May 8, 2008

The Ava High School Bears completed the South Central Association schedule at 7-0 with a win over Thayer last Friday afternoon to claim sole ownership of the SCA crown. Then, on Saturday, the Bears began play in the Ash Grove Tournament, and on Tuesday completed that series with another championship, winning four in a row to boost their season record to 18-2. This is the fourth year the Bears and Coach Rex Sawyer have won the conference title. Weston Loftin started the game here Friday for the Bears and got relief help from freshman southpaw Trae Shelton in the fourth inning, as the Bears cruised to a 20-3 win. It was Senior Night at Kerr Field, and the seniors and their parents were recognized prior to the game. Coach Sawyer also gave his seniors individual recognition late in the game, and allowed fans to give each an ovation, as the players were systematically pulled from the field and replaced with underclassmen. As would be expected in a 20-run game, lots of players figured in the tally, including senior Jonathan Batcheller who cracked a two-run home run in the first inning. Batcheller was 2-for-2 on the day with a home run and a double, scored two runs and drove in five. Loftin, Matt Ritter and Brandon Stanifer each had two RBIs on the day, and Matt Jenkins, Brady Quackenbush and Dustie Plumb had doubles. Ava scored 15 runs in the third inning of the game which ended after five. Ava defeated Ash Grove 8-2 on Saturday in the first round of the Ash Grove Tournament, then defeated Springfield Central 15-0. The Bears defeated Marionville 8-3 on Monday afternoon, and beat Ash Grove for the second time on Tuesday, 14-6, for the championship. Shelton pitched for the Bears in game one on Saturday, allowing just six hits and holding Ash Grove scoreless through five innings. Senior Nathan Goodall had a two-run home run in the second inning, was 2-for-2 in the game and had four RBIs. Batcheller was 1-for-3 with a double and drove in two runs. Stanifer got the start for Ava in the second game Saturday and was relieved by Sean Evans in the fifth. Ritter, Loftin and Batcheller each had three RBIs in the game and Quackenbush was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Loftin was on the mound for the Bears Monday with Batcheller behind the plate. Loftin was also 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and two RBIs, and Batcheller was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Ritter also had a double and an RBI, and Evans crossed the plate twice for the Bears. Batcheller was the Ava hurler in the championship game on Tuesday as the Bears assumed the role of visitors against host Ash Grove. Batcheller was 2-for-5 with a solo homer in the fourth inning. Jenkins also had a solo home run in the sixth inning. Goodall and Loftin each had doubles, and Adam Heriford scored three times for Ava. The Bears begin district play at Marshfield Saturday.