Blair Oaks baseball blanks California to extend winning streak

CALIFORNIA, Mo. - After starting 0-3 in Tri-County Conference play, the Blair Oaks Falcons are heating up at the perfect time.

David Dell pitched a three-hit shutout Monday, leading the Falcons to a 9-0 win against the California Pintos.

Blair Oaks finishes conference play with a 4-3 record, winning all four games in an eight-day span.

Blair Oaks didn't score against the Pintos until the top of the fourth inning, when Ian Nolph singled to score Parker Bax and give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.

The Falcons added three more runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and four in the seventh.

Dell got around a bases-loaded jam in the second inning, getting a strikeout and a fielder's choice to end the threat. He also turned a leadoff triple in the sixth into an out at the plate to keep the shutout intact.

Dell finished with three walks and four strikeouts, throwing just 89 pitches in seven innings. He also went 2-for-4 at the plate with two singles and two RBI.

Nolph went 3-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Falcons. He had three singles and reached base in all four plate appearances.

Bax had a pair of singles with an RBI. Nolan Hair and Reid Dudenhoeffer each had one RBI.

Blair Oaks (17-11) is off until next Monday, when it opens against either Warsaw or Knob Noster in the semifinals of the Class 3 District 14 Tournament at California. That game is scheduled for 4 p.m.

The Falcons are the No. 1 seed in districts, while California (13-8) is the No. 3 seed. The Pintos open against Versailles at 6 p.m. Friday in the first round.

In Monday's JV game, California defeated Blair Oaks 5-4.