Cardinals Win First District Title in School History
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.
By Marlana Smith
The South Shelby Cardinals defeated Clark County in the Class 3 District 6 Championship game on Thursday, May 18, 2023.
This is the first District Title in school history in baseball.
“It was amazing to see all of the hard work that these kids have put in to finally earn them a title,” said South Shelby Head Coach Jacob Rich, who has coached the Cardinals for three years.
“These guys have done everything they could to deserve this, and it is just amazing that I get to be a part of it,” Rich continued. “I feel like as a program this is also a huge milestone in getting this program headed in the right direction.”
The Cardinals (19-5) defeated the Indians 7-6 after a comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Clark County was first to score in the third inning, but Lucas Magurder’s home run brought in two runs and SS held a 2-1 lead.
The Indians took a 5-2 lead in the top of the fifth and scored another run in the sixth.
The Cardinals were down 6-2.
South Shelby’s Brayden Wester hit a single on a line drive to center field.
Daxton Durbin was later walked.
Mason Pfannenstiel bunted and reached first on an error by first baseman Gabe Howe.
Jayden Baker hit a ground ball and reached on an error by Clark County’s catcher. Wester scored.
PJ Schmidt doubled on a line drive to center field bring it three runs.
The game was tied at six.
Trey Countryman grounded out and was thrown out at first, but Schmidt advanced to third.
Magruder was intentionally walked.
The Indians had two outs in the bottom of the sixth.
Schmidt stole home and slid between the catcher’s legs. The Cardinals had a 7-6 lead.
The first out in the seventh was on a catch from a pop fly. The next two outs were due to strikeouts by Magruder.
Magruder was the winning pitcher for South Shelby. The pitcher allowed one hit and one run over two innings, striking out three and walking zero.
Howe toed the rubber for Clark County Indians. The pitcher went five innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out eight. Carter Briscoe and Drew Holsted entered the game from the bullpen, throwing two-thirds of an inning and one-third of an inning respectively.
Schmidt started the game for South Shelby. Schmidt lasted five innings, allowing five hits and five runs while striking out three
Magruder, Zaiden Wood, Wester, and Schmidt each collected one hit to lead SS.