(Lenox) Lenox scored three runs in the 3rd and another in the 4th to beat Nodaway Valley 4-3 on Tuesday. The Tigers advance to face #9 CAM on Saturday in the Class 1A District 13 title game.
Lenox got a sharp outing out of Keegan Christensen on the hill and took advantage of some free passes at the plate to win the rubber match against the Wolverines. Evan Forcht got the start for Nodaway Valley and allowed three runs on three hits with two walks and three hit batters over three innings. Forcht struck out six batters before handing the ball over to Boston DeVault in the 4th inning. After just two batters, Caelen DeVault came in and pitched the final three frames.
The Tigers capitalized on two batters hit by a pitch in their big 3rd inning. After leaving two runners on base in each the first and second inning they cleared the bases with a Keigan Kitzman double to lead 3-0. Kitzman’s clutch hit with two outs scored Cullen Wood, Chase Johnston, and Brad Larson. Larson had gotten aboard with a single and finished with two of the team’s four hits in the game.
In front 3-0, Lenox added to it in the 4th. #9 hitter Conner Fitzgerald led off the frame with a walk and moved to 2nd on a wild pitch. He would eventually score on a ground ball to second base off the bat of Cullen Wood as Wood reached on an error. After a walk and dropped third strike began the bottom of the 4th inning, Nodaway Valley brought in Caelen DeVault who gave up a hit and no walks in his three relief innings. The program’s single season record holder for strikeouts fanned seven of the twelve batters he faced.
Nodaway Valley had runners on base in each of the first five innings, but didn’t score until the 5th. They stranded two runners aboard in the 2nd and 4th innings and twice left runners at third base. Dax Kintigh reached on an error to start the 5th inning rally attempt. A flyout and a groundout followed, but then Mason Menefee, Caelen DeVault, and Boston DeVault delivered consecutive hits. Menefee drove in a run and Boston DeVault plated two with a double. Christensen got a flyout to end the inning and the Wolverines would go down in order in the 6th and 7th.
Christensen allowed seven hits, one walk, and struck out four in six innings. Samson Adams pitched a perfect 7th with two K’s for the save. Lenox will take a 21-11 record into Saturday’s rematch with CAM. They beat the Cougars 10-9 earlier this season. Nodaway Valley finishes their year with a mark of 16-9.
