It was the same team and the same heart-wrenching result for the Wright City baseball team in the Class 3, District 6 final.

The Warriors tied the game at 8 in the top of the seventh inning to force two extra frames, but fell to Lutheran St. Charles, 9-8, in nine innings. The Hawks will return to the state tournament, where they finished third a season ago – and earned that spot in defeating Wright City last season.

Wright City threatened in the top of the eighth inning, loading the bases after senior Kyle Tuepker and junior Clayton Sharp drew walks and junior Justin Bote ripped a ball that barely stayed in the park for a double.  

But Lutheran’s Devin Tasche got a strikeout to end the inning and the threat. The junior got the win in relief for the Hawks. For Wright City, senior Kyle Tuepker took the loss.

In the bottom of the ninth, Lutheran’s Kory Carter started the inning with a base hit up the middle. He moved to second junior Jake Versemann’s walk. Carter attempted to steal third and the pick off attempt was mishandled by the Wright City infield – scoring Carter and ending the game.

Things were going Wright City’s way to start with the Warriors scoring two runs in the top of the second inning in a bit of controversy. Lutheran St. Charles’ pitcher was charged with a pair of balks that advanced Wright City base runners into scoring position. 

Sharp then crushed a ball to dead center for a double and an RBI.

But Lutheran showed they weren’t out of it. Down 3-1 in the bottom of the third, the Hawks scored four runs on five hits, including a line shot down the right field line by junior Patrick Seacrist to take a 5-3 lead.

After Lutheran scored three more runs, it was Wright City’s turn to play catch-up – and they did just that in the top of the seventh inning.  A two-RBI double  by senior Chase Jones tied the game at 8.

Bote, seniors Troy Muse and Tyler Brittain, Jones and Sharp had hits on the day for Wright City. Tuepker had two RBIs in the game off a walk and a ground out. Jones, Sharp and senior Andrew Pfuhl also had RBIs in the game.

The Wildcats finish the season at 18-7 and say goodbye to nine seniors – Brittain, Kolten Goldsmith, Jones, Justin Lamparter, Donovan Mozee, Muse, Patrick Norwood, Pfuhl and Tuepker.