by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — In a titanic Walter Johnson baseball battle between two teams with state tournament aspirations, Oxford and Cedar Vale-Dexter split a double-header Thursday afternoon.

Oxford, ranked No. 4 in the Kansas Baseball Coaches Association poll, traveled to Dexter to face the Spartans, who were ranked No. 5 (see poll rankings below). When the shouting was over, Oxford lost game one 5-1, but came back to win the second 11-3.

“The double-header lived up to its billing,” said Kyle Green, Oxford head baseball coach. “We knew this was going to be a huge test going in… We found out a lot about ourselves last night.”

Green said Oxford came out nervous in game one and committed three errors in the first inning which CVD capitalized by scoring three runs. The Spartans would eventually build a 5-0 lead with Oxford scoring the lone run in the bottom of the sixth.

“That’s the mark of a great team, they take advantage of little things like that,” Green said.

Grant Smith was the losing pitcher, allowing three hits, walking two while striking out five.

In game two, Oxford got its bats going early, scoring seven runs in the first two innings to take a 7-3 lead. Oxford then tacked on four more in the sixth to take control of the game.

Camren Clement was the winning pitcher in game two with Dylan Reuter coming in for the save.

“I liked the way we responded and bounced back, after losing our first game,” Green said. “I was talking to (Spartan) Coach Wachter and he said it’s always a split when we meet up. That’s just the way it.”

Oxford is now 11-1 overall and 9-1 in the WJL.

These two teams could meet again. They are both slated for the same regional in Sedan. The Blue Devils are going to be tough as well.

Oxford will be back in business when it plays Elk Valley/Fredonia today at 3 p.m.

The statistics are as follows:

Game 1

CVD       3   0   1   0   1   0   X     5

Oxford    0   0   0   0   0   1   0     1

Pitching

Oxford 

LP-Grant Smith (4-1), 4 IP, 5 K, 2 BB, 3 H, 4 R, 0 ER

App- Dalton Silhan, 2 IP, 3 K, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER

Oxford Offensive Highlights

Blake Thurmond   1-3, 1 1B, 1 RBI

Grant Smith  1-3, 1 R, 1 2B.

Game 2

Oxford    2   5   0   0   0   4   0   11

CVD       0   3   0   0   0   0   0    3

Pitching

Oxford

Starter- Camren Clement  3 IP, 1 K, 1 BB, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER

WP- Dylan Reuter  (2-0), 4 IP, 3 K, 3 H, 1 HBP

Oxford Offensive Highlights

Dakota Mitchell 3-4, 2 R, 1 1B, 2 2B, 1 BB

Grant Smith 2-5, 2 R, 2 1B, 1 SB, 3 RBI’s

Blake Thurmond 3-5, 3 1B, 1 RBI

Cal Shimkus 3-5, 1 R, 1 SB, 1 BB, 1 RBI

———

Kansas Baseball Coaches Association

Top 10 – Class 2A/1A

1. Pittsburgh St. Mary’s Colgan 
2. Troy 
3. Ellis 
4. Oxford 
5. Cedar Vale 
6. Leon Bluestem 
7. Spearville 
8. Valley Falls 
9. Howard-West Elk 
10. Elkhart 

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