By Tyler Thompson (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
OZARK, Mo. — One week later, it was the same narrative.
The rains continued to freely fall upon the high school baseball postseason.
After a one-day postponement, the Hollister Tigers were ready to take the diamond against Springfield Catholic for a trip to the Class 4 Final Four on the line.
Once again, Hollister senior hurler and Johnson County Community College signee, Landon Richards, kept his team in thick of things as the Tigers pulled out the 6-5-win Friday at US Ballpark in Ozark.
Both teams came into the tilt with a 24-5 record, so the fanbases, coaches and players knew what lie ahead.
Richards had one rocky inning, allowing four of the six runs.
Other than that, the southpaw was on point, mixing in his off-speed at pretty much any juncture of any count, of any inning.
“My catcher behind the plate, I can throw it whenever I want,” Richards said of his battery mate, Cole Jones. “I can throw it with a lot of confidence.”
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It didn’t take the lefty long to master the bread-and-butter pitch.
“I just learned how to throw it about two months ago,” said Richards.
The Tigers — along with the rest of the spring programs in the state — were not allowed the luxury of suiting up last year due to the pandemic.
This year, the Tigers had very little rust.
“We have practiced hard since day one,” said Richards. “We try to get at it every day. We have strung together four wins and, hopefully, we will get some more. I just thank God and our families. Our families back us up really well.”
Hollister skipper Trent Oxenreider didn’t mince words when asked about his hurler.
“He’s a dog,” Oxenreider said with a stretched grin. “He loves baseball. Year round he works on his craft. We have relied upon him in big games all year. He is a dude! And offensively, he is dang good, too.”
The Tigers drew first blood on Richards’s RBI double in the opening frame.
“It felt really good,” Richards said of the RBI and his ability to help his cause. “We had to score runs. They are a really good offensive team.”
Richards was quick to compliment his opponents.
“They are a true threat. They have four Division I pitchers,” added Richards. “They have Rader and all those guys who can hit for power. A great, great defensive team.”
After the opening lead, the Irish plated four runs combined in the ensuing two innings, as Colton Galligos drove in a pair, followed by Jeremy Rader’s deuce.
So, the prize fight had officially commenced.
After all, a trip to state was at stake.
The Tigers plated two more in the third on Konner Hatfield’s RBI double and Kolby Teaster’s fielder’s choice RBI.
The Tigers sent eight batters to the dish in the bottom of the fourth, knocking out Rader — who has committed to Missouri State University.
Rader went 3 1/3 innings and was responsible for all six runs.
First, Tigers’ Ethan Wright tied it up, 4-4, after his RBI single.
Hollister plated its next run on a dropped ball at home plate.
The Tigers knocked out Rader a few pitches later, before Richards’ sac fly created the difference maker, as sophomore Malachi Henry struck out Ryan George with runners at first and second to close out the game.
Oxenrider said the team has complete faith in Henry.
“He is going to be a dude,” said Oxenreider. “He has not pitched a lot for us, and the dude had some arm stuff early in the year. When he found out his arm was clean, he wanted the ball. For a sophomore to close out the district championship and the game to go to the Final Four, he has done it with runners on in both games.”
A total of 18 players who suited up for the game recently were named all-conference.
Hollister: 6 9 3
Catholic: 5 8 1
Hollister RBI: Richards (2); Hatfield (1); Teaster (1); Wright (1).
Catholic RBI: Galligos (2); Rader (2).
EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS
