Mustangs Level Series at 1 After Another Extra Innings Classic

ST. JOSPEPH, MISSOURI - Chris Kamler, MINK League Baseball Staff Writer

MINK League fans, you're certainly getting your money's worth. In back-to-back nights, the Jefferson City Renegades and St. Joseph Mustangs showed why they are the cream of crop of MINK teams after the St. Joe Mustangs walk off the Jeff City Renegades 4-3 with both teams leading in the final twelfth inning. With scoring opportunities in the 9th, 10th, and 11th, and 12th, the Mustangs would not be deterred finally pushing across in extras. Ben Click singled in pinch runner William Dryburg to tie the game at 3 in the 12th and then Mason Holton would walk it off with an RBI single scoring Easton Bruce for a 4-3 win.

Following a 31-hit offensive explosion extra-innings match in Game 1, the baseball gods cooled off the bats to start Game 2. Both teams firing donuts at the scoreboard thru the fourth inning only allowing one hit each. That was the only thing cool as gametime temps were again near the century mark. Still the game would end with a more modest 20 hits between the two squads.

Heading into the game, the Jeff City Renegades were leading the series 1-0. They looked to their freshman star Jonah Sarabia out of Southeast Missouri State and Father Tolton High to lead their team to the Championship.

The Mustangs best early scoring opportunity was in the fourth, when the loaded the bases against Sarabia. Brayden Luikart led off the inning with a walk, and the Mustangs would load the bases. However, Luikart was cut down at home during a fielder's choice going Justin Rivera to Nate McHugh. The 'Stangs would return the favor in the top of the fifth after the Renegades loaded the bases. A baserunning error by Sanchez at second hung McHugh out to dry at third and he was cut down in a pickle to end the rally.

The Renegades were first to strike in the top of the sixth thanks to a leadoff walk by Aiden Baumann who was brought home thanks to an RBI double by Justin Rivera. Rivera would be singled home on the RBI ground out by McHugh.

The heat got turned up in the bottom of the seventh when the Mustangs had a two out rally thanks to a balk by Sarabia which erased an inning ending strikeous followed by a walk. But Sarabia would get the ensuing strikeout - his seventh of the night - on his 100th pitch.

Aron Harrington from Western Illinois would get the start for the Mustangs and pitch nearly as masterfully - only allowing the two runs in the sixth holding the Renegades to three hits.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Mustangs would see their first run cross the plate thanks to a Chase Slibowski sac fly scoring Ben Click who reached on an error. But it would be the Renegades Connor Polli who was able to work his way out of the inning and keep Jeff City in the lead.

However, it would take extra innings to decide a winner in back-to-back nights as the Mustangs pushed a run across in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a clutch RBI by Michael Paule scoring Holton after he reached on a single.

Once again, these two heavyweights traded punches until the Renegades pushed across a run in the top of the 12th, only to be overtaken by the Mustangs in the bottom of the frame.

These two teams will face off again in a winner-take-all Championship game Saturday evening at Phil Welch in St. Joe, Missouri. If recent history is any indication, this should not be one to miss.

GAME NOTES:

• The only thing bigger in St. Joseph than the Mustangs are the Kansas City Chiefs in late July - and those worlds collided as the Voice of the Chiefs, Mitch Holthus, threw out the first pitch for Game 2.
• Mustangs and Renegades catchers combined for six caught stealings in the two games of the series including four in Game 2.
• Bench performers came up big again in Game 2 as this time, the Mustangs Michael Paule. You'll recall Kevin Sanchez came off the bench for the Renegades in the ninth and whacked a walk-off double in the tenth last night.
• Two Jeff City coaches were ejected in the contest. Tyler Bracht was ejected in the sixth inning for arguing a balk call and head coach Mike DiMilia was tossed in the 12th for arguing balls and strikes.

Photos by Chris Kamler for MINK League