Second consecutive Final Four trip for Wildcats

By Coach Harv Antle

Following victories in the sectional and quarterfinal round of the state tournament, the Licking Wildcats are returning to the Final Four for the second consecutive year. On Tuesday, Licking defeated Houston 5-2 and slipped past Forsyth on Thursday 12-11. The wins raised the Wildcats’ record to 25-3 for the spring and sent them to the Class 3 State Semi Finals versus Duchesne at Ozark Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark. Below are the game recaps:

LICKING 5, HOUSTON 2

HOUSTON, Mo. (Sectional game) – Trailing 2-1 in the top of the sixth at Houston, the Licking Wildcats rallied for four runs and held on to take down the Tigers 5-2 and advance in the state tournament.

Kannon Buckner drove in Keyton Cook in the second to give Licking the early lead. Houston answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning when Stone Jackson’s single plated a run and when the ball was misplayed in the outfield, Aiden Kelly raced home to put Houston in front.

The Tiger advantage was short-lived as Licking answered in the top of the sixth. The key blow of the inning was Kellar Davis’ 2-run single.

Silas Antle made the lead stand, holding Houston scoreless over the next two frames. Antle was the winner on the mound for Licking in relief of starter Keyton Cook.

Cook worked the first four and one-third innings and gave two runs on two hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. Antle went two and two-third innings allowing no runs on one hit with three walks and four strikeouts.

Davis, Cook and Buckner paced the offense. Davis was 2-for-4 with two RBIs while Cook and Buckner turned in 2-for-3 performances and Garrett Gorman drove in a run during the sixth inning rally.

LICKING 12, FORSYTH 11

FORSYTH, Mo. (Quarterfinal game) – In a wild, back and forth affair, the Licking Wildcats outlasted the Forsyth Panthers 12-11 on Thursday night in Forsyth.

Tied at 11 in the bottom of the seventh with two on and two out, Kale Cook blasted a pitch over the center fielder’s head to plate Silas Antle with the winning run and punch the Wildcats’ return ticket to the Final Four. The win was Licking’s 13th consecutive victory and avenged an earlier season loss to the Panthers.

The Wildcats jumped to an early lead with five first inning runs. Forsyth answered with five of its own in the top of the third. A Rusty Buckner double in the fourth helped Licking recapture the lead at 7-5.

Forsyth had a three-run answer in the fifth and led 8-7 after five. That lead swelled to four runs in the sixth when the Panthers added three, but the Wildcats were not finished.

In the bottom of the sixth, Licking rallied for four runs to tie the game 11-11. Buckner and Keyton Cook belted key doubles in the frame.

Buckner kept Forsyth off the board in the top of the seventh to set the stage for Kale Cook’s theatrics. Karson Walker and Kellar Davis were hit by pitches to begin the inning. A pair of fielder’s choices from Antle and Buckner left runners at first and second with two outs.

Cook then belted a 1-0 pitch deep to straight away center to plate Antle and end the game in walk-off fashion. Buckner was the winning pitcher in relief of Davis.

Davis pitched four and one-third innings. He allowed eight runs, five earned, on six hits and one walk with four strikeouts. Buckner worked the final two and two-thirds and surrendered three runs on four hits and one walk while fanning six.

Licking’s offense was consistent throughout the contest, scoring 12 runs on 13 hits off of three Forsyth pitchers. Walker went 2-for-4 and Antle scored four runs while Buckner was 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs, and Kale Cook also registered a three-hit night.

Keyton Cook doubled and drove in a pair of runs for Licking. Garrett Gorman was 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs, and Logan Gorman ripped a clutch RBI single in Licking’s sixth inning rally.