The Bearcats are Class 3 District 6 champions after winning a close affair against the Elsberry Indians Wednesday night, May 15, by the final score of 6-4.

Hermann (12-20) won their third straight game and kept their late-season hot streak and State title hopes alive, despite having to wait an extra day and drive the extra distance to Mexico after the game was delayed and relocated from Montgomery City the day before.

Improved offensive production has been an important factor in their recent wins, and the District Championship game showcased more of the same.

Hermann’s Gavin Moore made sure it was his team that struck first in the do-or-die game, belting a first inning home run to left field that gave the Bearcats’ starting pitcher Trent Lampkin an early 2-0 lead. 

Lampkin gave up a pair of runs to the Indians in the top of the second to tie the game, but quickly settled in and went on to work around seven hits and four walks to limit the Indians’ chances, never allowing them to take the lead.

The Bearcats proved resilient and had an answer for everything the Indians did, including breaking ties in the third and fifth innings to restore their lead, with the action in the fifth ultimately being the difference in the game.

Elsberry had tied Hermann 3-3 in the top of the fifth on a squeeze play, but Hermann rallied for their best inning of the evening that finally delivered them a lead they would not relinquish.

After Trace Erfling led off with a single and an intentional walk to Moore – now sitting on a home run and a double – Jordan Heying layed down a sacrifice bunt to move their runners into scoring position.

The Indians elected to issue a second intentional walk, this time to Charlie Tyree, to load the bases and bring up the pitcher Lampkin, who collected a two-strike single to drive in the go-ahead run. 

Colton Ruediger followed that up with a single to right field that scored the second run of the inning, and Hermann went into the sixth holding a 5-3 lead.

Moore provided one final insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with his second home run of the game, a solo shot, to make it 6-3.

Elsberry put up a fight in the seventh, scoring a run after a balk and a steal allowed for an RBI groundout, but while Lampkin bent somewhat, he did not break and got the final out on his only strikeout of the game.

“It was fun, it was a battle for sure,” Lampkin said of his complete game victory. “I got tired there but just had to push through for the team, it was great.”

At the plate, Moore’s 10 total bases, four runs scored, and three driven in on his three extra-base hits provided all the power Hermann needed to secure their second District title in three years.

“It’s just a good feeling,” Moore said after hitting his fifth and sixth home runs of the season, “it feels good to help the team out in any way I can.”

The Bearcats also received two-hit contributions from Erfling and Lampkin, both of whom notched a pair of singles.

The close game was not a surprise to Hermann’s head coach Wayland McKague, and he pointed to his team’s tenacity and ability to stay loose in a big game in their eventual win against a familiar foe.

“It’s kind of what I expected against Elsberry, we’ve battled with those guys a lot before,” McKague said, “over the last few years it’s been us and Elsberry going at it a lot. But the kids stayed up in the dugout and kept things lively, had fun, and we came out on top.” 

Hermann faced the Duchesne Pioneers at home in the Class 3 Sectional 3 game on Tuesday, May 21, the results of which were not available at the time of publication.

Should they win, the Bearcats will play either North Callaway or Clark County in the State quarterfinals this Thursday, May 23, with a trip to the Final Four in Springfield on the line.

Lampkin cutline: Hermann’s starter Trent Lampkin delivers the third strike of the final out of the District championship game Wednesday, May 15. Lampkin’s only strikeout of his outing punctuated his complete game and sent the Bearcats on to Sectionals.

Moore cutline: Centerfielder Gavin Moore celebrates with head coach Wayland McKague in the bottom of the sixth as he rounds third base following his second home run of the game. Moore went 3-3 at the plate with three extra-base hits and an intentional walk.