Roff to play Tushka in Class A finals

After rallying to beat Wright City 4-3 on Friday, Roff is set to play top-ranked Tushka in the Class A state finals at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Roff freshman shortstop Wil Joplin charged the high chopper just behind the mound as he faced a dilemma.

Try to roll a double play or try to cut the tying run off at the plate.

He chose wisely as he threw home, averting what could have been a disaster to propel No. 3-ranked Roff to a wild 4-3 comeback win over No. 2 Wright City in Friday’s Class A state baseball semifinal at Dolese Park.

“My instincts are just to make the big play,” Joplin said. “It paid off.”

Roff (24-8) plays No. 1 Tushka at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, a battle between the Simon brothers. Ead coach Roff and Dax coaches Tushka.

Roff (24-8) had rallied against the odds, squeaking out four runs off Wright City senior Robert Briley after he took a no-hitter into the fifth inning.

He was dominating with an overpowering fastball and strong breaking ball. He even hit an oppositefield two-run homer to take the lead.

But Roff scored two runs in the fifth and sixth innings, primarily using the bunt to move runners and score.

“Once we got that first guy on we just base-balled them to death,” Roff junior catcher Dayne Bowerman said.

It was Bowerman and Joplin who put a stop to Wright City’s rally.

Wright City’s first two batters reached on Josh Lewis to open the seventh. Justin LeCrone then hit a high chopper that just got past Lewis.

Joplin charged and threw home. But his arm slot dropped and the ball went up the third-base line. Somehow, Bowerman caught it and tagged Kaden Crosby as he slid headfirst into the plate.

“That’ a big-time catch and play and a big-time play for a freshman shortstop, I guarantee you,” Roff coach Simon said.

Tushka 6, Amber-Pocasset 3

Tushka coach Dax Simon had full faith in right-handed pitcher Darin Brown, even after using him Thursday.

“I joked with him that (Thursday) was the best 13 pitches in the state tournament anybody’s ever thrown,” Simon said. “That’s what I love about my guys. They’re just team guys. He came back and threw well today.”

Brown this time pitched all seven innings, shutting down a red-hot AmberPocasset offense in a 6-3 win.

No. 5 Amber-Pocasset (22-7) entered the game having scored 10 or more runs in eight of its past nine games. But Brown held it to just three hits the first four innings.

No. 1 Tushka (27-2) took a 4-0 lead after three innings on RBI hits by Brown, Koty Frank and Trenton Fugate. Tushka added two more in the fifth.

Amber-Pocasset scored twice in the sixth and looked to rally in the seventh by getting the tying run to the plate. But Brown got the final out.