted on.