CLAYTON, Mo.– The Elsberry Indians defeated the Maplewood-Richmond Heights Blue Devils 7-3 on Tuesday night in the Class 3 State Sectional and will now move on to Quarterfinals Thursday.

The Indian’s struck first, picking up a run in the first inning against Maplewood-Richmond Heights senior starter, Cashen Schranz. Schranz issued a walk to Elsberry’s leadoff man Kaden Kinsler, and Joel Mound answered with a long shot down the right-field line. Mound picked up a triple and an RBI, putting Elsberry up 1-0. Schranz was a warrior on the mound, he responded with three strikeouts in a row to get out of the inning, stranding Mound at third.

Elsberry’s hurler Sean Phillips was lights out on the mound, shutting down the Blue Devils in the bottom half of the first 1-2-3.

Schranz was electric, doing his best to keep the Indians from scoring in inning two. The Maplewood-Richmond Heights senior recorded a ground ball out, and a swinging strikeout before Elsberry came knocking again. Kyle Turnbull was hit by a pitch, starting a two-out rally for the Indians. Nine-hole hitter, Ben Dowell showed his might with a line-drive double to right field. With runners at second and third base, Kinsler hit a hard ground ball back to Schranz. Schranz fielded the ball cleanly, throwing Kinsler out at first for the third out, ending the run threat.

Phillips recorded eight strikeouts, allowed no hits, and held the Blue Devils scoreless through his first three innings of work.

In the fourth inning, the Indian’s offense came alive, with a one-out double from Eli Gladney. The red and white used the turf field conditions to their advantage with an excellent squeeze bunt from Turnbull, which plated run two for the Indians. Dowell bunted for a hit, reaching base and moving Turnbull into scoring position. After a base running error, the Indians lost a runner and tacked on an out. Kinsler answered with a single to right field, adding insurance runs for Phillips. The Indians scored three runs in the fourth before three outs were recorded, giving the team a 4-0 lead.

Maplewood-Richmond Heights picked up a run in the fourth inning after a walk was issued to three-hole hitter Schranz. Catcher Jackson Corcoran sent a shot to right-center field scoring Schranz, putting the Blue Devils on the scoreboard. Phillips followed up with two strikeouts to end the inning.

After a scoreless fifth inning from both sides, Elsberry and Maplewood Richmond Heights posted runs in the sixth inning. The Indian tacked on one run, while the Blue Devils tacked on two, which made the score 5-3 headed into the final inning of play.

Elsberry attacked in the seventh inning, and put two runs on Blue Devil relief pitcher Matthew Langston.

Kinsler was on the bump to close out the game for Elsberry. With a score of 7-3 in the seventh inning, the team needed three outs to secure the win and advancement to the Class 3 State Quarterfinal. He quickly recorded a 1-2-3 inning, putting an end to Maplewood-Richmond Heights season.

Phillips the winning pitcher, recorded twelve strikeouts in his appearance on the mound, and Kinsler recorded one strikeout, getting the save. Their combined effort of 13 strikeouts led the Indians to a 7-3 win.

Elsberry will battle Father Tolton at home on Thursday with first pitch set for 5:00 P.M. Eagle 102 Sports will have the call from American Legion Field, with pregame set to begin at 4:45 P.M. You can follow all of the action on-air and online at 102.1 FM, kjfmradio.com, our KJFM Radio app and on Alexa!