Wildcat Baseball fourth in Class 3

By Editor | June 5, 2024 |

Photo by Shari Harris
The Licking Wildcats brought home the fourth place trophy in the State Class 3 Championship. From left, kneeling, Karson Walker, Isaac Rinne, Austin Stephens, Logan Gorman, Keyton Cook, Kellar Davis, Garrett Gorman, Cole McCloy; standing, Asst. Coach Chris Harris, Kale Cook, Rusty Buckner, Silas Antle, Nate Gambill, Gavin Buckner, Jasper McCloy, Jordan Ritz, Conway Adey, Kannon Buckner, Head Coach Harv Antle and Asst. Coach Cole Roark.

Photo by Shari Harris
Wildcat catcher Cole McCloy secures the out at home in the third place game against West County.

By Shari Harris, Publisher

Wildcat fans sent their beloved baseball team off in style Wednesday, as they headed to Ozark for their second consecutive Final Four appearance. Supporters gathered along Main Street, cheering and waving signs as the team bus passed through.

Several traveled to the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex to watch as Licking faced Duchesne Wednesday in the semifinal game, and West County Thursday in the third place game.

Though the team’s fourth place finish wasn’t what they had desired, the Wildcats have a season of successes to be proud of, including their District, Sectional and Quarterfinal wins to make it to the Final Four for the second consecutive year.

Photos by Shari Harris

Final Four game recaps

By Coach Harv Antle

OZARK, Mo. – The Licking Wildcats saw their season come to an end at the MSHSAA Class 3 Final Four last week in Ozark. The Wildcats dropped both their games and finished fourth in Class 3 with a record of 25-5. The Final Four appearance was the second consecutive for the Wildcats and 10th in program history. Below are the game recaps:

DUCHESNE 10, LICKING 3

In the semifinal round of the state tournament, Duchesne jumped Licking with four first inning runs, added four more in the second, and cruised to a 10-3 victory.

Runners left on base plagued Licking throughout the game as the Wildcats stranded 14 runners in the contest. In fact, Licking outhit Duchesne 11 to 10 but could not match the Pioneers’ run production.

Keyton Cook started and took the loss for Licking. In 1+ innings of work, he allowed eight runs, six earned, on four hits and two walks.

Silas Antle relieved Cook and kept Duchesne from invoking the run rule. Over five innings, Antle allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while fanning five.

Kale Cook singled in Karson Walker in the fifth inning for Licking’s first run of the game. Keyton Cook doubled in the seventh and scored on an error before Walker doubled home Jordan Ritz for the Wildcats’ final tally.

Walker paced the offense with a 2-for-5 performance that included an RBI. Kellar Davis had a pair of hits as did Keyton Cook, while Antle, Kannon Buckner, Kale Cook, Garrett Gorman and Logan Gorman all chipped in with one hit apiece.

Photos by Shari Harris

WEST COUNTY 10, LICKING 2

OZARK – The West County Bulldogs produced some late-game offense to pull away from the Licking Wildcats for a 10-2 win in the Class 3 fourth place game.

Clinging to a 3-2 lead after three innings, West County used a two-run fifth and a 5-run seventh to put the game away.

Kellar Davis took the loss for Licking. In five innings, Davis allowed five runs on nine hits, walked four, and struck out three. Rusty Buckner relieved Davis and surrendered five runs on five hits.

Davis and Keyton Cook were the only Wildcats to hit safely in the game. Each finished the day with one hit while Karson Walker scored both of Licking’s runs and Silas Antle and Davis picked up RBIs.

Notes:

Licking ends the spring season with a 25-5 record. Overall, fall and spring combined, Licking finishes the year at 43-10.

The game ended a remarkable run for Licking and its seven seniors: Silas Antle, Rusty Buckner, Keyton Cook, Kellar Davis, Garrett Gorman, Logan Gorman and Austin Stephens. In their final two years, Licking had a combined (fall and spring) record of 91-19 with two district titles, two final four appearances, and one state championship.