Kinson Michel is well aware extra-inning games can sometimes continue on and on because hitters give in to temptation and swing for a home run. What's more, he knows the heroic feeling of delivering an extra-inning, game-winning homer, having done so this season in Nixa's 14-inning regular-season victory at Willard.

But the Nixa senior second baseman was thinking of anything but a home run leading up to his game-winning RBI-single in the Eagles' 5-4, eight-inning win over Kickapoo in a Class District 10 semifinal Monday.

With runners on first and second and two outs, Michel broke a 4-all tie with a line drive down the third-base line to score Ryan Cram.

"It was really about experience," Michel said. "People try to hit home runs in that situation. But you have to stay focused and just put the ball in play."

Michel was also mindful not to try for his second home run of the night, having blasted a solo homer in the fifth inning.

"I've hit home runs in the past and then tried to hit the ball as hard as I can in my next at-bat to try to hit home run number two," Michel said. "It doesn't work that way. You'll roll over and pop out or strike out. You have to have the mindset that the last AB doesn't matter anymore."

Michel's slump at the end of Nixa's regular-season slate didn't matter to him, either. He couldn't have been more confident in the clutch Monday.

"He was sitting next to me in the dugout in the eighth inning and told me that if he got up, he was going to get a hit," winning pitcher Isaac Mitchell said. "I had confidence in him, too."

"Isaac told me, 'Hey, you're going to get a hit this at-bat and I said, 'I know, I'm feeling good,'" Michel said. "I was just hoping I got up to bat."

He got the opportunity after Cram led off the inning with a single, Bryant Avery moved Cram to second with a sacrifice and with two outs, Kickapoo intentionally walked Joe Reid.

"They walked Joe and that was a smart move by them," Michel said. "I had been struggling the past few games. But tonight I came in feeling good. The blood was rushing through (me). The adrenaline was everywhere. When you have that feeling, you're ready for everything." 

"I hope he has that same feeling (for tonight's championship game)," coach Jason Daugherty added. "Rewind a couple of games ago and he was flying out and popping out. But tonight he looked good."

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