Wildcat Baseball takes second in Stockton Tournament
By Coach Cole Roark
LICKING 12, STRAFFORD 6
BUFFALO, Mo. – The number five state-ranked Licking Wildcat baseball team opened the 2025 campaign in the Stockton Tournament. The two-site tournament began on March 22 with pool play at Buffalo High School. In the first contest of the spring, Licking faced a very talented Strafford team.
The Wildcats were bolstered with a very strong offensive output throughout the game. The scoring breakout began in the top of the second, as an error scored one run, Colin Kuhn drew a full count walk to score another, Karson Walker was hit by a pitch, and Kannon Buckner singled, driving in two more. The five-run inning allowed the Wildcats some breathing room, and starting pitcher Kannon Buckner helped to make it stand up. Buckner pitched four complete innings, allowing three hits, four runs (none earned) while striking out three on his way to his first victory on the mound. Cole McCloy finished the game on the mound in relief.
Offensive standouts included Colin Kuhn with four RBI’s on three hits, Karson Walker two hits and two RBI’s, Cole McCloy two hits and two RBI’s, Kannon Buckner two hits and two RBI’s, and Logan Buckner with two hits and one RBI. Balanced offensive output put the Wildcats over the Strafford Indians, 12-6.
LICKING 13, BUFFALO 1
BUFFALO, Mo. – In game two on Saturday, Licking faced off against site host Buffalo. As much as offense marked the first game of the day, strong pitching led to a comfortable victory for the Wildcats. Jordan Ritz started on the mound, and was nothing short of dominant. In his four innings of work, Ritz struck out ten, walked one, and allowed one hit and one run (unearned). Trent Wood got his first varsity pitching appearance and added two more strikeouts in two innings of work. Offense was still strong in the second game of the day, as Cole McCloy, Karson Walker, Jason Ingram and Isaac Rinne each collected two hits apiece. The six-inning game saw the Wildcats plate 13 runs, for a final score of 13-1.
STOCKTON 7, LICKING 6
STOCKTON, Mo. – With two wins on Saturday, the Licking Wildcats earned their championship berth and the chance to play the Stockton Tigers for an early spring tournament title. In a very tight game, the Wildcats competed with a very strong Stockton team for eight innings. Licking jumped out to a lead in the top of the first, with some slug in the top part of the lineup. Karson Walker doubled to lead it off, Cole McCloy followed suit with a double, and then with one out, Kale Cook smashed a ball into the gap for what looked like a sure double. He was called out on appeal after “not touching first base,” and with no video review to look back on, that one will be left to the memories of those who saw it. After plating two runs in the first, Stockton came roaring back in the bottom of the first, to make the score 3-2.
The game continued with some great plays on both sides, as the championship game took on a championship feel. Conway Adey started on the mound and gave it his all in his first appearance of the 2025 campaign. He handed the ball off to Karson Walker in the bottom of the third with the score 4-2. Walker got the Wildcats to the dugout with a timely strikeout, and it was Licking’s turn to score. A four-run fourth put the Cats on top 6-4, with a three-run double by Logan Buckner, who was then driven in by his older brother, Kannon Buckner. Walker continued his magic on the mound, holding the Tigers scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings. In the bottom of the seventh, a couple of tough bounces gave Stockton two runners on second and third. After an intentional walk to create the force, Walker got a huge strikeout for the second out of the inning. On what looked like a sure out to shortstop, a wild bounce became a single, and Stockton tied the game. Walker got a strikeout to end the inning, but the Wildcats went one, two, three in the top of the eighth.
Stockton in the bottom of the eighth found the right spot on the field to create a single and a bad hop to move the leadoff into scoring position. Another intentional walk, and then a bunt back to the mound resulted in a perplexing call, and the Tigers found themselves with bases loaded and no outs. The championship ended on a walkoff, final score 6-7, and Licking fell to 2-1 on the season.
It was a very well played ball game on both sides, from two very strong Class 3 baseball teams. For Licking, it was an opportunity to play in a tight game with a quality opponent and learn. It was a great opening tournament for a team with big goals. Well done, Wildcats.
