The Falcons lived up to their No. 2 seeding Monday night, retiring third-seeded Marceline 4-1 on the shoulders of a complete game from starting pitcher Payton Oeth.

The Falcons now advance to the district championship tonight (Wednesday) against first-seeded Salisbury. The 19-2 Panthers defeated fifth-seeded Westran 11-1 in five innings in Monday’s opener. Both received first-round byes in the six-team tournament.

“I’m so proud of these guys,” said Fayette coach Andy Oeth after Monday’s game. “Some of the narrative was that we shouldn’t have been the No. 2. Arguments can be made. But the boys weren’t willing to listen to that. And they stepped up and played a really good game.”

The Falcons took advantage of some early pitching struggles by Marceline starter Trace Huber. The senior left-hander walked the first three batters he faced and allowed Fayette leadoff hitter Thad Quint to score the first run of the game, sliding across home plate on a passed ball. A sacrifice groundout by junior catcher Parker LaValley drove in Oeth from third base to give Fayette a two-run lead after one inning.

Fayette scored two more runs in the bottom of the third. Another leadoff walk to Quint led to a run when Oeth drove a hard line drive to center field for an RBI double. Oeth would score his second run of the game on a sacrifice groundout by senior third baseman Ethan Bean to go up 4-0.

Huber surrendered all four of Fayette’s runs (3 earned) on three hits and six walks. He struck out three batters in three innings.

“He’s a good pitcher. He was just struggling tonight,” said Coach Oeth. “It was a rough night for him, but we took advantage of it. That’s what good teams do.”

The Tigers made the switch to another lefty, senior Cody Rogers, who pitched three shutout innings with six strikeouts and a walk. But the damage was done, and the Tigers couldn’t string together enough hits to score more than one run against the Fayette defense.

It’s not often a team faces a left-handed pitcher in Class 2 mid-Missouri baseball. But facing two over in six innings is rarer still. Coach Oeth said his team prepared for it, even using a pitching machine to mimic southpaw movement. “We worked really hard on that in practice. And our guys responded really well to it,” he said.

The Falcon lineup did all of its damage against Huber, with singles by LaValley and senior first baseman Caleb Craig and a double by Oeth. The Falcons also walked seven times, with six issued by Huber.

Quint went 0-for-1 with two walks and two runs scored. He also delivered a strike from the outfield in the top of the third, gunning down Huber at home plate with a dart to catcher Parker LaValley.

“That was incredible. And Parker being able to catch it and stay steady in the pocket and put on the tag was great. It was not an easy tag either. It was a tough play,” Coach Oeth recalled. “Thad has developed so much as a player over the years, and his arm has gotten so good. I’m excited to see him lead these guys next year.”

Oeth scored two runs in a 1-for-2 performance with a double and a walk.

On the other side, Oeth pitched a lights-out game, earning the win in a complete, seven-inning performance with a game-high seven strikeouts. He walked only one batter, and allowed one earned run on six hits. He also struck out the side in the top of the sixth and closed out the game with a five-pitch strikeout in the top of the seventh.

“He’s one of those pitchers who can get you a complete game,” said Coach Oeth, who reiterated the strategic importance of using only one pitcher for the night.

“Some people asked why we didn’t save him for Wednesday. But we had to get to Wednesday,” he explained.

That sets up Fayette ace Ethan Bean rested and ready for tonight’s district championship against the No. 5 Class 2 team in the state. The Panthers are 19-2 so far this season.

Fayette lost a 6-3 decision to the Panthers on April 10, the closest any Class 1 or Class 2 team had played Salisbury all year. The Falcons not only want to even the record against a formidable and familiar opponent, but the win would give the Falcons their first district title in program history.

“They are good from top to bottom. Jed [Cook] is a really good coach," said Coach Oeth. “These guys have to understand that if we’re going to be good, we have to beat good teams. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.”

A district championship is a goal cited by both Payton Oeth and Ethan Bean, who shared a signing ceremony to play college baseball next year. The Falcons’ battery will have to be in peak form with a defense ready to back them up tonight.

Salisbury will be without their ace for tonight’s championship. Junior Austin Cravens pitched Monday’s winner against Westran. But the Panthers have a solid pitching rotation, regardless of who is on the mound.

“All those guys are good pitchers. We’re really going to have to battle them. I’m ready, and I think our guys are ready. I’m excited,” said Coach Oeth.

Bean will deliver the first pitch of the district championship tonight at 5 p.m. from the mound on Estes Field.