Eagles season ends Thursday night in 3-2 loss to Jaguars

by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News
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A season that featured so much progress and success ending Thursday evening with one swing of the bat.

It was a tough way for the season to end for Brian Driskell's 20-13-1 Eagles as Blue Springs South designated hitter Bennett Collins crushed the first pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Jaguars a 3-2 victory over the Eagles in the Class 6 District 5 tournament on the Eagles home field.

Earlier in the dramatic semifinal game, the Eagles had the bases loaded twice twice in the fifth inning. Driskell was coaching from the third coaches' base box.

"I saw Brian and asked him, "Why in the heck are we still doing this? This is supposed to be fun,' said South coach Ben Baier, a longtime friend of Driskell. "The toughest thing about a game like this is that someone has to lose. Brian is pure class and so are his kids."

Driskell spent a lot of time with his seven seniors after the game.

"There are two days I hate as a coach," Driskell said. "The final cut-down day (selecting the players on his team) and today - when you have to say goodbye to your kids, especially the seniors. It's never easy."

Driskell paused for a moment and added, "I am so proud of our guys. They gave it everything they had (beating Blue Springs 2-1 in the opening district game). In nine of the last 10 years, Blue Springs or Blue Springs South have ended our season. They are both great programs with great coaches. Someday, though, we will do our best to find a way to beat them."

Brady Meyer's RBI single gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. John Malicoat's deep fly ball to center scored the game-tying run."

Bryce Meyer allowed two runs in six innings, giving up five hits and striking out two. Aaron Barr came on relief in the bottom of the seventh and allowed Collins' home run.

"That kid (Barr) means so much to our program," Driskell said, as Barr talked to teammates on the bench. "I know he feels bad, but that was one run - we had a lot of opportunities to score early in the game and couldn't come up with the big hit."

When Collins hit the first pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning,  it took a few seconds before he knew it was a game-winning home run.

When the ball cleared the right field fence the celebration began.

"I like to be at the plate in a situation like that," Collins said, as the No. 2 seed Jaguars punched their ticket to the 5 p.m. championship game against 30-8 Rock Bridge, a No. 1 seed that beat Sedalia Smith-Cotton 5-0 in the other semifinal contest. The champion ship game will be played at 5 p.m. at Grain Valley.

"When I hit it, I knew I got a good a good chunk of the ball, but I didn't know it was a home run until I got past first first base. That's when the adrenaline started pumping and I couldn't wait to get home to celebrate with my teammates."

While Collins crushed the home run, he gave credit to his teammates for putting him in the right frame of mind as he approached the plate.

"I got awesome team support as I went up to the plate," Collins said. "In fact, the guys in the dugout provided awesome team support the entire game. That was a tough game, against a great team, and we really respect Grain Valley. They made us earn this win."

Michael Petty also hit a home run for the Eagles, and his inside-the-park two-run shot gave South a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning.

"I had to work a little bit more for my homer," quipped Petty. "Their guy in center field made a great attempt - and when it rolled away from him I knew I had a good chance of getting a homer. We're such a close team. We eat out together, do homework together and love to play together.

"The support from our dugout was amazing during the entire game. A lot of teams talk about playing with their brothers, but when we talk about it, we mean it."

There were several dramatic moments for each team. 

Starter Grayden Seuferling allowed just four hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings. He handed the ball to relief ace Steven Ferro with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the fifth inning.

"Steven is comfortable in that spot," Baier said, after his team improved to 22-7.

"We feel confident getting Steven into the game in any situation. Grayden did a great job as a starter and Ferro got us out of that inning."

Ferro coaxed Hunter Nally hit to hit a sharp ball to second base, that Wyatt Denney caught for the last out of the inning.

"I've been in situations like that all season," said Ferro, who had two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings of relief. "Honestly, it's just another game for me. I know it was a big deal to get out of the inning, but I approach every inning I pitch the same way.

"I'm not going to get too high, or two low. I just wanted to keep them off the scoreboard because Grayden had done such a good job."

​Grain Valley infielder Michael Wilkey, left, is consoled by Eagles coach Brian Driskell following a 3-2 loss to Blue Springs South in the Class 6 District 5 semifinal game on the Eagles home field Thursday evening. Photo credit: Bill Althaus

Photo credit: David Rainey, Grain Valley News