Canton Tigers hold off Highland Cougars in Cross County Showdown
Lewistown, MO — The Highland Cougars and Canton Tigers faced off on the diamond as both teams headed into the game looking for a much-needed win ahead of Districts.
The Cougars would send Dawson Hedges to the mound. While Canton would send Ian Burbridge to start.
The Tigers were first on the board in the first inning. A walk would put Ian Burbridge on base with one out, followed by a steal of second. Drew Gottman would hit a grounder, reaching on base by error, allowing Burbridge to score. An error and a hit by pitch would load the bases as Kaeden Gollaher would hit a two-run single in center field to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
The Cougars would answer in the bottom half. Heath Feldkamp hit a fly ball to right and reached base on an error. Feldkamp would steal his way around into home on a catcher’s error. Dawson Hedges would get walked. Senior Gavin Sayres would hit a fly ball to center to get on base. An error on a throwdown would allow Hedges to score to make it a one-run game, 3-2.
Tigers added to the lead for much-needed insurance, with Burbridge getting hit by a pitch, and a Drew Gottman RBI double to give Canton a 4-2 lead. Canton would make a pitching change as they go to Richie Polak, who would only give up a walk in the inning.
In the top of the third, Hedges would continue pitching, as Bryson Brewer would reach base on an error. But the Cougars’ defense would hold strong, keeping it a two-run game. The Cougars would return to make it a one-run game in the bottom half. Brock Schneider would get walked, followed by Hedges with a single to place Schneider in scoring position. Sayres would ground out but score Schneider to make it a one-run game.
In the top of the fourth, Oliver would get walked and proceed to steal into third. Coach Street would call time and intentionaly walk Drew Gottman with two out. Proving to be a wise move as Richie Polak would fly out to left field, allowing Highland to escape the inning. In the bottom half, Polak would strike out the side in order to maintain the one-run lead. In the fifth, the Highland would put the junior Brock Schneider on the mound. As Schneider would strike out the side in order.
From there, a pitchers’ duel and defensive battle would take place. In the sixth, Schneider would strike out two, while Polak would strike out two. Canton would turn to Jayden Shuman, who would strike out the side and keep it a one-run game. With no score in the seventh, Highland had a chance to walk the game off in the bottom of the seventh. Christopher Gause would lay down a lead-off bunt and reach first. But Baxter Ledbetter would bat into a double play, to put Highland on its last out. Heath Feldkamp would keep the hopes alive with a double to left field. Coach Kegan Birck would make a pitching change, going to senior Drew Gottman to face Brock Schnieder, as a grounder to Polak would end the game and give Canton the 4-3 win over Highland.
After the game, Canton Skipper Kegan Birck discussed what the Tigers need heading into districts.
“The first one was getting a win tonight. That was the thing we really wanted: at least a win going into districts, maybe even two with tomorrow’s game against Clark. But just making the plays, not allowing ourselves to get down as we have in the past. Just really staying up, staying positive, getting through the hard innings. You’re gonna have them in high school.”
Highland Coach Clay Street echoed much the same for his team as he talked about what the Cougars need going into districts.
“I think most importantly, our defense needs to be like it was today. I think we need to make the easy plays that they give us and not give them any extra outs, as well as make in-game hitting adjustments. I don’t feel like we do that well enough, and we either hit really well or don’t hit it at all. So I think those would be our two biggest things going into Friday.”
The Tigers improve to 5-13 on the season. They will close their regular season on Tuesday, May 12, in Kahoka against the Clark County Indians. They will begin District Play Friday, May 15, taking on the Knox County Eagles in Schulyer County in the Class 2 District 6 Playoffs.
The Cougars fall to 3-14 on the season. They will close their regular season on Tuesday, May 12, in Hannibal against the Hannibal Pirates. They will begin District Play Friday, May 15, taking on the Monroe City Panthers in Macon in the Class 3 District 6 Playoffs.
