Tribe completes regional play taking No. 4 seed for state
MAGNET COVE — The “Roll Tribe” effect kept it’s spark in competition on the diamond as Poyen Indians wrapped up their weekend in the 2A Central Regional Baseball Tournament hosted in Magnet Cove falling short to Cedar Ridge 9-5 in the semifinals, then edged by Sloan-hendrix 12-2— earning the No. 4 seed heading into the Class 2A State Tournament.
The Tribe clinched their postseason tickets to the big dance on dirt by knocking off top seed South Side Bee Branch in a shutout 1-0 victory—securing their spots as state tournament qualifiers.
In a tough semifinal defeat by a comeback victory from Cedar Ridge, the Indians ignited momentum early with a 5-0 advantage. Cedar Ridge had a big eight run inning in the bottom of the sixth that held through to come out with the four-run win against Poyen. The Indian collected four hits in the frame with Kullen Conner leading the way with two hits, Ryan Ray and Hayden Byrd each powered one hit to spark the offense. Conner also led the scoring attack with two runs, while Ray, Karter Felty and Trenton Russell each scored one. Byrd drove in two runs for two RBIS, Ray and Karson Glindeman each had an RBI to drive in a run for the Tribe. On the mound, Glindeman pitched five and one-thirds innings and struck out one batter and threw 49 strikes. Colt Barrett pitched two-thirds of an inning and only gave up two hits, two runs and ignited the strike zone and threw nine strikes from 16 total pitches.
The Tribe put together a productive game plan of execution to extend their play on the diamond as one of 16 teams contending for the 2A state title led by first year head baseball coach Keith Barrett. The Tribe begins their quest in the state tournament in Greenland Thursday May 11 looking to take down No. 1 seed Greenland Pirates in the opening round.