Park Hill South sophomore Carson Bjorn started on the mound in the Panthers 3-0 district opening loss to Staley at Liberty High School on May 25.
LIBERTY – Searching for its first postseason win since 2021, Park Hill South (13-19) awaited a 90-minute rain delay in the pitching duel with Staley (27-9) at Liberty High School on May 15.
The Class 6 District 8 Baseball opponents had polar opposite ends to the regular season. Third-seeded Staley had won 16 of its last 20 and Park Hill South had lost 13 of its last 15 before winning the last two games ahead of the postseason.
Nine days before meeting in districts, the Falcons won 11-0 in regular season play. The Panthers put up more of a fight – still failing to produce any runs – and came up short, 3-0.
The game was pushed from a 1 p.m. start to 2:30 and both teams left a runner on base in the first inning when there was a pair of walks. Brock Harmon singled to center field in the second inning, being left on then as well.
Staley got one run on the board in the bottom of the second inning after the bases were loaded with two walks and a single. Hayden Vizcarra caught a pop fly in right field and Gage Maddox ran home after tagging up with third base.
Park Hill South had a chance to tie or take the lead in the third inning when Michael Good singled and Christian Denig walked with one out. Carson Bjorn had a foul ball that was popped out and Cooper McQueen – who was the pitch runner for Denig – was caught out stealing.
The Falcons added another run in the fourth inning and Bjorn was on the mound until midway through the fifth inning, striking out one batter. He was relieved by Max Killoren when the bases were loaded, and he hit the first batter before closing out the inning and the score was pushed to 3-0.
The last six Panthers who batted failed to reach a base and their season ended with a four-hit, zero-run outing. There were nine seniors in this year’s class.