Despite trailing by two runs after six innings, the Wright City Wildcats came back to tie last week’s district final against St. Charles West before losing on a walkoff home run in extra innings.
St. Charles West scored runs in the third and fifth innings to take a 2-0 lead into the seventh inning.
Wright City senior Kyle Johnson led off the seventh inning with a solo home run to left field on a 3-2 count. Johnson homered off of St. Charles West pitcher Josh Newell. Johnson and Newell are both committed to Lindenwood.
“That was huge,” Wright City baseball coach Ryan Raterman said. “It was really cool too because those guys are going to be college teammates next year at Lindenwood... We needed a little bit of momentum.”
Bryce Williams walked with one out in the seventh inning to put the tying run on base. Freshman Micah Boeckman ran for Williams. Boeckman stole second base with one out to put the tying run in scoring position. With two outs, freshman Jake Orf doubled down the right field line to tie the game. Orf doubled off of pitcher Jacob Blassingame, who entered the game to face Orf after Newell pitched 6 2/3 innings.
“I think he was 2-2 and hit a double down the line,” Raterman said. “In a district championship game as a freshman, Jake Orf’s going to be a hell of a ballplayer.”
Hayden Kendall grounded out to second to end the top of the seventh inning.
Karson Quinn led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single. Newell hit a two-run walkoff home run to center field on a 2-0 count off Hayden Waters to win the game. Waters pitched the whole game for the Wildcats.
Despite taking the loss, Raterman credited Waters for his pitching performance in the game. Waters pitched six-plus innings and allowed four runs. He allowed two runs through the first six innings.
“Even though Waters takes the loss, it doesn’t really give out what he did,” Raterman said. “He gave us more than a chance. So I know he’s going to eat himself up because that’s the kind of ballplayer he is. But it takes a whole team. It’s not on him.”
Newell and Waters both started the game with two scoreless innings. Newell did not allow a baserunner until a one-out walk in the third inning. Wright City nearly scored in the top of the third inning, but a diving catch in left field on Duan McRoberts’ line drive kept the game scoreless. Raterman also cited Nick Moore’s groundout in the fifth inning. St. Charles West made a diving stop to throw Moore out at first base.
“They made two ridiculous plays,” Raterman said. “Otherwise, that game probably goes a different direction because we would have scored first. Their left fielder made a big-time play and then their third baseman, I think he just reacted. I don’t think he even knew he caught it.”

Waters did not allow a baserunner until there were two outs in the second inning.
St. Charles West loaded the bases with one out in the third inning on two walks and a double. They scored on an infield fly with one out in the inning. The ball was not caught and Newell scored to give St. Charles West a 1-0 lead.
After Newell and Waters both threw 1-2-3 fourth innings, Wright City created a scoring chance in the fifth inning. Williams walked with one out in the inning. Running for Williams, Boeckman stole second base and advanced to third on the throw. Newell struck out Mitts and Orf to end the threat.
St. Charles West added a run in the fifth inning. Quinn led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on Newell’s sacrifice bunt. Brenan Goering was intentionally walked to put runners on first and third base. Wright City was able to record an out at second base on a ground ball hit by Jrue Blassingame but was unable to record a double play. Quinn scored on the fielder’s choice.
“It should have been 1-0,” Raterman said. “There was a little mishap with rolling the double play and the guy scored there. I think it should have been a 1-0 game going into it.”
Wright City also had a chance to score in the sixth inning. Trey Brakensiek reached base to start the inning on a bunt single. Brakensiek advanced to second base on as stolen base. With one out, Logan McCartney laid down a bunt and reached first base. Brakensiek attempted to score on the play but was thrown out at home.
“I might have been a little too aggressive but we needed to create momentum and scratch one across because Newell was dealing,” Raterman said. “So I was trying to be a little greedy and they made a good play. And a high throw and he’s safe or up the line and he’s safe. And they made three really good plays. Kudos to them.”
McCartney advanced to third on the play but was stranded at third. Waters popped out to first to end the inning.
With the Wildcats facing a tough pitcher, Wright City’s goal was to put the ball in play.
“When a guy’s throwing like that you’ve got to just put something in play,” Raterman said. “And we’re a good bunting team and it worked.”
Newell struck out 10 Wright City batters in the game.
Raterman cited the adversity the Wildcats had to play with over the course of the season and in last week’s district championship game. Senior Ian Wolff did not play in the district championship game.
“One of our key players wasn’t in the lineup tonight because something came up,” Raterman said. “Next man up and we competed. We scratched across two runs in the top of the seventh. There’s a lot of teams that don’t do that. And that’s kudos to those guys.”
Raterman specifically cited the progress the program has seen since the senior class joined the team four years ago. The senior class are the group that helped build the program, Raterman said.
“Wright City baseball wouldn’t be what it is without those guys,” Raterman said.
Wright City finished the season with 15 wins. They beat Bowling Green in the first round of the Class 4, District 6 tournament. The Wildcats won the game 7-6 in eight innings after tying the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Waters hit a walkoff single with the bases loaded in the eighth inning to win the game for the Wildcats. Wright City beat Lutheran St. Charles 6-2 in the district semifinal to advance to the district final. Lutheran St. Charles was the top seed in the Class 4, District 6 tournament. Johnson pitched six innings for Wright City to lead them to the district championship game.
This is the second consecutive season Wright City has advanced to the district championship game.