​Malicoat tosses gem in 2-1 win over Belton

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News


Grain Valley junior John Malicoat had a stiff challenge on his hands.

He was the starting pitcher in Monday’s Suburban White Conference game against Belton, and he matched up with Cooper Shrum, an NCAA Division I commit to the University of Tennessee.

Last time Shrum faced the Eagles, he tossed a complete-game shutout and allowed just three hits and struck out nine. On Monday, there was a scout in attendance at Grain Valley High School to watch Shrum.

Malicoat knew runs would be hard to come by in the matchup, so he brought his A game and allowed just one unearned run on four hits, walked three and struck out six in a complete-game effort, outdueling Shrum in a 2-1 victory.

“He did a great job working ahead,” Grain Valley head coach Brian Driskell said of Malicoat. “He would even tell you where some at bats are he wishes he had back. He allowed his defense to help him out.”

Malicoat stranded six runners and escaped a tough jam in the top of the third inning when the Pirates had runners at third and first base with two outs. Shrum was at the dish and drilled a pitch to center field but it was right at Carson Lundquist for the third out.

He also got some help from catcher Hunter Nally, who threw out two runners at second base trying to steal. Belton’s only run came in the sixth when Connor Gooding lined an RBI single to left, scoring Thomas Abate from second base.

The junior used his slider and curve ball to keep the Pirates off balance and was able to throw his breaking pitches for first-pitch strikes.

“I was feeling it,” Malicoat said. “The breaking pitches felt good in warmups. I was able to throw first-pitch fastballs to the bottom of their lineup. I expanded the zone and got a lot of Ks.”

The Eagles (18-11-1) got both of their runs in the bottom of the third. Freshman Brady Meyer and senior Aaron Barr led off the frame with back-to-back singles and advanced to third and second, respectively, on a sacrifice bunt from junior Carson Lundquist.

Senior Kaden Crandall followed with a safety squeeze bunt that allowed Mayer to score from third and Barr to advance. Barr crossed home on a ground out from junior Logan Bennett. That ended up being all the runs Grain Valley needed as Shrum was dominant, allowing two runs on four hits and he struck out 10 in seven innings.

“We talked a lot about it that we were going to have to win this game 1-0, 2-1 or 3-2,” Driskell said. “We had to find a way to scratch some runs across. They did a good job executing.”

Barr had the most success at the plate as he went 2-for-2 with a run scored. One of his hits was a few feet short of a home run as he doubled to deep left field in the fifth.

“Coach Driskell gave me some crap about it,” Barr said of the double. “He said the ball bounced 40 feet from the wall. I thought I hit it pretty well. I got it off the hands.”
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Grain Valley senior Aaron Barr, left, had two hits and a run scored at the plate and junior John Malicoat tossed a complete game and allowed just one run on four hits in a 2-1 win over Belton Monday at home in Suburban White Conference baseball action. Photo credit: Michael Smith
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