CHANUTE — Notching their most marquee win of the spring, the Labette County Grizzlies beat the Chanute Blue Comets, 5-3, in extra innings on Monday in SEK League baseball action.
“We just came in focused and rested,” Labette County head coach Sam Schaper said. “The rain helped us get some rest. And we weren’t intimidated. Chanute has a great tradition. But we put a full game together and had great pitching.”
Labette County scored one run in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 3-3 before plating two more in the ninth.
The Grizzlies kept Chanute from extending its early lead thanks to securing outs on delayed steals and backpicks.
“It was super critical. Our defense came through in those situations,” Schaper said. “You need plays like that to go your way, especially when it goes into extras. You need the breaks to go your way and be prepared and ready when those opportunities come.”
Mason Morris pitched 6.1 innings in a start for Labette County, allowing six hits while striking out three.
“Mason did a heck of a job,” Schaper said. “We went into the game wanting to work backwards. We weren’t expecting a full game out of him. But he had the mojo in him. He was efficient and effective and we just rolled with him.”
Kaden Blackledge earned the win on the hill, tossing 2.2 innings of hitless ball with three strikeouts.
Morris also had two hits. Kaiden Nash had three hits and as many RBIs out of the nine-hole.
“That’s why he’s where he’s at in the lineup,” Schaper said. “We don’t want to have any holes one-through-nine. He’s a young kid and we put him in a place where he can relax.”
On Tuesday, Labette County fell to Columbus at home, 12-7.
After taking a 3-1 lead through two innings, Labette County surrendered five runs in the third and Columbus never relinquished the advantage.
Kamden Good was charged with the loss on the hill, allowing five hits and as many runs while striking out one.
The Grizzlies were limited to five hits, with Good tallying two RBIs and two runs.
Up next
Now 3-10 overall on the season, Labette County hosts Fort Scott on Friday.
“Now that we’ve put a full game together, we know we can play good baseball,” Schaper said. “We want to make other teams beat us.”
