By Chris Parker
Wheatland’s bid for the program’s first state championship game appearance came up one run short in a 4-3 nine-inning loss to Faith Christian Academy in the Class 1 State Semifinals at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark on Monday.
It was a bit of a rollercoaster in the field for the Mules with four errors leading to two unearned runs, but the Mules made their share of plays backing up starter Tucker Shaddox including throwing two Faith Christian runners out at home and two more on the basepaths.
“That was them not quitting. That is why we are a good ball team,” Shaddox said.
Shaddox trusted his defense time and again as he threw all 8 1/3 innings in the game with just one strikeout.
“It took a lot. I trust my teammates and I know that they can make plays,” Shaddox said. “It was a little messy in the field, but I trust that they can make the plays and that is why I didn’t quit because I knew they had my back.”
Faith Christian scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning. The score stayed 1-0 until the sixth inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, Braden Sawyer hit a single to right-center and advanced to second on a pass ball. Andrew Dougherty walked to put runners on first and second with one out. A Brett Dougherty single to center loaded up the bases for Avery Ohrazda.
Ohrazda, who had Wheatland’s first hit of the game, laced a single to right with two strikes to bring home two runners. An error by the Faith Christian right fielder allowed a third run to score and get Ohrazda to second.
“That is how we have been all year. It hasn’t been one person who stepped up it has been everybody. We might have an error here or there and then we get a big hit or get on base for someone else to get a big hit. That is just how we rolled all year, and we just came up a little short today to a really good team,” Wheatland head coach Pat Dougherty said.
Wheatland took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth where Faith Christian pushed two unearned runs across the tie the game.
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The score remained tied at 3-3 into the ninth with Shaddox still on the mound. He entered the ninth inning with just nine pitches left before he hit his limit, but he was determined to use every pitch allowed.
“I came out once in the ninth inning and he (Shaddox) started to hand me the ball. I said ‘you have two pitches left, you want them?’. (He said) yes. That is the kind of mentality he has. He has been that way for us all year,” Coach Dougherty said. “He has been a bulldog all year. He has been our go-to guy. We have a bunch of good pitchers, but Tucker has been the dude for us.”
In the bottom of the ninth, Faith Christian got a leadoff double and advanced the runner to third on a fielder’s choice to second base. That forced Wheatland to walk the bases loaded and bring the infield in.
Elliot LaFrance knocked a double past the shortstop to give Faith Christian a walk-off 4-3 win.
Wheatland will face Oran in the Class 1 third place game at 4 pm on Saturday. The game was originally scheduled for 10 am, but with the weather forecast both Class 1 and 2 state championship games were moved up to 10 am and 1 pm.
The game will mark the end of the careers for a decorated senior class of eight players.
“They are a special group,” Dougherty said. “The way they push each other. The way they pull for each other. The way they joke with each other. It is just a great group to be around, and they are pretty talented too.”
