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SC wins fifth straight regional championship

No area school has had the amount of success that the South Central baseball team has experienced during coach Curt Jones’ tenure.

With 10 regional championships, two professional baseball players, countless college players through the years and a steady follow of talent and 20-win seasons, South Central’s program continues to thrive.

Saturday’s 14-6 thrashing of North Clay added another chapter to the Cougars’ history, as South Central got its 22nd win of the season and its fifth straight regional crown.

"Today we were calm, relaxed and ready to go. No nervousness, no jitters…and that definitely helped," Jones said.

What was billed as a pitcher’s duel turned out to be nothing of the sort, as the two teams combined for 20 runs and 21 hits.

South Central pitcher Derek Harmeier went the distance for the Cougars, picking up his seventh win of the year. Harmeier struck out four and walked three. All six of the Cardinals’ runs were unearned.

"Our philosophy is pitch away, because high school kids don’t normally hit the ball away that well. Harmeier can put it there when other kids can’t," Jones said. "He’s got so much confidence with his control he can put it where he wants most of the time."

The Cougars fell behind early, giving up two runs in the top of the first inning, committing three errors in the frame.

Despite the rough start on defense, South Central came right back in the bottom of the first inning. Kyle Monical hit a solo home run to get South Central on the board, and Colby Bushue drove in a run later in the inning to tie the game. Ryan Gessell gave the Cougars their first lead of the game, scoring on an error.

South Central extended its lead in the bottom of the third inning with a leadoff home run by Dylan Sill. Gessell followed with a walk and scored later in the inning on a two-out single to left field by Reid Drews.

Harmeier and the defense were able to overcome the rough first inning and shut out the Cardinals over the next three frames.

In the bottom of the fourth, with a 5-2 lead, the Cougars blew the game wide open. They scored nine runs in the inning, including four runs on a grand slam off the bat of Tyler Gillett.

With a 14-2 lead heading into the top of the fifth inning, the Cougars needed only to hold North Clay to two or less runs to earn the win. Things did not go according to plan. South Central gave up four runs in the inning, committing two more errors.

"It would have been nice to end it in the fifth. We could have and we should have. We had some easy balls that we screwed up," Jones said. "We just have those bad innings."

While the Cougars’ lead was still sizable at eight runs, the game continued on into the sixth and the seventh. The Cardinals were able to get a couple of runners on base in the sixth inning, but couldn’t push them across. South Central closed the door on North Clay’s season, setting them down in order in the seventh inning.

Drewes went 2-for-4, with three runs driven in. Brett Pitts went 1-for-3, with two RBI. Every Cougar had at least one hit and all but one scored a run.

South Central played Edwards County in the sectional semifinal on Wednesday. The Cougars are going for their third sectional title and second in row. Check www.leaderunion.com for results.

South Central has won five consecutive regional titles and 10 in the past 11 seasons, all under head coach Curt Jones. The Cougars have a record of 22-10 this season.

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