The North Central Missouri College baseball team lost a pair of close games played in very differing styles over the weekend at St. Louis Community College. Unable to get their offense going in Saturday’s opener, the Pirates lost 2-0 to the Archers. On Sunday, North Central blew an early 7-0 lead after the top of the 1st inning, falling to the host Archers, 15-13. The losses, in Region 16 sub-region play, finish the NCMC season with a record of 22-31.
The offensive star for the Pirates on Saturday was freshman Quinsly Balentien, who was 3 for 4 and finished a homer shy of the cycle, with two stolen bases. Sophomore Kylan Easley and freshman Blake Collister pitched well, keeping the Pirates in the game.
After scoring 7 runs to open Sunday’s “must-win” game, freshman Trae Brownell struggled with his command. After Brownell was taken out of the game, North Central coach Donnie Hillerman used four relievers in the “slug fest” style defeat.
Freshman Enrique Madera was 3 for 6, with Balentien smashing two homers for NCMC, Connor Quick finished the year with a .458 average (tied for 5th nationally), with a 2 for 5, two run effort in Sunday’s season finale. Brendly Martina, in his final game in Pirate “red and black” was 2 for 4 with a homer, two runs scored, and two RBI’s.
Winning individual honors for the Pirate baseball program were “Top Hitter” Connor Quick, “Defensive Player of the Year” Jared Fry, “Freshman Of the Year” Enrique Madera, “Top Starting Pitcher” Kylan Easley, “Top Relief Pitcher” Lucas Hampton, and “Hustle Award” winner Derek Hussey.
