Charleston's Chase McClendon delivers a pitch Monday afternoon. McClendon got the win on the mound and delivered the game-winning hit in the Bluejays 5-4 win over East Prairie. (Chris Pobst/Standard Democrat) [Click to enlarge]

CHARLESTON -- Usually with the game on the line and all options pointing in a specific player's direction, that particular athlete wants to be the one to put their team over the top with the game winning play.

But, for Chase McClendon on Monday night, he was thinking differently.

"Actually, I was thinking that the guy behind me always gets to win the game," said McClendon, speaking of his opportunity with two men on and two outs and a chance to give his team the victory. "So, I thought I was probably going to walk and he was going to get the game winning hit."

That was not the case. He sent a ground ball through the right side of the infield to score the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull the No. 2 seed Bluejays ahead of the No. 7 seed East Prairie Eagles 5-4 in the first round of the Class 2 District 2 tournament.

As if connecting with the walk-off hit wasn't enough, McClendon also pitched the full seven innings allowing four runs on seven hits and 10 strikeouts. He also earned the win for his efforts.

"He threw his tail off," Charleston coach Michael Minner said of his starter. "All night long, he battled. We had some situations where he pitched us out of jams."

One of those jams was in the top of the seventh inning after Conner Scott knocked in Tyler Whybark with a go-ahead RBI single to put the Eagles ahead 4-3 with only one out recorded. McClendon got Mike Russell to ground out to first and then struck out David Pinzon to end the inning while Scott was left stranded on third.

"We've learned how to shut it off," said Minner. "Instead of giving up the fifth run and having to play for two, we shut it off and gave ourselves a chance. We took advantage " of our chance tonight.

The Bluejays chance came very shortly as they scored the tying and winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The tying run came off the bat of Ethan Browning, a pinch-hitting freshman who also came to the plate with two outs and needing to plate a run.

"He was shaking," Minner said of his freshman. "But, he steps up and hammers one and takes all the pressure off."

Browning's pinch-hit single scored Matt Medlock from second base to tie the game at four.

McClendon led the Bluejays at the plate as he went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double. Medlock went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored to go along with a nifty 8-to-6 double play he turned in the fifth inning while in center field.

Although he pitched a great game, Conner Scott received the loss in the Eagles' last game of the year.

"My hat's off to East Prairie," said Minner. "Conner Scott probably threw the ball game of his life. I'd like to think that we're a pretty good hitting ball club but he did a tremendous job tonight."

Scott tossed 6 2/3 innings allowing five runs on six hits and four walks. He also struck out six batters.

"That's why I started him today," Eagles head coach Gary Scott said. "I really had a lot of confidence in him. I knew he was going to throw strikes and battle. He gave us a great chance to win the game."

East Prairie was led by Whybark at the dish. Whybark went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Scott went 2-for-4 at the plate with one run scored and an RBI.

The East Prairie Eagles finished their season at 6-12 and were only one out away from continuing it further into district play.

"I thought we played awesome," said Scott. "I knew our kids were going to come ready to play. They're young but they know how to play the game. These guys are going to compete and they showed me a lot today. They give me a lot to look forward to."

Charleston is now looking forward to the Chaffee Red Devils, which is their next opponent.

"There's no pressure now," said Minner. "You've got four good ballclubs left and whichever ball team is better on the day is going to be the best team."

Charleston will battle the Red Devils today at 4:30 p.m. for a chance to play in the district finals.

Kelly 10, Crystal City 2

The Kelly Hawks moved one step closer towards a district championship as they took care of the No. 4 seed Crystal City Hornets in a slight upset, 10-2.

Josh DeBrock picked up the win for the Hawks. DeBrock threw all seven innings giving up only two runs.

The No. 5 seed Hawks will now face the No. 1 seed Scott City Rams today at 2 p.m.

Chaffee 3, St. Vincent 1

Third-seeded Chaffee avenged an early season loss as ' it ended No. 6 seed St. Vincent s season with a 3-1 victory in the first round of the Class 2 District 2 baseball tournament Monday.

The Red Devils advanced to today's semifinal against host Charleston at 4:30 p.m.

Russell Gardner (7-0) remained unbeaten on the mound this season and helped himself at the plate with two hits, including a triple. Teammate Trenton Horman also had a triple and two hits.

Gardner struck out five, walked four and allowed eight hits while going the distance.

Chaffee, which also had eight hits, scored a run in the second and two in the third.

Drew Armbruster and Dylan Moll each had doubles for St. Vincent. Adam Buchheit led the Indians with three hits and Armbruster had two.

Matt Hotop took the loss.

The Red Devils had suffered a 5-0 loss to St. Vincent in its own tournament.

"It was nice to get another shot at them and get a win," Chaffee coach Brian Horrell said. It was a well-played game by both teams.

Top-seeded Scott City was a big winner, getting past Woodland 11-1 in six innings.

Shae Simmons went 3-for-4, including stroking a triple and two doubles.

Josh Henson earned the win on the mound and went 2-for-2 at the plate for the Rams (17-1).

Scott City advanced to play Kelly in the semifinals at 2 p.m. today in Charleston.