Grain Valley’s baseball team responded to its first loss of the season in a big way Saturday.
The Eagles (4-1) scored 31 runs in two games of the Marshall Tournament, beating Knob Noster, 18-2 and Pleasant Hill 13-2.
Against Knob Noster, the Eagles notched only six hits, including a grand slam for Derek Kelton.
Kelton homered again against Pleasant Hill with three RBIs, while David Richards belted a two-run home run. Austin Gouldsmith was 4-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs.
“I thought we had some good at bats,” Eagles coach Mark Lyford said. “We took advantage of some opportunities. It came down to executing our offense with runners in scoring position. We played really solid.”
Jake Talamonte earned the win against Knob Noster, while Richards won against Pleasant Hill.
WEST PLATTE TOURNAMENT: A pair of wins Saturday put St. Mary’s back on the winning track.
The wins came after the Trojans (3-2) lost their previous two games.
The Trojans blew out University Academy 20-1 before blanking Lincoln Prep, 4-0.
“The biggest thing is, the kids are starting to play to their potential,” Trojans coach Will Rogers said. “They’re beginning to play to their level instead of playing down to the competition.”
Jake Rau was 4-for-4 with four RBIs against University Academy, while Paul Baker also drove in four runs on three hits. Chris Wiseman added two hits.
Against Lincoln Prep, Mike Thomason threw a complete game on only 78 pitches. He struck out five, scattered six hits and walked none.
James Newberry drove in two runs, while Wiseman added two more hits.
MARSHALL TOURNAMENT
GRAIN VALLEY 18, KNOB NOSTER 1
Grain Valley 373 05 -- 18 6 1
Knob Noster 100 00 -- 1 2 4
Talamonte, Perkins (4) and Parra, Crawford (4); Smith, Mackey (2), O’Brien (3) and Parillo. W-Talamonte. L-Smith. HR: Kelton, GV.
GRAIN VALLEY 13, PLEASANT HILL 2
Grain Valley 400 612 -- 13 13 0
Pleasant Hill 000 110 -- 2 5 2
Richards, Cruz (5) and Parra; Herrold, Todd (1), Snow (4), Drozed (6) and Camissano. W-Richards. L-Herrold. HR: Kelton, Richards, GV; Orozco, PH.
WEST PLATTE TOURNAMENT
ST. MARY’S 20, UNIVERSITY ACADEMY 1
Univ. Acad. 000 1 -- 1 1 4
St. Mary’s 52(13) x -- 20 15 1
Jackson, Gilmore (3) and Sims; Newberry, Baker (3) and Gordon. W-Newberry. L-Jackson.
ST. MARY’S 4, LINCOLN PREP 0
St. Mary’s 000 400 0 -- 4 7 2
Lincoln Prep 000 000 0 -- 0 6 1
Thomason and Newberry; Pitcher and catcher names unavailable. W-Thomason.
Friday’s result
WEST PLATTE 10, ST. MARY’S 7
St. Mary’s 302 110 -- 7 9 4
West Platte 021 52x -- 10 9 2
Rau, Wiseman (4), Pocock (5) and Newberry; Haus, Shepherd (4) and McAllister. W-Shepherd. L-Rau.

