MONTGOMERY CITY - The North Callaway Thunderbirds baseball team's demise was drawn out over 21 hours.
No. 2 seed North Callaway had its season come to a close after a 12-4 loss to the No. 3 Montgomery County Wildcats in the semifinals of the Class 3, District 7 Tournament late Wednesday afternoon.
The game started Tuesday night, but endured a lightning delay, ongoing mist and then a downpour before finally being suspended around 10 p.m. Montgomery County was leading 10-4 with one out in the top of the seventh inning when the game was stopped.
The Wildcats (14-6) capped off their victory by adding two runs when play resumed Wednesday.
Junior right fielder Jordan Delashmutt finished 2-for-2 with a double, two walks and two runs scored as the Thunderbirds (14-12) collected eight hits. Senior center fielder Adam Reno went 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs batted in, while senior third baseman Chad Maupin was 1-for-2 with two walks and an RBI.
Senior starter Sam Althiser was tagged with the loss for North Callaway, allowing 10 runs - eight earned - on 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings. Althiser (3-4) had three strikeouts and three walks.
Top-seeded Hallsville - which hammered No. 5 Bowling Green 12-1 in semifinal play Tuesday - overpowered Montgomery County 10-1 for the District 7 title Wednesday night.