Deathridge’s late blast propels O’Fallon past Highland in key nonconference game

Jonathan Duncan
·4 min read

Home runs have not been a big part of the O’Fallon baseball team’s offense during the 2023 season — especially late in games.

Thankfully for OTHS, Xavier Deathridge knows how to deliver big at the plate when games are on the line.

Deathridge, a senior Infielder, came up huge in the bottom of the sixth inning Wednesday, May 17, ripping a three-run homer over the right-center field fence to erase a two-run deficit. Then, O’Fallon reliever Alex Tame closed the door in the seventh to lift the Panthers to a thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind win against Highland at Blazier Field in O’Fallon.

O’Fallon, which lost to the Bulldogs 2-1 just a month ago, improved to 23-6 and picked up its third one-run victory in five games.

“Highland and O’Fallon, our games are always like this and both teams are really similar this year with good pitching and really good defense,” O’Fallon coach Joe Bauer said. “A big hit by Xavier and some guys we weren’t expected to use pitching-wise stepped up and did a great job and, obviously, we started to put better swings on them in the fifth and sixth (inning).”

Highland starter Trent Clemens and O’Fallon hurler Connor Blue were superb as both pitchers threw goose eggs through the first four innings. Blue’s fifth-inning replacement, Jack Velino, threw a scoreless frame in relief as Blue was removed from the mound with elbow soreness while remaining in the game as a batter. Clemons blanked the Panthers in the fifth as well.

HHS (19-13) then broke on top in the top of the sixth as Kye Kruse led off with a double to right centerfield. After Jake Ottensmeier’s groundout to short, Kruse scored from third on Mason Emig’s high chopper over third base into left field. Then, with two out and first and third, Adam Munie dropped a run-scoring single down the left field line to make it 2-0.

O’Fallon responded in the bottom of the sixth as Grant Tebbe walked with one out and Will Millard singled. Blue then flew out to left center but Deathridge came to the plate and delivered the play of the game when he slammed a 1-0 outside pitch from Clemens over the right-center field fence for a towering three-run home run, pushing the Panthers ahead to stay at 3-2.

Deathridge’s third homer of the season was just the juice O’Fallon needed.

“Our teammates came up big and put us in a really good spot. And our pitching was lights out and they kept us in the game until the sixth and seventh inning,” Deathridge said. “I was the right person in the right spot, I knew the pitch was coming and did what I could do.”

After Deathridge’s heroics, Tame relieved Velino in the top of the seventh. Braden Bircher doubled to lead off and Ottensmeier walked with two outs to give the Bulldogs one final comeback chance. But Tame pitched out of trouble, inducing a fly ball to left from Emig that halted the Bulldogs’ final rally.

Deathridge finished 2-for-3 with the three RBI and a run scored. Millard also went 2-for-3.

O’Fallon senior catcher Will Millard rips a base hit to left field during a nonconference game against visiting Highland on Wednesday, May 17, at Blazier Field. The Panthers ultimately rallied for a 3-2 victory.
O’Fallon senior catcher Will Millard rips a base hit to left field during a nonconference game against visiting Highland on Wednesday, May 17, at Blazier Field. The Panthers ultimately rallied for a 3-2 victory.

Bulldogs skipper weighs in

Highland coach Joe Hawkins took the loss in stride and said he felt the game was good preparation for what the Bulldogs will face in the IHSA Class 3A Jerseyville Regional next week.

Fourth-seeded Highland will face No. 6 seed Jerseyville at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 24.

“The nice thing is, going into the playoffs, you’re playing a game like this and you make a bunch of mistakes and you leave shaking your head because of all the mistakes you made ... that’s one thing, but that was not the case for us today,” Hawkins said. “We made the one mistake in the sixth and they took advantage.”

Highland’s Mason Emig takes off for second base on a ground ball hit toward third base during a nonconference game against host O’Fallon on Wednesday, May 17, at Blazier Field. The Panthers ultimately rallied for a 3-2 victory.
Highland’s Mason Emig takes off for second base on a ground ball hit toward third base during a nonconference game against host O’Fallon on Wednesday, May 17, at Blazier Field. The Panthers ultimately rallied for a 3-2 victory.

Panthers gear up for postseason

Deathridge believes the Panthers can now get their mojo going again as they wrap up the regular season at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 20, at home against Triad. O’Fallon, the No. 2 seed, then starts IHSA Class 4A regional action at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, against Granite City, seeded eighth, at Belleville East.

“A win like this gets our confidence back up going into the playoffs,” Deathridge said. “So we’re all looking forward to going into next week really just grinding it out and trying to see how far we can get. It’s the last year for me with these guys, so it’s huge.”

O’Fallon sophomore pitcher Connor Blue fires a pitch toward home plate during a nonconference game against visiting Highland on Wednesday, May 17, at Blazier Field. The Panthers ultimately rallied for a 3-2 victory.
O’Fallon sophomore pitcher Connor Blue fires a pitch toward home plate during a nonconference game against visiting Highland on Wednesday, May 17, at Blazier Field. The Panthers ultimately rallied for a 3-2 victory.