The Excelsior Springs Tigers Baseball team definitely proved that good pitching wins Baseball games, as the Tigers did not allow a single run in their two games in the State Final Four Baseball Tournament, and they scored just enough runs to win the Class 4 State Championship, on June 3 and 4 at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark.

The Tigers began their championship run by winning the District 15 Tournament that was played on their home field. In that District Tournament they shut out Richmond 10-0 in a semifinal contest, and then beat Oak Grove 5-3 in a close District Championship game. Excelsior Springs punched their ticket to the Final Four by topping St Joe Benton 8-4 in a Sectional game, and they then squeaked by St Michael of the Archangel 8-7, and earned a spot in the “Big Dance.”

In the Final Four State Tournament in Ozark, Excelsior Springs opened up with a State Semi Final match up against Springfield Catholic on June 3, and they got great pitching, good defense, and timely hitting and pulled out a 2 to 0 win.

The Tigers scored both of their runs in the second inning, with the big blow being a double by Landon Marcum, who also scored one of the two runs. Kaelan Bedford was the winning pitcher for Excelsior Springs, as he threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings, and scattered only 5 hits, while striking out 7. Marcum picked up a save, as he recorded the final two outs, without giving up a hit while striking out one hitter.

On the next day, June 4, Excelsior Springs squared off in a State Championship game against the Orchard Farm Eagles, who had defeated Westminster Christian in an 11 to 10 slugfest the day before. As was the case in the Semi Final game for the Tigers, this was another great pitcher’s duel. Excelsior Springs got off to a great start as they scored two runs in the top of the first inning. Spence Gibbs led off the game with a single, and after Kaelan Bedford drew a base on balls, and both stole a base, Brody Querry drove in both runners with a base hit, and the Tigers had a quick 2-0 lead. However, that was it though, as the Tigers would not only go scoreless for the rest of the game, but they would also fail to collect another hit in the contest. The good news though, was that they would not need any more offense, as Landon Marcum pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only 1 hit for the seven inning contest, with 4 strikeouts and no walks, while improving his season record to 10-1, and the Tigers came away with their second 2 to 0 win, in as many days. and earned the State Championship Trophy. Ty Thorp was the tough luck loser for Orchard Farm, allowing only 2 runs on 2 hits, while striking out 6 and walking 2. Nolan Spaeth had the only hit for the Eagles.

An interesting wrinkle to the State Championship, is that the Tigers played the State Tournament, without their Head Coach Cale Lyons in attendance. Coach Lyons is currently deployed overseas, with his National Guard unit, and is not expected to return to the United States until sometime in 2027. However, the Coach did have a chance to watch the two Final Four games over the Internet, on the Missouri State High School Activities Association Broadcast Network. Cody Vaughn was the acting Head Coach for Excelsior Springs.

The Tigers finished 29-7 on the season, while Orchard Farm was 25-9. This was the first State Baseball Championship for Excelsior Springs, and their 10th overall State Title.