By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
WESTON - East Buchanan had waited a long time to win a district championship in baseball.
District runners-up in 2013. 2014. 2019. COVID in 2020. And all of the ups-and-downs in Wednesday's Class 2 District 15 title game made the Bulldogs wait a little longer.
Through a rain delay, lead changes, pitching changes and a flurry of hits and errors from both teams, East Buchanan (15-8) overcame the obstacles and held on for a 14-12 win over rival Mid-Buchanan in a three-hour affair at West Platte High School Wednesday.
After watching Mid-Buchanan rake in the awards and accolades in a variety of sports in recent years, the Bulldogs reveled in a big victory over their biggest rival.
"I can't say enough good things about the team," East Buchanan coach Dave Elms said. "It was a true team effort tonight. Some guys didn't get in of course, but they were involved with the game and encouraged everyone. I mean, phenomenal. First (district title in baseball) in school history."
"Mid-Buch has had total power over us the last four years in (boys' sports) at least," junior Conner Musser said. "And to finally bring it home for our seniors for the first time forever. At least, for the first time since I've been in high school, it feels really good."
East Buchanan got off to a strong start, hanging three runs on three hits and a walk in the top of the first.
The Dragons (14-6) responded quickly, scoring three runs off of a pair of walks and then RBI singles from Tyler Brown and Tucker Holden in the bottom of the frame.
After a hit batter and another walk, Mid-Buchanan loaded the bases, but what started as a light rain shower intensified somewhat and caused a delay that lasted just over 10 minutes.
"When's the umpire going to step in and put a stoppage to it?" Dave Elms had wondered. "It was getting a little dangerous. Couldn't grip the ball real well and the bases were getting slick and so forth. I know they were trying to prolong that inning and that streak and I understand. I'd have done the same thing."
Dave's big brother, Mid-Buchanan head coach Rod Elms, wanted the game to keep going, but understood the reason for the delay.
"That was a big time of the game to delay it," he said, "because momentum is big, but I get it. For safety of the kids. So, I get it."
The stoppage didn't slow Mid-Buchanan's early momentum. In the second at-bat after the game's resumption, junior Rawlins Brant ripped a grand slam to right field, giving the Dragons an 8-3 lead after a lengthy first inning.
After getting a run back in the second, the Bulldogs' bats came alive in the third. A two-run RBI double by Kaden Woodside and a pair of Mid-Buchanan errors sparked a five-run frame, and gave East Buchanan the lead back at 9-8.
"Our energy from the bus ride here all the way here, we were really up," said Musser, who scored two runs and drove in a pair. "We know that we've had a couple comeback wins this year. We knew that we're never out of a game with our offense, and are just really confident in ourselves."
East Buchanan hung another five-spot in the fifth inning, thanks in part to a double from senior Drew Thompson, two walks and another Mid-Buchanan error.
The Dragons got a run back in the bottom half of the fifth, but still trailed 14-9 entering the sixth.
After relief pitcher Denton Biller struck out two batters to end the top of the sixth, Mid-Buchanan loaded the bases with three walks, and Holden was hit by a pitch to drive in a run. In the next at-bat, junior Blake Hunter drove in two more runs with an RBI single to right.
Suddenly, it's a 14-12 East Buchanan lead headed to the seventh.
"They did not totally quit and they kept battling," Rod Elms said. "Now, was that some crazy baseball with walks and errors, and you can blame the rain with a wet field, but they put the ball in play, and I don't think they struck out much. That's the key in high school baseball. Put the ball in play. Make something happen."
In the seventh, senior Kaden Anderson climbed the hill for Mid-Buchanan and performed well, coming off of a wrist injury from a month-and-a-half prior. While he gave up a pair of two-out singles, East Buchanan's Cameron Henry lined out to third base to end the threat.
With three outs left to get, Dave Elms made a pitching change. Musser had made the start, but was pulled in the first inning after giving up eight earned runs, including Brant's grand slam.
After a solid 4.2 innings of middle relief from sophomore Bronco Whitt, Elms decided to give Musser another chance. Mid-Buchanan got the tying run to the plate, but Musser got the save in just four at-bats.
"My coach told me, 'Wipe everything, you're the man, go out there, fresh mind and go attack them,'" Musser said. "Coach (Scott) Antle said his whole motto, this whole district tournament was 'go take it,' so that's what was going through my mind in that last inning."
All-in-all, a wildly entertaining game. A combined 26 hits. Three lead changes. Rain delay. A full, divided crowd. A storied rivalry. District title on the line.
As fun as all of that is, it's tough to be on the losing end of a game like that. But, Rod Elms could take comfort in one thing Wednesday- being proud of his little brother.
"He's a good coach," Rod said of his brother, Dave. "If I'm going to lose a district title to someone, I'm glad it was him, because he deserves it."
East Buchanan will face District 16 champion Bishop LeBlond in sectionals on Monday in Gower. LeBlond took down Maysville 11-10 in walk-off fashion.
You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.