Mrozowicz’s Home Run Helps Bulldogs Advance in Districts with 1-0 Win
- RoMoAthletics
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
May 20th, 2026
Once again, the Bulldog staff, parents and community were ready to battle Mother Nature and get the FCNB field ready to host the first round of districts. The game originally scheduled for Monday was pushed back to Tuesday due to the rain as the Bulldogs crossed their fingers that the rain would slow down in the evening… it did not.
Buckets of rain came down throughout the evening and the rain drizzled in on the following morning. This time, the Quick Dry was not going to help the Bulldogs out and they elected to move the game to St. Clair High School and use their turf field.
Despite the delay, the Bulldogs were ready to battle against a proven Parkway South team that finished 3rd in State last season after ending the Bulldogs post season hopes in the district semifinals.
The Bulldogs were able to get their revenge, with a 1-0 victory to keep their win streak alive at 18 straight wins.
Pitching Dual
Senior lefty Ruger Covey was called upon to take on Parkway South in the opening round of Class 6 District 2 playoffs. Rolla the #4 seed was supposed to host the #5 seed Parkway South in Rolla, but the weather had them facing off in St. Clair on the turf field.
Covey came into the game with an ERA just over 1 and a reputation as a consistent game manager who won’t overpower you and rack up the strikeouts, but will control the narrative and trust his defense to make plays.
Covey demonstrated why Coach Ken Hohe had the confidence in him for the opening round. “He was a competitor on the mound, no doubt. He pitched to WEAK contact. Maybe four balls were hit solid by them all day.”
One of those solid hits came in the top of the 4th when the Bulldogs were in a tough situation. With only one out and the Patriots having runners in scoring position with a walk, a bunt and then a throwing error putting runners on 2nd and 3rd.
A blast was hit to right field and hardly moving to get underneath it was senior Jack Mrozowicz. In their playoff game last season against Parkway South, it was a similar situation where a ball was hit to Jack in deep right and the runner on 2nd tried to tag. It was a mistake as Jack through a frozen rope to cut him down at third.
Surely, they wouldn’t try him again.
They would… and don’t call him Shirley.
The runner at third tagged up and Jack fired it home with time and distance to spare. Senior Landen Richter had to elevate slightly to secure the ball but was able to land and tag out the runner to get the double play and end the inning.
Parkway South chose to throw their senior Jordan Schneider. He only gave up 4 hits to the high scoring Bulldogs and struck out six while only walking one batter. He didn’t overpower the hitters, but kept them guessing with his offspeed pitches and using his control to paint the corners.
While he only gave up 4 hits, the Bulldogs were keeping the outfield busy as they hit several deep fly-outs that under less humid conditions, might have changed the course of the game early. “Schneider was dominant as well except for one line drive that bounced off the top of the fence for a homer,” said Hohe.
That homer to Mrozowicz in the bottom of the 6th proved to be the game winner.
L to R: Celebrating the double play. Hohe celebrating the HR. The team meeting to welcome Jack after HR.
Big Players Make Big Plays in Big Games.
After the huge double play at home, Mrozowicz was the lead off batter for the next inning and Schneider was able to take advantage of the adrenaline that must have been coursing through the Bulldog and recorded the strikeout.
Fast forward to the bottom of the 6th and Mrozowicz came back up to the plate with one out and pulled a line drive to left field that hit the top of the fence and bounded over to break the scoreless game and put the Bulldogs on top one to nothing.
“He started me off with a slider which he used in my last at bat that I was early on. I figured he would throw it again, so I sat on it and I hit it really well.”
We joked how it might have been the fastest home run and traveled the shortest path as their was little arc to the pathway it traveled.
“I think I might have actually put some top spin on it,” joked Mrozowicz.
During the postgame interview with Mrozowicz, Coach Hohe called out in the background about big players make big plays in big games. “Jack showcased himself well with the bullet throw from right and the homer.”
When asked about the performance of Covey on the mound, Mrozowicz couldn’t say enough good things about his teammate. “He pitched amazingly. He’s been pitching well all year and came out and did the same thing.” Coach Hohe and his staff talked to the seniors about the strategy on who they felt they should throw in game one. “We put our trust in him and he did a great job.”
The Bulldog ace, senior Jenson Thomas, came in for the final inning to get the save for the Bulldog victory and Covey win.
“Our guys have been battling all season and we are finding ways to be competitive and win. I love our heart and our effort,” said Hohe.
Eureka is Next
Semifinal action on Thursday May 21st at Eureka High School with a first pitch scheduled for 1pm.
Eureka is the #1 seed in the district and is currently ranked #7 in Class 6 with a 27-6 record. They have an 11-1 home record and are averaging 6.8 runs a game while only giving up 2.2 runs.
The Bulldogs are the #4 seed in the district and with a record of 26-7, they are riding and 18 game winning streak into the semifinal matchup. The Bulldogs are scoring 7.8 runs a game will giving up 4.2 runs.
Eureka is led by their pitching staff that boasts 3 pitchers that have committed to D1 SEMO. Jaxson Joggerst, John Haberkorn and Ben Lackey. Joggerst is 6’6” and throws in the upper 80’s. Haberkorn also throws in the upper 80’s with off-speed pitches to support it. Lackey is the workhorse and all-district pitcher on the staff.
The Bulldogs bats will need to be active which they have proven they can be time and time again.
When asked about how to prepare for Eureka, Coach Hohe kept it simple. “We are trying to keep it going and another quality opponent with Eureka in front of us.”
Next game mentality.
The Scorebook: Rolla Bulldogs 1, Parkway South Patriots 0
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
Parkway South (14-17) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Rolla (26-7) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | x | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Rolla Bulldogs
Lineup | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
C. Petersmith | CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
L. Richter | C,2B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
J. Mrozowicz | RF | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
J. Thomas | SS,P | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
R. Covey | P | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
R. Snodgrass | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
B. Sbabo | 2B,LF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
L. Jenkins | 1B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
C. Williams | DH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
TEAM | 21 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
HR: Jack Mrozowicz
TB: Jack Mrozowicz 5, Blaine Sbabo 1, Landen Richter 1
HBP: Riker Snodgrass
E: Ruger Covey
Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
R. Covey (W) | 6.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
J. Thomas (S) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
TEAM | 7.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
Pitches-Strikes: Ruger Covey 82-49, Jenson Thomas 20-12
Batters Faced: Ruger Covey 23, Jenson Thomas 4
Parkway South Patriots
Lineup | Pos | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
J. Hurst | CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
T. Horejes | SS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
J. Schneider | P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
W. Simmons | 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A Zimmermann | DH | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
– H. Mannion | DH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
T. Shanfeld | 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
C. Cannes | LF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
C. Holmdahl | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
E. Bacon | 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
– R. Hertlein | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
TEAM | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
2B: Tommy Horejes
TB: Tommy Horejes 2, Andrew Zimmermann 1
SB: Caleb Cannes
Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
J. Schneider (L) | 6.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
TEAM | 6.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
HBP: Jordan Schneider
Pitches-Strikes: Jordan Schneider 75-49
Batters Faced: Jordan Schneider 23