By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
The Warriors rebounded from a opening-round loss for a blowout win over Hydro-Eakly in the second game of the 2019 Class A district tournament last Friday at home.
Okarche racked up 17 runs on 19 hits, including two doubles and two home runs on route to a 17-8 win over the Bobcats to reach a best-of-two game set with Southwest Covenant for a playoff spot in the Class A regional tournament.
The Warriors jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning on five hits and a walk.
Dalton Schwarz got Okarche going in a big way with a solo home run to lead off the game, his first of three on the day and first of two of the game. Nick Baustert followed with a double before a single by Tucker Neuenschwander and a walk to Preston Hawk to load the bases. Two batters later Carson Baustert drove home two runs with a single to make it 3-0 before a second straight single by Jayton Crider to make it 4-0.
Hydro cut the lead to 4-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the second, but Okarche answered with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the frame.
Schwarz reached on a one-out walk before stealing second and moving to third while Neuenschwander reached on an error. Hawk followed with a two-RBI double to extend the lead to 6-2.
Okarche added a run in the top of the fourth after a scoreless third inning.
Neuenschwander led off with a double before reaching third on a groundout by Hawk. Bryce Reece followed with a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 7-2.
Both teams plated a pair of runs in the fifth inning as Okarche entered the final to frames with a 9-4 lead.
Lathen Stover and Carson Jacobs each reached on one-out walks to get things going for the Warriors in the fifth. Schwarz and Nick Baustert followed with back-to-back singles for two runs before Hyrdo answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame.
The two teams exchanged runs in the sixth inning before Okarche exploded for seven runs on six hits in the top of the seventh to all but seal the victory.
Nick Baustert led off the frame with a single before Hawk reached on a hit-by-pitch and a single by Reece to load the bases. Carson Baustert followed with a two-RBI single and two batters later Stover drove home two more runs with a double in the gap to extend the lead to 14-6. Carson Jacobs followed with a single before a three-run home run by Schwarz for a 17-7 lead.
Schwarz went 4-for-5 with two bombs and four RBI to spur Okarche’s offensive onslaught. Nick Baustert and Carson Baustert each finished with three hits while Neuenschwander, Crider and Jacobs each finished with two.
Neuenschwander recorded the win for Okarche, helping secure the Warriors’ spot in the two-game playoff with Southwest Covenant later in the day.
