Miller Cardinals claim first district title in 10 years

Defeats Ash Grove in district championship game at Morrisville High School

The Class 2, sixth ranked Miller Cardinals baseball team defeated Ash Grove, 2-1, in the championship game of the Class 2, District 11 Tournament in Morrisville on Tuesday, May 20.
After a scoreless first inning, Miller added a run in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. Ash Grove finally scratched across a run in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, Miller’s Sam Ferguson was able to steal home to walk off with the championship.
Ferguson didn’t have a hit but did score a run and Nate Hill was 2-3 with an RBI. Jase Wilkinson got the start going six innings, allowing two hits, one run with four walks and 14 strikeouts. Jared Lung got the win, throwing one scoreless inning allowing no hits, walking one and striking out one.
“This was a pitcher’s dual,” said Miller head coach Justin Snider. “This is our first district title since 2015. I am very proud of our kids.”
Miller reached the district championship game by defeating New Covenant Academy in the semifinals on Monday, May 19, 4-2.
After both teams scored in the first inning, neither team could score anything until the Warriors plated a run in the top of the fourth inning to take a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Miller was able to score three times to take a 4-2 lead. Gavin Hendricks drove in two runs with a double and Wilkinson added another on a sacrifice fly.
Hendricks was 2-3 with a double and two RBI, Colton Brown went 1-2 with an RBI and Wilkinson had an RBI in the win. Hayden Schnake started the game and went five innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Wilkinson got the win, going the final two innings, allowing no runs on no hits with six strikeouts.
“This was a tough, well fought game between two quality teams,” said Snider. “We struggled to get runs across.”
Miller is now 21-5 on the season and were scheduled to host Class 2, ninth-ranked New Heights Christian Academy in the sectional round of the state playoffs on Monday.