Meadow Heights baseball makes history with C2 S1 win

Meadow Heights hitter Chase Conrad connects on a pitch against Crystal City in the MSHSAA Class 2 Sectional 1 in Patton on Monday.

Michael Jeter ~ Southeast Missourian

PATTON - The Meadow Heights varsity baseball program had never won a district championship, let alone a sectional game until Monday when the Panthers took down Class 2, District 4 champion Crystal City, 6-5.

“This was a team effort, all the way around.” Meadow Heights coach Dustin Lindgren said.

The host Panthers were quick to return to the dugout, setting down the Hornets in the first inning with no damage done offensively. However, the same could not be said for Crystal City, as Meadow Heights (13-8) plated three runs on two Hornet errors.

Panther starting pitcher Kade Lindgren allowed two base runners in the top half of the second frame, but a pickoff throw from freshman catcher Ransom Grindstaff to first baseman Chase Conrad, nailing a Hornet base runner, got Lindgren out of the inning.

“Yeah, Kade kind of had some nerves there,” Lindgren said of his son. “But I told him to channel his emotions because we’ve made it this far. Just throw strikes and let your defense work behind you.”

Crystal City began to show life in the third, as Lindgren battled with his control.

He walked back-to-back Hornet hitters, but with two outs, Crystal City (14-9) cut its deficit to 3-2 on a two-run single by Robert Schaumberg. That was followed by a wild pitch, which tied the game at three.

Meadow Heights took the lead again in the fourth on a Crystal City error for a 4-3 score, while the Panther defense was very good in the fifth inning.

The Meadow Heights baseball team poses after winning the MSHSAA Class 2 Sectional 1 against Crystal City on Monday in Patton. (Michael Jeter ~ Southeast Missourian)

Meadow Heights second baseman Morgan Lincoln made a nice grab to rob a hit from Crystal City hitter Kaden Adams, while Grindstaff blocked several balls in the dirt to limit the Hornet offense.

“I can’t say enough about him,” (Coach) Lindgren said of his catcher. “He’s our workhorse. As a freshman, you just don’t see that kind of work he puts in to make himself this good this soon.”

The Panthers added two runs in the sixth inning, as Koby Cook led off the inning with a single up the middle. The next batter, Lincoln, connected on a single to right field, driving Cook to third base.

Lincoln stole second base and with runners on second and third, Will Green drove in both Cook and Lincoln on a base hit through the left part of the infield, putting Meadow Heights up 6-3 heading into the final inning for Crystal City.

Meadow Heights coach Dustin Lindgren made a pitching change in the seventh inning, bringing in the sophomore Green.

With one out, Green began having trouble locating his pitches.

He allowed a triple to Nathanial Pruneau, before walking the next two Hornets to load the bases.

Coach Lindgren relieved Green with Grindstaff, and after a sacrifice fly that scored a run to cut the lead to 6-5, the freshman would get the final out by strikeout, securing the save and the win.

“He came into the game in a tough situation there in the seventh and that was huge for us.” (Coach) Lindgren said of Grindstaff.

Cook led the offense with two hits, going 2-for-3, while Green, Lindgren, and Conrad all drove in a run each.

Lindgren earned the win for the Panthers on the mound, pitching six innings, striking out eight, while allowing three earned runs.

“We started working together really good about midway through the season,” Lindgren said. “With the boys not getting down on each other and picking each other up and that’s made the difference.”

The Panthers (13-8) will make their first-ever visit to quarterfinal action on Wednesday and will play at Holcomb at 4:30 p.m. The Hornets (19-5) defeated Ellington, 8-1, on Monday.