May 20, 2023

By Fred Liggett
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The home of Lee’s Summit Tigers baseball now in its second season of use saw its first post-season event played at the East Trails Middle School complex as the Class 6, District 7 baseball tournament began on Wednesday, May 17th. Starting at noon four opening round games were played and three of the eight teams competing were from Lee’s Summit.

First up was the number four seed LS North Broncos game against number five seed Truman. The Broncos trailed 3-1 going into the sixth inning but the offense took over at that point and provided a 9-3 comeback win for LS North. Rockhurst nipped Ray Pec 2-1 in the day’s second game.

With two of the four semifinal teams already known it was time for the top seeded LS West Titans to take the field against the number eight seed Raytown. The Titans scored nine times in the first inning, three more in the second and four more in the third to win easily 16-1. Titans advanced to play a semifinal game against rival LS North.

The final game of the night found host and number two seed Lee’s Summit Tigers taking on the Raytown South Cardinals. The Tigers’ Drew Simpson got the team on the board first in the second inning thanks to an RBI single. Patrick Yokley would add one more run in the frame thanks to an RBI groundout. Grant Sumrall, Connor Anderson and John Howayek would all add RBI’s in the game en route to a 7-1 win. The Tigers enjoyed a strong pitching performance from starter John Howayek who threw for five innings before being replaced in the sixth by Jonas McNutt. The Tigers advance to play Rockhurst on its home field in the semifinal round.