Liberal baseball coach Chris Dunlap was impressed with the way Weaubleau pulled out its win in the championship game of the Class 1 District 8 Tournament at Halfway.
“Trailing early 12-3, they beat Lakeland 13-12,” Dunlap said of the Tigers. “They kept chipping away.”
Liberal (11-8) is at Weaubleau (19-4) at 4:30 p.m. on Monday for a sectional game in the MSHSAA Class 1 playoffs.
Added Dunlap of Weaubleau: “They were well-coached (by Brett Bybee) and took a good approach at the plate. The top of the order was strong.”
Tiger Caleb Kauffman entered last week with an average of .492, eight home runs and 28 runs batted in. Devan Barger lugged another big bat for the Tigers (.462, 21 RBI).
Colten Selvey, a senior right-hander, will have the task of slowing the Tigers, Dunlap said. He’s 6-2 with a 0.69 ERA. The Jefferson College signee has struck out 124 and walked 18 in 60 1/3 innings.
Selvey was an all-stater last season as the Bulldogs, 20-5 overall, earned a share of the Spring River Valley Conference and placed second in Class 1 to LaPlata. Liberal earned another share of the crown this spring.
“We’ve played good baseball the last two weeks,” Dunlap said. “Hopefully, we’ve put it together.”
Liberal, seeded No. 2 on its diamond, won District 7 by beating Hume 16-0, Drexel 16-6 and Rich Hill 12-3.
Designated hitter Garett Rose, a senior, drove in four runs against Rich Hill.
The probable Liberal batting order, according to Dunlap, starts with sophomore Dillon Coleman in center field.
Completing the probable top four hitters are senior catcher Dylan Massa, Selvey and senior second baseman Broc Rose.
Rounding out the likely order are sophomore left fielder Garrett Miller, senior shortstop Reed Kirby, sophomore first baseman Trevor Harvey, sophomore third baseman Austin Spivey and Garett Rose for junior right fielder Eli Short.
Batting averages for the Bulldogs include .403 for Massa, .353 for Kirby, .318 for Miller, .309 for Broc Rose and .306 for Selvey.
Coleman is at the top of the order because of 17 stolen bases and 11 walks, Dunlap said.
RBI leaders include Broc Rose 16, Miller 15, Kirby 13 and Selvey 12. Massa has nine doubles, Selvey three homers and seven doubles and Kirby nine extra-base hits. Selvey, with 20, leads Miller (19) and Broc Rose (18) in runs scored.
Kirby is the Bulldogs’ No. 2 on the mound at 3-3 with a 4.00 ERA. He’s struck out 36 in 36 2/3 innings. Freshman right-hander Paul Dingman has numbers of 1-2, 2.95 and 24 whiffs in 23 2/3 innings.
Dunlap, who’s assisted by Travis Walton, is in his second year as head coach after helping Danny Powers for a season. Dunlap is a graduate of Girard High School, hurling for Dan Smith Sr., and Pittsburg State.
The winner of Liberal-Weaubleau faces either Wheaton or Norwood on Wednesday in the quarterfinals.
Sports
May 20, 2012
Liberal opens Class 1 state baseball tournament at Weaubleau
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Joplin women off to good start in Horton Smith Cup
Globe/Roger Nomer Debbie Doss, Joplin, hits a tee shot while competing in Monday's Horton Smith Tournament in Carthage.
Team Joplin has a decent start in its quest to wrangle the Horton Smith Cup back from Springfield.
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- Joplin Miners win Pryor Tournament
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