By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Springfield, MO — Tedd Fraser had an entire day to think about that seventh-inning walk to the pitcher’s mound..
Wednesday’s conclusion in the Class 2 District 11 championship was thwarted by a sixth-inning thunderstorm, forcing New Covenant and Crane to return Thursday to finish what turned out to be a 5-3 Warriors victory.
Up 4-3 when play resumed, New Covenant starting pitcher Max Breite drove in an insurance run in the sixth inning with an RBI single to score Ryan Rodgers.
The Warriors then turned to Fraser to close out the contest.
Warriors head coach John Hartley discussed the mental challenges presented by the long delay and opted to trust his pitcher’s mental preparation.
“No words,” Hartley said. “I did not speak to Tedd Fraser. I’m kind of that way; I’m not talking to the guy going out on the bump, because he’s got to handle his own emotions. I just made sure that everyone else was ready.”
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Following a brief warm-up, Fraser wasted little time capitalizing on the opportunity.
The junior right-hander retired the Pirate side in order, punctuation the effort with a game-ending strikeout.
“Definitely did not get a lot of sleep last night,” Fraser said. “I got told before we left that I was going to come in, so I knew I had to throw strikes, hit the corner and let the defense do the work. Got to have tunnel vision — just me and the catcher, and that’s all that matters.”
Not bad for a kid who missed the entire 2016-17 season due to injury.
“Tedd had labrum surgery last year, and he missed the entire year after a great freshman year,” Hartley said. “For him to be able to do that — he’s gotten three or four saves now, along with a couple wins from starts — that is really huge for him.”
Weather aside, Wednesday’s portion of the contest produced its own share of thunder and lightning from both teams.
New Covenant jumped on the board early in the first inning when Ryan Carmack scored Rodgers on a one-out single off Crane starting pitcher Wyatt Vaught.
After the Warriors batted around in the second, Rodgers returned the favor with a two-run single up the middle to bring home Timmy Smith and Harrison Hatcher.
“With two runners on, I just knew I had to get that hit,” Rodgers said. “At that point, it’s only 1-0 us, so we really needed to break through at that point.”
Down 3-0 heading into the third, Crane finally was able to break through, as well.
After a leadoff double from Heath Quick, Warriors starting pitcher Max Breite hit Bryston Branstetter to put a pair of Pirates on. On the very next at-bat, both runners scored following an errant throw to first that ended up bouncing into deep right field along the wall.
Crane briefly tied the game in the fourth off an RBI single from Branstetter; however, New Covenant regaining its lead in the bottom half when Timmy Smith scored from second on a Pirate error.
Two scoreless innings later, the skies opened up to force the suspension.
Rodgers talked about the difficulties staying focused in those types of situations. The junior left fielder finished with a pair of RBIs and scored twice to help the Warriors’ cause.
“It’s always a bummer whenever you have to suspend due to rain or anything like that, and the tarp is always difficult” Rodgers said. “I think we really kept our momentum going through the next day, and we were just really stoked to come out and play. We were very ready for today.”
Following the game, both teams gathered at the mound for a word of prayer and a display of fellowship and sportsmanship.
Crane head coach Bryan Harmon discussed the lessons sometimes learned only through adversity.
“You hate to lose, but you’ve got to do it with dignity,” Harmon said. “It’s never easy to lose, but when you lose to a team like [New Covenant], at least it’s more acceptable. They’re not only a good team, but they’re classy.”
After the game, Harmon shared a teaching moment with his team while thanking a departing senior class.
“I made my underclassmen watch the celebration, because I said, ‘That’s where you want to be,’” Harmon said. “And then the seniors; it’s been one of the most accomplished senior classes I’ve ever had.”
Crane ends its season at 20-6.
Up next for New Covenant Academy (22-5) is a sectional round matchup at District 12 champion Purdy on Monday, May 21.
Class 2 District 11 Final: New Covenant Academy – 5, Crane – 3
Crane 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 — 3
NCA 1 2 0 1 0 1 x — 5
Hits: Crane – 6, NCA – 7
Errors: Crane – 4, NCA – 2
LOB: Crane – 5, NCA – 9
Crane Pitching
Wyatt Vaught (3.00 IP, 1K, 6H, 4BB)
Colby Smith (2.00 IP, 0K, 0H, 2BB)
Brent Williams (1.00 IP, 1K, iH, 0BB)
NCA Pitching
Max Breite (6.00 IP, 5K, 6H, 1BB, 2HPB)
Tedd Fraser (1.00 IP, 1K, 0H, 0BB)
