NMCC baseball team eyes state title

NEW MADRID -- Just a year removed from the most successful postseason run in New Madrid County Central baseball history, the Eagles find themselves once again on the precipice of greatness.

They'll continue their quest for a state championship on Tuesday when they battle Christian (O'Fallon) High School in the Class 3 semifinals in O'Fallon.

"We're real excited," NMCC head coach Joseph McClarty said of making it back to the final four. "The guys talked about at the beginning of the year that they really wanted to make a repeat run. I said we'd have to put in a lot of work and a lot of effort and the guys have done that.

"We've been very fortunate to make it this far again. The guys have just found ways to win and that's what it takes this time of year. Survive and advance."

Despite reaching this point just a year ago, this season's team has a much different feel than the one that took home third-place last year.

Gone are long-time starters such as JaShawn McDaniel, Tripp Keene and Logan Frazier in what was a senior heavy lineup. In their place is much younger feeling roster that includes three underclassmen starters in sophomores Garrison Keene and Tyler Sprouse as well as freshman Palmer Campbell.

"They're two totally different teams," McClarty said. "Last year you had all the senior leadership, your true ace in McDaniel and a solid No. 2 in Godwin. We had some pretty strong sticks up and down the lineup too. This year we've gotten timely hitting.

"We're not going to slug the ball, we're more of a singles type team that goes base to base and takes advantage when we can. That just comes with the fact that we have a young group, they're still learning to adjust and getting bigger and stronger."

With the fresh faces look comes a more inexperienced, but deeper pitching staff that's anchored by senior ace Austin Godwin.

McDaniel's performance on the mound was a big reason the Eagles reached the final four last year and so far it's been a mixture of Campbell and Godwin as starters leading the way.

Juniors Grayson York and Garrison Keene have both provided valuable innings in relief so far and in the final two games could see more action from the bullpen.

While not sure of the order, McClarty expects Godwin and Campbell to start these final two games.

"They're definitely our two starters while we're up there," he said. "The good thing is we have guys that we know can come in and get us six to nine outs in relief as well. Just like Grayson (in the quarterfinals), he got nine big outs for us.

"We know we can turn it over and Garrison can give us six to nine outs as well. I'm as confident in those two guys as I am Palmer or Godwin. Even Gage Silman can come in if we need him."

NMCC's first big test comes against Christian, who is the only new team from last year's final four. Springfield Catholic and reigning champion Fatima return and face off in Tuesday's other semifinal matchup.

Christian comes into the final four with a 17-10 record, compared to the Eagles' mark of 15-13.

Their only common opponent this season was Notre Dame and neither team made it out of that matchup looking good. NMCC fell to the Bulldogs 11-1 while Christian suffered a slightly worse loss, 17-2.

Though many coaches may wince at relying on so many young kids on high school baseball's biggest stage, McClarty feels confident nerves won't be an issue. This includes trusting a freshman pitcher, who is one of the few players too young to have made last year's trip.

"Palmer has played a lot of baseball and been in a lot of big games in his life," he said. "That's just from playing summer ball at a high level and he's done that for a long time. Garrison Keene is the same way. He had caught some big games before.

"We're not scared to use them and we know what we're going to get when we throw those guys in there. They're going to battle, give 100 percent and not go down without a fight."

One thing the Eagles will certainly hope for this time around is better weather.

Last year's tournament was plagued by rain delays with NMCC and Hallsville eventually declared co-third-place finishers when weather halted their third-place game almost as soon as it started.

NMCC and Christian will kick off their semifinal contest Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon. If NMCC can get past the Eagles, they'll play for the title on Wednesday at 1 p.m. on the same field.

A loss would mean another fight for third-place on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. also at T.R. Hughes Ballpark.

"Even though some of these guys didn't play, they were there last year," McClarty said. "They witnessed it and went through the playoffs with us. They knew what it took to win and saw from that group of seniors last year.

"They set a foundation of hard work can do. These guys are just trying to follow in their footsteps and trying to keep this thing going."