Top-seeded Central City/Centura ended the Arlington High School baseball season Thursday during the Class C-3 District Tournament.
The Eagles lost 4-2, closing out the spring campaign 5-18 overall, but with a solid performance against the 16-7 Kernels, coach Tyler Stender said. For one, senior pitcher Blaine Vogt pitched well.
“He had good stuff tonight,” the coach noted.
Vogt's defense played well behind him, too, keeping Arlington in the ballgame. Stender described it as a “clean game.”
Trailing 4-0 in Central City, though, the Eagles made their run at a first-round upset with a run apiece during the fourth and fifth innings.
First, Tanner Kyllo walked and Luke Sharp singled, setting up Vogt with one out. The senior singled, too, loading the bases for Killian McIntosh, who hit into a run-scoring error.
“We had an opportunity at a big inning there,” Stender said, noting how Tim Halley sent a well-hit ball into the outfield during the frame, too.
Still down 4-1 in the fifth inning, however, Arlington's Tyler Ott reached base on a dropped third strike. Andy Misfeldt singled next before a bunt moved the runners over.
Misfeldt, Stender said, “... hit the ball hard the second half of the year.”
Wes Monke recorded the RBI next, pulling the Eagles within the final margin — two runs. His team finished with six hits altogether.
Jakob Ruhl and Conner Erickson, meanwhile, led the hometown, victorious Kernels at the plate. Ruhl had three hits, while Erickson knocked in two runs.
Three Central City pitchers struck out seven Eagles, too, ending the AHS squad's season.
The loss was Stender's last game as well. The coach is taking his teaching career elsewhere next fall. He believes this baseball team can have a more successful summer as it played better down the spring's final stretch, including a tight game with the top-seeded Kernels.
AHS BASEBALL LINE SCORE
Thursday
Central City/Centura 4, Arlington 2
AHS (5-18) 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 — 2 6 1
CCC (16-7) 1 0 3 0 0 0 X — 4 8 1
