MIAA Tournament - Western tops Northwest 4-3 to eliminate Bearcats

Photo courtesy of bearcatsports.com
The 2017 Northwest Missouri State University varsity baseball team

Joplin, Mo. - Another 1-run classic game between proud rivals as Northwest and Western battled each other for 9 innings in a back and forth clash on Saturday in an elimination game at Joplin, Missouri. Missouri Western beat Northwest Missouri State 4-3 in another instant classic. Both teams played exemplary defense in this game. The defensive edge went to Northwest on Saturday but Western got a clutch 2-run triple in the 8th inning to score the go ahead runs. Anthony Caenepeel had another huge performance in his final outing as a Bearcat. Anthony worked 7 innings and allowed only 2 runs against a potent Griffon line-up. The B2R cannot be more proud of the Bearcat baseball team. Unless there is some major shake-up in the regional rankings, Northwest's 2017 season is over. Your Bearcat baseball team finished 2017 with a 32-20, 20-18 MIAA.

A defensive highlight in this game - Logan Rycraft had the defensive play of the game in the B2R's opinion. With the game on the line, the Western batter his a hot shot between short stop and third base. Landon Figg at third base dived and missed the ball. With Figg still on the ground, Logan Rycraft dove knee first to back-hand a grounder now in short left field. Logan caught the ball clean and was able to hop to his feet. All in rhythm, Logan threw a laser and hit James Holler, who was stretched as far as his 6'3" frame could stretch for a called out 6-3 play. Wow. It was a hopping up and down fist pumping kind of play. Attaboy Rycraft.

Offensively, James Holler was Northwest's most valuable player. James went 3 for 4 (including a double) with 1 RBI and 1 run scored in the game. Landon Figg went 2 for 5 (including a double) with 1 run scored on the day. Garrett Fort went 1 for 5 (a double) and scored a run in the game. Ozzie Adams went 1 for 5 on the day. Alixon Herrera went 1 for 5 with 1 RBI in the game. Jay Hrdlicka went 1 for 3 (a double) on the day. Tim Olson scored a run as a late-game pinch runner. Austin Wulff earned a walk as a late-game pinch hitter. Kevin Handzlik went 1 for 3 (a double) with 1 RBI in the game. Logan Rycraft earned a walk in the game. In total, Northwest scored 3 runs off of 10 hits, 3 RBIs, 3 RBIs, 3 walks, 7 strike-outs, and left 12 runners on base.

Defensively, Northwest did not commit an error in the game. In the B2R's opinion, the Bearcats played their best defense of the season in this MIAA tournament. So many defensive highlights as well as making all the plays you are supposed to make.

Pitching, Anthony Caenepeel earned the start and did a masterful job. Caenepeel worked 7.0 innings, allowed 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 6 strike-outs and hit 2 batters. In the 8th inning, Nikko Pablo came into the game and worked 2.0 innings, allowed 1 hit, 2 runs, 2 walks and hit 1 batter in the game. Nikko picked-up the loss for his efforts to see his 2017 record end at 5-3.

NWMSU's article on the game - http://www.bearcatsports.com/news/2017/5/13/baseball-mo-west.aspx?path=baseball

NCAA selection show - The NCAA Division 2 baseball regional selection show is available on-line this Sunday, May 14, 2017, at 9pm CST. You can watch the show by clicking on this link:

http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/2017/05/15

If Northwest does not make the NCAA regional, Saturday's game was the last game as Bearcat baseball players for James Holler, Ozzie Adams, Kolby Greenslade, Garrett Fort, Austin Wulff, Anthony Caenepeel, Nikko Pablo, Bryce Shea, and Austin Battaglia. As sad as it is to see these Bearcats finish their baseball careers at Northwest, the great thing is they are not going away. They are simply adding "alum" to their title as Bearcat baseball player. This senior class has a lot to be very proud of including building a cohesive team that cared for everybody from starters to red shirts, going to the play-offs two seasons in a row, winning MIAA pitcher of the year and best season since 2005.

The B2R is going to miss seeing these seniors suit up for the green and white but I am excited to see each one of these guys have continued success in their lives. The B2R is excited to see these guys get married one day, start families, begin careers, and run into them from time to time when they return to the 'Ville. The B2R will miss the parents of these seniors as they all came to as many games as they could. I get pretty attached to good people and each one of these seniors were blessed with amazing parents. Hopefully, our paths will cross at the alumni baseball golf tournament and tailgates. I will miss the parents and the players. Even the ones that are Cardinals fans. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for being Bearcats. Thank you for giving it everything you had. Thank you for being such positive role models for the kids at the ballpark.

Thank you.

Once a Bearcat, always a Bearcat.

Go Cats!!
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