Raiders Defeat Cardinals in County Matchup
By Mark Requet
The North Shelby Raiders defeated county rival South Shelby 8-1 at North Shelby High School on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
The Cardinals jumped on the board in the top of the first inning when Tucker Elliott singled to left field, stole second base, and scored on an RBI single by John Schmidt.
North Shelby answered in the bottom of the first inning on a solo homerun by Cole Browning with two outs to tie the game 1-1.
The Raiders loaded the bases in the bottom of the second inning with no one out, but the Cardinals got out of the jam keeping the score tied.
Kaden Hunolt led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single. After a fielder’s choice by Grady Gander, Ty Bacon reached base on an error to allowing Gander to reach third base. Bacon would steal second base and an RBI groundout by Aiden Barrick gave the Raiders a 2-1 lead. A balk on South Shelby pitcher Elliott forced in the runner from third base to give North Shelby a 3-1 lead after four innings.
The Raiders added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Hunolt reached on an error that scored Isaac Berry, who had reached after getting hit by a pitch. North Shelby led 5-1 after five innings.
A walk and two errors on the South Shelby defense loaded the bases with Raiders in the bottom of the sixth inning. Browning and Cade Fallert each walked to force home two runs. Hunolt followed with a sacrifice flyout to right field to score another run and give the Raiders an 8-1 advantage over the Cardinals, which would be the final.
Hunolt and Gander each had two hits for the Raiders, while Browning added a solo homerun.
Browning also pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking three and striking out 13 batters. Berry pitched the final inning, walking two and striking out two batters.
Elliott led the Cardinals with three hits, one run scored, and one stolen base.
Elliott pitched five innings, allowing five runs, one earned run, on six hits. He walked one and struck out eight batters. Caleb Scheiterle pitched one-third of an inning, allowing three unearned runs, walking three and striking out one batter. Peyson Larrick pitched two-thirds of an inning to finish out the game.
The Raiders, 2-2 overall, traveled to Schuyler County on Tuesday, April 8, travel to Monroe City on Thursday, April 10, and travel to Westran on Monday, April 14. All games begin at 5 p.m.
The Cardinals, 1-4 overall, will host Atlanta on Tuesday, April 8, and travel to Centralia on Thursday, April 10. Both games begin at 5 p.m. They will host play the first game of the South Shelby Baseball Tournament on Saturday, April 12, against Knox County at 10 a.m.
