Freshman right fielder Wyatt Branson was a perfect 2-for-2 with five driven in as North Callaway pulled away from Wellsville Tigers 12-2 in five innings to take its Eastern Missouri Conference opener on Tuesday.
Thunderbirds senior starter Tanner Murphy allowed two runs on three of the Tigers' four total hits in the top of the first inning.
North Callaway (2-1, 0-1) saw its first two batters retired in the bottom of the inning before senior shorstop Chance Kee and junior center fielder Brandon Hagedorn strung together back-to-back singles. Branson drove both them in with a two-run single to tie the game at 2-all.
Branson scored when junior catcher Michael Early reached base on an error at third base and junior first baseman Paul Zerr tallied the final North Callaway run of the frame on a single by junior third baseman Trevor Crisp.
Fulton 12
Eldon 4
The Hornets scored eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, erasing a four-run deficit and powering their way to a six-inning win over the Mustangs at the high school athletic complex on Tuesday afternoon.
Fulton (5-2) scored its runs on just eight hits, but took advantage of six Eldon errors to win for a third consecutive game.
"It was a tough night to play defense; a lot of moisture on the ground and in the air," Hornets head coach Darren Masek said. "I thought Tyler Echelmeier did an outstanding job the 5 2/3 innings he pitched.
"He kept his head down, got out of some jams and gave an opportunity to come back."
Echelmeier (2-1) gave up three runs - two earned - on five hits and three walks while striking out three.
Linn 4
South Callaway 1
MOKANE - The Bulldogs managed just five hits and senior pitcher Smith Kemper surrendered six walks in opening up Show-Me Conference play with a loss to the Wildcats in six innings on Tuesday.
Linn opened the scoring with a two-run single by Tony Mebreuer to drive in pitcher Ryan Mantle and Alec Shoop. The Wildcats tacked on one in the third when Ben Klebba was hit by a Kemper offering with the bases loaded to drive in Mantle.
South Callaway (3-2, 0-1) got one run back in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by senior catcher Zack Marty to draw them to within 3-1. The Wildcats posted their final run in the fifth on a Mabreuer single to left field.
Golf
Winfield 194
South Callaway 201
Montgomery County 207
MONTGOMERY CITY - Sophomore Logan Taylor shot a 49 to lead the Bulldogs as they earned a second-place showing in a triangular with Winfield and Montgomery County on Monday.
Freshman Blake Parker and sophomore Landen Backer each followed up with seperate scores of 50 while freshman Braedon Sconce tallied a 52.