Blair Oaks rides early momentum to first state title since 2019 season

OZARK, Mo. (KMIZ)

Blair Oaks has completed its mission.

The Falcons finished off its MSHSAA Class 4 State Championship run by defeating Benton 7-2 on Thursday afternoon at Ozark Mountain Sports Complex. Mike DeMilia's team knocked three of the MHSBCA's top five ranked teams out of the playoffs during its run, including Thursday's win over the 32-win Cardinals in the Class 4 State Title game.

Blair Oaks has now won four state titles in its baseball program's history and secured its second state championship in the last five seasons.

The Falcons started the game by scoring four unanswered runs at the plate and holding the Cardinals to just one hit over the first three frames on the mound. Easton DeMilia gave Blair Oaks a 1-0 lead in the opening frame with an RBI single, and then, the Falcons added three more runs in the third inning, courtesy of a two-RBI hit from Colten Bryan and an RBI single from Harrison Lear. Meanwhile, freshman Wyatt Libbert faced the minimum number of batters in his first three innings on the mound, giving up just one hit and no runs during that span. Libbert ended the afternoon with 4.2 innings pitched, allowing five hits and one run while striking out three batters.

Benton cut down its deficit to 4-2 over the next three frames, but Blair Oaks responded with three more unanswered runs in the home half of the sixth inning. Evan McCullough and Warren Davis each posted an RBI in that frame.

Zane Halford finished the job on the mound for Blair Oaks, not allowing any earned runs and giving up just one hit over his 2.1 innings in relief of Libbert.

Blair Oaks posted nine hits as a team, including two multi-hit efforts from DeMilia and Halford. Five different Falcons also recorded at least one RBI, led by Bryan with two.

The Falcons end the 2024 season as MSHSAA's Class 4 State Champions and with a 26-13 overall record.