Viewfinder: Mehlville Slides by Fox

The nine seniors on the Mehlville baseball team made sure a disappointing season had at least one happy chapter on Tuesday.

In the final home game for the seniors, the Panthers scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning for a dramatic 4-3 win over the Warriors at Mehlville High School. Mehlville will lose staple first baseman Mark O’Moran and third baseman Alex Nikolaisen as well as center fielder Grant Steiger to graduation.

“Most have been here since I have and I’ve coached them in some way over the years,” said Mehlville coach Tim Ode. “It’s always a sad day to see the seniors go, but we have districts Saturday. There’s not that sense of urgency yet.”

The Panthers watched Fox tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the seventh after two wild pitches from Mehlville’s Kurt McGuire allowed them to score two runs. But the Panthers’ defense stopped the Warriors with stellar catches from O’Moran and Steiger.

Fox’s Ryan Drysdale struggled on the mound, allowing three runs in six innings and hitting a batter. Dan Branieke relieved for Fox and didn't fare much better, walking two batters.

The game was still tied going into the bottom of the seventh with one batter on base when starting pitcher Austin Simokaitis came up to bat. After a 2-1 count, Simokaitis drove in the game's winning run with a double to the fence.

The Panthers will now go to districts, where they are seeded fifth.

“We haven’t lived up to expectations, mine or the boys’,” Ode said. “This part of the season is prepping for districts. That’s been the attitude all along, backs to the fences playing day-by-day baseball and improving on the little things.”

The Panthers will open against Festus at Hillsboro High School Saturday at 12:30 p.m.