Despite getting out-hit, the North Callaway Thunderbirds cashed in on the South Callaway Bulldogs' myriad defensive miscues to pick up an extra-inning victory.
Senior reliever Michael Early singled in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth, directing the T-Birds to a 7-6 win over the Bulldogs on Monday night.
Early struck out two and allowed an earned run on four hits, while walking one to get the win. From the plate, he finished 3-for-4 and scored once.
"When Michael came in, he did a great job of keeping them off balance," North Callaway head coach Kevin O'Neal said. "He also had a great night at the plate going 3-for-4 and driving in the game-winning run."
The T-Birds (7-8) won for a fourth time in their last five games, while also avenging a 4-1 loss to South Callaway on April 11 in Mokane.
South Callaway (12-3) took a 5-4 lead on senior shortstop Dax Helsel's two-out, two-run double to center field in the top of the sixth. North Callaway evened the game in the bottom of the inning when sophomore third baseman J.T. Higgins reached base on an error that allowed senior third baseman Trevor Crisp to score the tying run.
Junior catcher Cameron Richardson singled in sophomore first baseman Graysan Peneston in the top of the seventh to help the Bulldogs reclaim the lead at 6-5.
The T-Birds forced the extra frame when senior left fielder Cole Branson lifted a one-out, sacrifice fly to right field in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at 6-all.
The Bulldogs left the potential go-ahead run at second in senior second baseman Trevor Miller as Peneston struck out swinging to end the top of the eighth.
North Callaway sophomore catcher Wyatt Branson drew a leadoff walk then moved to second base when sophomore center fielder Alex Brazil walked. Sophomore second baseman AJ Stubblefield loaded the bases when he reached on an error, leading to Early's decisive base hit on the very next pitch.
"It was an up-and-down game," O'Neal said. "I think we had better at-bats and approaches tonight and we scrapped runs together when we needed to."
Higgins was 2-for-5, while Wyatt Branson was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs and the T-Birds finished with eight hits.
Helsel finished 4-for-5 with two runs scored and a pair of doubles, while right fielder Tyler Adams and senior reliever Harold Woods both went 1-for-2 for South Callaway. The Bulldogs collected 10 hits.
Woods gave up an earned run on one hit, walked one, didn't register a strikeout or record an out.
North Callaway improved to 7-5 with a 13-5 win over the Bulldogs.
The T-Birds play a varsity-only Eastern Missouri Conference game at Community R-6 at 5 p.m. today. South Callaway plays a Show-Me Conference contest at state-ranked Fatima at 5 p.m. today.
The Comets are ranked No. 2 in Class 3 by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association.