Mineral Area sweeps St. Charles series, lands top Region 16 seed
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Mineral Area designated hitter Mathew Marsh drives a go-ahead, three-run double against St. Charles during the fourth inning in game one of an NJCAA baseball doubleheader on Saturday in Farmington. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
By MATT KING
FARMINGTON – Despite having its lineup shaken by some significant injuries, the Mineral Area baseball program has solidified perhaps its greatest regular season in existence.
The 16th-ranked Cardinals have maintained a relatively deep and effective pitching staff through it all, and used eight hurlers Saturday to sweep another series against a region rival.
Mineral Area clinched the top seed for the Region 16 postseason with a 3-0 triumph over St. Charles in game one of a doubleheader moved to Engler Park in Farmington.
Mathew Marsh has appeared on the mound in eight games this season, but his bat provided the massive three-run double that accounted for all of the scoring.
Mineral Area pitcher Jonah Sarabia delivers to a St. Charles batter during the first inning in game one of an NJCAA baseball doubleheader on Saturday in Farmington (Matt King, Daily Journal)
With three original starters unable to play compared to opening weekend three months ago, 12th-year head coach Blake Jones has been creative with his batting order out of necessity.
After six decades without a Region 16 championship to show, Mineral Area has squarely placed itself in prime position to potentially break through.
Jonah Sarabia (7-0) surrendered just four hits and recorded five strikeouts over six innings. He induced a double play following two walks in a pivotal fourth inning.
Opposing starter Connor Henke retired the first two batters during the home half, but singles from Angelo Franco and Carson McCaleb preceded a walk to Caden Merrill..
Marsh occupied the No. 8 spot as a designated hitter for the second time this season, and cleared the bases with a drive to the fence in right-center field.
Leadoff man Cam Lee tripled with two outs in the third inning, and Kelly Robertson Jr. was 1-for-2 with a walk for the Cardinals.
Shortstop Tucker Thompson charged a slow tapper to help Sarabia navigate the opening frame, and right fielder Noah Cassie made a twisting catch while retreating to the fence in the fifth.
Connor Earleywine and Andrew Pyszka singled with two outs in the seventh for St. Charles, but Max Hartmann struck out Josh Syfert looking to collect the save.
Earleywine and Pyszka were each 2-for-3 while Luke Tanner singled and walked. Henke fanned four and yielded five hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Postseason play begins on Friday, and Mineral Area will host St. Louis in a best-of-three playoff series.
Mineral Area shortstop Tucker Thompson throws out a St. Charles batter during the third inning in game one of an NJCAA baseball doubleheader on Saturday in Farmington (Matt King, Daily Journal)
Mineral Area 10, St. Charles 3
PARK HILLS – Kelly Robertson Jr. tripled and doubled while going 3-for-5 with three RBI, and Mineral Area beat St. Charles 10-3 in game two on Saturday for its 14th consecutive victory.
Cam Lee also totaled three RBI along with two stolen bases. His 11th home run occurred in the sixth inning, and a two-run single gave the Cardinals a 4-0 lead in the second.
The Cougars answered in the top of the third on a two-run single by Josh Syfert, but MAC restored a 6-2 cushion as pinch-hitter Luke Lianthong lifted a sacrifice fly and Rylen Renton singled.
Brad Chaisson doubled twice with an RBI, and Robertson capped the scoring with a two-run double in the eighth. Caden Merrill notched two singles, and Renton ended 2-for-3 with a double.
Kolten Payne pitched the first four innings for Mineral Area (36-6, 27-3), giving up two runs on three hits and a couple of walks. He was helped by a 5-4-3 double play in the first.
St. Charles (23-31-1, 14-18) got an RBI single from Ryan McDonald against Garrett Polson in the fifth, but posted just one additional hit while facing four subsequent relievers.
Mineral Area center fielder Cam Lee triples during the third inning in game one of an NJCAA baseball doubleheader against St. Charles on Saturday in Farmington. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
Brendan Wilson threw a scoreless sixth before Alex Jung, Connor McCaleb and Carson McDaniel added 1-2-3 frames for the Cardinals.
Dalton Hosack surrendered seven runs on 10 hits, and fanned two over six innings in the loss.
Mineral Area 6, St. Charles 2
O’FALLON, Mo. – Brad Chaisson went 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly, and scored on a first-inning balk Thursday as Mineral Area claimed the series opener over St. Charles 6-2 at CarShield Field.
Angelo Franco drilled an RBI triple to increase a 4-2 lead, and Carson McCaleb followed with an RBI single for insurance in the seventh inning.
Kai Langford (8-1) allowed two runs on six hits and struck out two over four innings. Max Hartmann added two scoreless frames, and Oliver Martel fanned two batters in the seventh.
Connor Earleywine and Edward Uschold created a 2-2 tie for the Cougars with RBI singles in the first inning. Nick Alagna matched them by going 2-for-3.
Cam Lee finished 2-for-4 with a stolen base, and Noah Cassie reached base three times for MAC. Kelly Robertson Jr., Caden Merrill and Tucker Thompson chipped in singles.
Mineral Area right fielder Noah Cassie reaches up to make a twisting catch against St. Charles during the fifth inning in game one of an NJCAA baseball doubleheader on Saturday in Farmington. (Matt King, Daily Journal)
Collin Greiner pitched 4 2/3 innings and with eight strikeouts, but also gave four runs on six hits and three walks. Ryan McDonald and Andrew Pyszaka singled and scored for St. Charles.
Mineral Area 8, St. Charles 6
O’FALLON, Mo. – Noah Cassie produced four RBI without an official hit, and Mineral Area scored five times in the fifth inning to overtake St. Charles 8-6 in game two on Thursday.
Kelly Robertson Jr. and Brad Chaisson were each 2-for-3 with two walks, and Tucker Thompson started two double plays at shortstop for the Cardinals.
Cullen Riel (1-0) worked around four base runners over 2 1/3 scoreless innings after starter Aiden Dodson gave five runs on four hits.
St. Charles grabbed a 5-2 lead when J.R. Morrow crushed a tiebreaking three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth while finishing 2-for-4 overall.
MAC pulled even on a two-run double by Angelo Franco against Cougars starter Tanner Sullivan, who took the loss after a single by Carson McCaleb and double by Caden Merrill made it 7-5.
Cole Murray obtained five outs before Oliver Martel struck out the side in the ninth for his sixth save.
Cam Lee equaled McCaleb at 2-for-5 overall. Thompson singled and walked with two runs scored for the Cardinals, who took a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Edward Uschold tripled and doubled to finish 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Connor Earleywine singled twice with a sacrifice fly for St. Charles.
Henry Cordes singled with two stolen bases, and Ryan McDonald picked up a double. Reliever Jeter Rupp gave a run on five hits, and fanned three over the last 4 2/3 frames.
