East Buchanan blows past Lynville-Sully at state baseball tournament

CARROLL – East Buchanan coaches conveyed a specific and simple pre-game message.

The Buccaneers were about to play baseball. Just baseball, regardless of the stage, venue and crowd.

Play the game they love and in the same manner that produced their first state appearance.

“Our coaches knew we deserved to be here,” East Buchanan sophomore Keenan Pals said. “As soon as we came on the field, we just knew our job.

“Coaches said that it’s purely baseball. We took that to heart and just played here.”

Seventh-seeded East Buchanan stunned No. 2-seed and defending state champion Lynnville-Sully with a four-run first, pulled away late and stifled batters behind starter Will Hansen in a 12-1 victory in six innings in the Class 1A state baseball quarterfinals Monday night at Merchants Park.

“We knew they were ready,” said East Buchanan Coach Thomas Crawford, noting that players were chomping at the bit to play since their gameday breakfast was delayed. “They didn’t want to sit around. They wanted to get cuts, play catch or something, getting dialed in. We got dialed in early and kept it with us.”

The Buccaneers (18-9) claimed their first state win and advance to Wednesday’s semifinal against No. 3 Saint Ansgar (22-7).

“I’m really excited,” Hansen said, “but we’re not done.”

East Buchanan was unfazed by the state debut. They appeared comfortable and experience, exuding more poise than their counterparts.

“There were definitely some nerves,” Hansen said. “In the back of my mind, I’m thinking that we’re happy to be here. Enjoy every moment. You just have to grind it out.”

After a strikeout to open the game, the Buccaneers turned patience into production. Hansen and Pals drew consecutive walks and advance on a wild pitch. Tristan Cornell followed with a base hit to score Hansen for the game’s first run.

Pals scored on a passed ball, Brady Van Scoyoc walked and scored on Trey Cornell’s groundout and Nolan Peyton added an RBI single for a 4-0 lead after the first half-inning.

“It definitely helped,” Hansen said. “Run support is a big thing. I went out there, knowing I could give up one run right away. Take deep breaths and keep going back at them.”

Lynnville-Sully did get on the board in the first. Terran Gosselink’s RBI single chased home courtesy runner Ethan Dunsbergen but that was it for the Hawks.

Scoring was paused until East Buchanan erupted for six in the fourth. The Buccaneers took advantage of more wild pitching with five more walks and sprinkled in a couple of timely hits, forcing starter Carson Maston off the mound before having to come back to finish the inning when two relievers couldn’t thwart the Buccaneers.

“The team did a great job at the plate,” Crawford said. “Both hitting the ball hard, finding the gaps, and also staying disciplined to draw plenty of walks.”

Jacob Yearous and Hansen set the table with two walks. Pals delivered a two-out single. Tristan Cornell singled and a walk to Van Scoyoc loaded the bases. Consecutive bases loaded walks to Trey Cornell and Peyton made it 8-1.

Brady Hogan burned the center fielder for a two-run double, extending the East Buchanan lead to nine.

“At the start of the year, we scored 10 runs in the first inning and then zero throughout the rest of the game,” Pals said. “We knew we had to keep going. … We’re getting the momentum and just keeping it.”

The Buccaneers added a run on a wild pitch and an error in the sixth to enact the mercy rule.

Hansen stifled the Hawks most of the game, scattering five hits and striking out six through 6 2/3. He was lifted after 89 pitches, giving him the chance to pitch Friday if the Buccaneers reach the finals. Van Scoyoc secured the final out in relief.

“(Hansen) did a really good job of being efficient,” Crawford said. “He was right around the strike zone all night, mixing in different pitches to keep hitters off balance. The defense did a great job, making plays behind him when the ball did get put in play.”

Pals tallied three hits and two RBIs, while Tristan Cornell and Brady Hogan had two hits apiece. Trey Cornell, Nolan Peyton and Brady Hogans had two RBIs apiece.

Saint Ansgar advanced with a 3-1 victory over Lo-Ma. The formula for the Buccaneers first state semifinal is the same as Monday.

“Have hot bats,” Pals said. “Our pitching is great. Our team is on fire, right now.”

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