ELSBERRY, Mo. — The Elsberry Indians tallied the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to trip the North Callaway Thunderbirds in Thursday night’s Eastern Missouri Conference loss.
North Callaway (4-8, 2-3 EMO) had forced extra innings when it broke out for three runs in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 11-all. Sophomore Chad Maupin — who started on the mound for the Thunderbirds — drew a leadoff walk, stole second and came around to score on sophomore shortstop Coy Danison’s double.
With one out, sophomore left fielder Justin Popp doubled home Danison to make it 11-10. Popp then pulled North Callaway even when he scored on sophomore right fielder Sam Althiser’s single.
Althiser went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in, a run scored and a stolen base as the Thunderbirds finished with nine hits. Maupin was also 1-for-3 with a two-run single in the fourth, while junior catcher Wyatt Branson went 1-for-4, scored twice and stole four bases, making him 15-for-15 on the season.
Popp (0-1) — working the final 3 2/3 innings in relief of Maupin — was tagged with the loss. He gave up six runs — only two earned — on seven hits, walked five and struck out one. North Callaway committed five errors, while Elsberry (3-5, 2-2) had four.
The Thunderbirds (5-2-3) won the junior varsity game 2-1.
North Callaway hosted a tripleheader with Linn and Father Tolton on Saturday. Results were not immediately available.