WCC baseball: Tigers blanked by Smith-Cotton, 7-0

Nevada sophomore center fielder Dalton Gayman takes a big cut during Tuesday’s 12-2 victory over the Center High School Yellowjackets. Against Smith-Cotton Friday, Gayman connected for one of Nevada’s four base hits.

Nick Wright | Daily Mail

A tough week on the diamond came to a close Friday in Sedalia, as the Nevada Tigers fell to Smith-Cotton High School, 7-0.

The Tigers third loss in four games this week moved Nevada to 3-5 overall and 2-2 in conference-play. Meanwhile, two-time defending West Central Conference champs Smith-Cotton, improved to 10-4 overall and remained perfect in WCC-play (5-0).

After tossing a scoreless first inning, Nevada starting pitching Branden Harder yielded a leadoff triple to Brady Kindle to open the bottom of the second. Kindle was then plated via Conner Simonsic’s base knock to right-center field, handing Smith-Cotton a 1-0 advantage.

With a successful double-steal putting runners in scoring position, Gunnar Creach’s two-out, two-RBI single to left, put Smith-Cotton in front, 3-0.

For a second consecutive inning, Smith-Cotton led off with a triple, as Brett Grupe’s extra base hit off the left field wall had Smith-Cotton in business.

Brice Pannier’s RBI-sacrifice fly, followed by Kindle’s RBI-double down the left field line — stretched Smith-Cotton’s lead to 5-0.

“Just getting the leadoff batter on-base, opened up their offense, and makes the defense take a lot of other things into consideration,” said Nevada head coach Danny Penn, during his postgame radio interview with KNEM 1240.

Smith-Cotton continued to pad its cushion, with its final run of the contest coming in the sixth, on Collin Polley’s RBI-sacrifice fly.

Smith-Cotton starting pitcher Hayden Ellis fired five scoreless innings — striking out five, while allowing just three hits en route to the victory. Harder, who come on for Nevada in relief on Wednesday against Joplin, was charged with the loss.

“(Ellis) was throwing strikes, and had a lot of movement on his off-speed pitches,” said Penn. “Their pitching staff, the three guys they threw ­were just able to keep us off-balance enough that we weren’t able to string together two or three big hits.”

Nevada stranded several runners on the base paths over the course of the first few innings.

“When we had those opportunities, especially early — when we could have put a couple of runs up on the board and, tighten the game and put a little bit of pressure back on them — we just weren’t able to make that happen,” lamented Penn.

Added Penn: “Whenever (Smith-Cotton) had those situations, they did a good job of moving the runner— sacrifice fly with less than two outs.”

Despite the 1-3 week, Penn said he’s pleased with the progression of his club.

“We’ve gotten better,” began Penn. “The quality of our at-bats have gotten much better, and our defense has gotten much better. I feel like we’re throwing more strikes on the mound. We think that next week we have four very winnable games.”

Up next

The Tigers square off in a West Central Conference clash with visiting St. Michael’s Catholic High School, Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.