The Claremore Zebras broke through with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, breaking a scoreless tie and handing the Grove Ridgerunners their first district loss of the season with a 5-0 decision on Monday.
The Zebras’ Cameron Smith was dominant on the mound, striking out nine and allowing just three hits in seven innings of work, completing the game with 82 pitches.
But the wheels would begin to fall off in the bottom of the sixth. Claremore (6-3 overall, 3-0 in District 5A-3) loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single.
Cordale Barton came on in relief of Spychalski, but the Zebras got another walk and four singles to score the five decisive runs.
Grove (5-4, 2-1) only got one runner in scoring position for the game when Brent Hall hit a two-out double in the top of the second. Barton and Austin Butler each had a single.
Claremore catcher Matt Whatley went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
The two teams will meet again on Tuesday in Grove with first pitch scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the Grove Sports Complex.
