MOARK Sports Report 5-18: Forsyth Wins Baseball District, Branson Teams Fall

Another busy day in postseason action in the region.

Forsyth Wins District Baseball Title
For the second time in three years, the Forsyth Panthers claim a District Baseball Championship. 

The Panthers scored eight runs in the seventh inning to erase a three run deficit and grab a 9-4 win over the Clever Blue Jays in the Class 3 District Finals in Strafford. The Blue Jays had taken advantage of earlier Panther miscues to build the lead which the Panthers overcame in the last inning. The Panthers will now await to see who their opponent will be in the Class 2 Sectional next Tuesday. Licking and Houston are playing for their District Championship today. That game will be covered on MOARK Sports. 

Branson Teams Fall
After both went extra time to win games on Tuesday, the time  ran out for the Branson Baseball and Soccer teams in District Play on Wednesday.

The Baseball Pirates, after winning a 14 inning game late Tuesday night, nearly knocked off the tournament's top seed, having taken a 2-1 lead to the seventh over Willard. The Tigers' Matthew Angel hit a home run to lead off the inning to tie the game which meant another day of extra innings for the Pirates. This time, it was Tigers who got the late game rally scoring a run in the bottom of the ninth for a 3-2 win. Eight of Branson's final nine games were decided by one run as their season ends with a record of 14-19. Meanwhile Willard will play Glendale at Pirate Park for the Class 5 District Championship on Friday after the Falcons 7-4 win over Camdenton. 

Meanwhile, the Branson Lady Pirates Soccer team, after winning their first round game on Penatly Kicks, saw their season end as Springfield Catholic defeated the Lady Pirates 7-0 in the Class 3 Semi-final at Springfield Glendale. The loss also marks the final game for Brandon Scott as Lady Pirate Coach who is leaving to take and administrative position with the Ozark School District this fall.