Loranger knocks off Parkview Baptist
Parkview Baptist pitchers took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but Loranger made its only two hits against the Eagles count when it mattered.
Loranger scored its third unearned run in the seventh inning to extend the game, then the Wolves smashed their only two hits in the eighth inning to eliminate top-seeded Parkview Baptist from the Class 3A baseball playoffs.
Logan Amacker and Dillan Vining led off the eighth inning with singles, and Chris Graham hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Amacker as eighth-seeded Loranger defeated top-seeded Parkview 4-3 in a quarterfinal game Tuesday at Parkview.
Parkview (27-7) had one last chance in the bottom of the eighth when Kyle Haigler singled and later stole second. However, the next three Eagles made outs.
Loranger (27-4) advances to Friday’s Class 3A semifinal game against fifth-seeded Iowa at McMurry Park in Sulphur.
Loranger senior pitcher Brennan Catalano (10-1) pitched a complete game that included 13 pitches Monday in a 1-1 game that was suspended with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. Catalano had three of his five strikeouts in the final two innings.
“Brennan Catalano is a true competitor,” Loranger coach Jason Helmstetter said. “He had thrown 90 pitches going into the eighth inning and was still in a zone. He pitched great.
“We’ve been under the radar all season. We’re happy but not satisfied. We know we have a chance with our best guy on the mound. We’re a gutty, gritty team, and I love it.”
Parkview defeated Loranger 8-1 in the semifinals in the 2009 playoffs. Parkview won its 11th state title that season. Four seniors remain from that 2009 Loranger team.
“I feel for my 10 senior players and three senior managers,” Parkview coach Darron Mitchell said. “We lost in the finals last year, and this was a very talented group that didn’t win a ring. They played hard all season. We just were waiting for that one break that put us over the edge tonight.”
Parkview stranded eight baserunners, and both teams had four errors. The Eagles stranded three runners in the seventh. Brennan Bozeman led off the seventh with a double, Russell Reynolds singled and Hezekiah Randolph was intentionally walked with one out. Pinch-hitter Peter Currier struck out, and Loranger catcher Austin Fandal made a diving catch on a foul ball.
Parkview took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth as Reynolds drove in two runs with a double to right-center field. Cole Wilson, who was hit by pitch, and Bozeman, who singled, scored.
Parkview starter Colin Rogers worked six innings with nine strikeouts, three walks and three hit batters.
Michael Mentzer worked the seventh for PBS. Damon Blake reached base on an infield error to start the top of the seventh. He moved to second when the throw to first went out of play. Jordan Clark’s sacrifice bunt moved Blake to third. Mentzer struck out Catalano for the second out. Two pitches later, Blake scored on a wild pitch to tie it at 3-3.
Kolton Kendrick drew a walk and Parkview had two errors in the top of the fourth inning as Loranger loaded the bases. Blake was hit by pitch as Loranger led 2-1.
Reynolds (8-2) worked the eighth inning. After allowing Loranger its first earned run, Reynolds struck out the final two batters.
Parkview led 7-2 in hits. Smashing two hits for the Eagles were Bozeman, Reynolds and Haigler.
Parkview also stranded runners at third base in the first and second innings.