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High school roundup: Rock Bridge baseball falls in district final, Southern Boone wins 2 titles

chris kwiecinski, columbia daily tribune
·2 min read
Rock Bridge's Andrew Hill (11) looks away as Blue Springs South's Jordan Austin (23) runs to the mound to celebrate after the Jaguars won the Class 6 District 5 championship Thursday at Rock Bridge High School.
Rock Bridge's Andrew Hill (11) looks away as Blue Springs South's Jordan Austin (23) runs to the mound to celebrate after the Jaguars won the Class 6 District 5 championship Thursday at Rock Bridge High School.

Rock Bridge baseball tried nearly every trick in the book.

The Bruins changed their approach at the plate a few times, but they could barely touch Blue Springs South.

Jaguars junior pitcher Trenton Roehler — a Missouri commit — pitched a complete-game, two-hit shutout that nabbed Blue Springs South the Class 6 District 5 championship with a 2-0 win Thursday.

Only three Rock Bridge players reached base as the Jaguars stymied the Bruins.

"He was hiding the baseball really well," Rock Bridge assistant coach Andy Hight said. "His velocity was really good and he held it to the seventh."

Ty Thompson and Andrew Hill recorded the lone hits for Rock Bridge, as Thompson advanced the furthest for the Bruins as he made it to second base on a passed ball in the bottom of the sixth.

A flyout ended the threat, which was as close as the hosts got to plating a run.

Roehler kept Rock Bridge at bay on 108 pitches and never allowed a leadoff base runner.

Rock Bridge took advantage of mistakes all season, but Blue Springs South didn't make any mistakes to capitalize on.

The loss ends Rock Bridge's season at 29-10 overall in a district title game, which is a game further than the Bruins finished last season. Rock Bridge lost to Blue Springs South in the district semifinals in 2021.

The Bruins' juniors and underclassmen have been through a district semifinal and district title game, which have provided valuable experience.

"We're building," Hight said. "At the level that we play at, 29 wins is pretty darn good."

Still, Rock Bridge graduates Kaiden Stoffer, Payton Messer, Austin Stewart, Toby Schiedt and Justin Corral.

Saying goodbye to those seniors, who helped sustain the program, was something the coaches will do when the emotions subside.

"I love these guys," Hight said as his emotions hit him.

Southern Boone's Andrew Binggeli tags a pitch that went into left field for a single during Father Tolton's 8-6 win over the Eagles on May 12.
Southern Boone's Andrew Binggeli tags a pitch that went into left field for a single during Father Tolton's 8-6 win over the Eagles on May 12.

Southern Boone baseball wins districts

Facing Blair Oaks for the second time this season, Southern Boone baseball beat the Falcons again when it mattered most.

The Eagles held off the Falcons 4-3 on Thursday for Southern Boone's 30th win of the season and the Class 4 District 8 title.

Blair Oaks had a chance to take the lead with a bases-loaded situation in the sixth, scoring a run to cut the Eagles' lead to 4-3. Southern Boone ended that threat with a 6-4-3 double play.

Chase Morris banged a two-run home run in the third to cap a three-run inning.

Eagles soccer blanks Tolton in title match

Southern Boone girls soccer claimed the Class 2 District 6 title over Father Tolton on Thursday, blanking the Trailblazers 2-0.

Jersee Wren and Julia Richardson scored for the Eagles.

Wren gave Southern Boone a 1-0 lead at halftime, and Richardson scored in the second half on a set piece. That gave the Eagles insurance to move on to the May 28 sectional.

Chris Kwiecinski is the sports editor for the Columbia Daily Tribune, overseeing University of Missouri and Boone County sports coverage. Follow him on Twitter @OchoK_ and contact him at CKwiecinsk@gannett.com or 573-815-1857.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: High school roundup: Rock Bridge baseball falls in district final