Eagles Lifted By Bosserman’s Play Against Jaguars

by John Unrein
 
     Parker Bosserman loves baseball. The Eagle senior, committed to Kansas City Kansas Community College to continue his career as a student athlete on the diamond, was a big part of his team’s formula for success in a 6-1 win against the Blue Springs South Jaguars on May 1st.  Bosserman would produce four runs batted in through two home runs and being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Excellence would continue on the diamond for the shortstop with three defensive gems at timely moments for Grain Valley.
     Joining Bosserman’s output at the plate was Eagles first baseman Kaden Jeffries. The junior would find success late in the game with a single in the fifth inning and a two RBI home run in the seventh inning. The latter of which put the game out of the reach for the Jaguars who battled limited roster availability due to COVID-19. All three home runs collectively struck by Bosserman and Jeffries were pull shots for the right handed batters over the left field fence.
     “Yeah, I was struggling before my final at bat today. I was looking for something to put the barrel of the bat on. I was a little under the baseball and that lifted it out,” Jeffries said.
     “It was good to beat South today. We had a bitter taste in our mouth after the last time we played them.”
     Bosserman added, “If I am thrown an outside pitch, I will take it the other way. I have done that maybe three times so far this season. Otherwise, I naturally pull the ball with my swing. That was the case again today for me (with both home runs).”
     “I never take my eyes off the pitcher. Even in the dugout, I am seeking ways to find his timing. I continue to enjoy the competitive mentality of our team.  It makes playing baseball with them fun.”
     Bosserman helps establish that competitive mentality through leading by example for the Eagles. The glovework on display against the Jaguars nullified would be baserunners throughout the contest. First, Bosserman made a nice double play in the top of the second inning. The Grain Valley shortstop displayed nifty footwork in fielding the baseball and shuffling across second base prior to firing a strike to first base.
     Next, was a sound read off a line drive in the top of the fourth inning by Bosserman behind second base prior to doubling up the opponent at first base, who did the correct thing in freezing on a line drive to see if the baseball would get through the infield. Finally, the top of the sixth inning witnessed Bosserman’s best play of the day defensively. Bosserman would sprint to his right deep in the hole to make a sliding stop prior to hurling the baseball to first base. Jeffries would stretch to make a solid pick of the baseball out of the dirt to complete the out.
     Joel Palecek continued his strong campaign on the mound as a starting pitcher this season for the Eagles. The junior only needed a total of 85 pitches for a complete game outing. Palecek would scatter five base hits across seven innings to team with four strikeouts. Palecek’s demeanor never changed on the mound as he appeared to tire late in the game and pitched his way out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh.
     The ability to throw strikes is what impresses Grain Valley head baseball coach Brian Driskell the most about Palecek’s continued growth.
     “Joel (Palecek) only went ten pitches between the fifth and sixth innings combined. That allowed him to have the opportunity to finish the game due to pitch efficiency. I did not like the situation we were in late in the game. I may have gone somewhere else if we did not have the separation in the score,” Driskell said.
     “Our guys helped out at the plate today and did their part to support the starting pitching we received. The best thing about Palecek is that he lives in the strike zone and lets the defense dot their job.”
     Driskell finished, “I think we are playing well right now. There are some technical things that we need to work so that we stay humble and hungry. There are areas we need to get better at. Blue Springs South was down a lot of guys today due to COVID-19. It is still good to get a win. The biggest thing I want our guys to know is that there is more we have to do if we want to get where we want to be.”
     The Eagles win moves their record to 17-6 overall, and winners of their last eight straight games.

Joel Palecek has a strong outing on the mound for the Eagles.
​Photo credit: Valley News staff

First baseman Kaden Jeffries waits for the pitch at the plate.
Photo credit: Valley News staff

Shortstop Parker Bosserman sits on a fastball at the plate.
​Photo credit: Valley News staff