Chillicothe claims Class 4 District 16 baseball title with dominant win over Savannah

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) – After two action-packed days at Missouri Western, the Class 4 District 16 baseball tournament wrapped up Wednesday night with a decisive championship performance from the Chillicothe Hornets, who punched their ticket to the sectional round with an 11-1 win over Savannah.

The top-seeded Hornets cruised past Lafayette 6-0 in the semifinals, while second-seeded Savannah reached the title game after holding on to beat Maryville 5-4 on Tuesday. Chillicothe needed just six innings in this one to close out the Savages and secure the district crown. 

Early on, it was a pitcher's duel. Chillicothe’s Noah Rinehart made quick work of Savannah’s lineup through the first two innings, while Savannah starter Braylon Ellis worked out of an early jam, stranding two runners in the bottom of the first by getting Dane Ireland to chase a strikeout.

However, the Hornets broke through in the second after Hubby Ralls reached on a single and advanced to second on a pitch in the dirt. A walk then put Cooper Robinson aboard, and both runners attempted a double steal. However, Savannah catcher Landon Noland delivered a perfect throw to third to catch Ralls for the first out. A wild pitch later in the inning still brought home a run, giving the Hornets a 1-0 lead, though two more runners were erased on the basepaths.

The third inning is when Chillicothe fully took control, with Ellis struggling to find the strike zone. Savannah turned to Jagger Jackson, but the Hornets quickly took advantage. Ireland roped a two-run double to the center-field wall, stretching the lead to 3-0. Ralls followed with a nearly identical shot for another RBI double, and Robinson laid down a perfectly placed bunt to bring in another run, pushing the margin to 5-0.

Savannah got its lone run in the top of the fourth off a wild pitch, but Chillicothe responded with six more in the bottom half to initiate the run rule. The offensive outburst sealed the 11-1 victory and the district title.

Chillicothe now moves on to the Class 4 sectional round, where the Hornets will face the winner of Excelsior Springs vs. Benton.