VIENNA — The Vienna Eagles hosted their annual Fall Classic over the weekend, welcoming Steelville, Iberia and St. Elizabeth. After starting the season 4-0, the Eagles now stand at 6-4 as they head toward the Show-Me Central Conference Tournament.

The Eagles opened the tournament on Friday with a confident 9-2 win over the Steelville Cardinals. A five-run sixth inning sealed the victory as Brett Welschmeyer doubled in a run, Hunter Schwartze and Dylan Long each singled to drive in runs, Troy Wulff scored on a tag-up and Jaiden Hayes drew a bases-loaded walk. Vienna had already gotten on the board in the second inning when Wyatt Wulff scored on a sacrifice fly and Schwartze walked in a run.

Evan Simmons took the mound and gave the Eagles steady pitching, allowing only three hits and two unearned runs over four and two-thirds innings. He struck out three and walked two. Long led the team with two runs batted in (RBIs) while Schwartze, Wulff and Reid Nichols each collected two hits. Schwartze also stole three bases, adding to his busy day as both a baseball starter and captain of the cross country team.

After a short break, Vienna returned to face Iberia in a game that came down to the wire. Despite leading late, the Eagles fell 5-4 on a walk-off error that allowed the Rangers to steal the win. Vienna’s offense was highlighted by RBI hits from Wyatt Wulff and Reid Nichols, while Iberia answered with a double to center, a single to right, and a steal of home. The Eagles forced mistakes of their own, capitalizing on an Iberia error to score in the fifth, but the late miscue proved costly.

Nichols handled pitching duties, giving up six hits and five runs across six innings while striking out seven. At the plate, Nichols, Troy Wulff, Welschmeyer, and Wyatt Wulff each notched a hit. Nichols drove in a run and Wulff swiped two bases as Vienna finished with four steals in the game.

On Saturday, Vienna closed the Classic against St. Elizabeth after Iberia opted not to play. The defending district champions proved too much, pulling away for a 10-7 victory, but Vienna delivered one of its most impressive showings of the season. The Eagles jumped out to a four-run lead behind a Simmons single, a two-run hit from Nichols, and walks drawn by Caden Kelly and Welschmeyer that each forced in runs. Schwartze then added a steal to extend the margin to 7-3.

Momentum shifted quickly, however, as the Hornets put together a five-run third inning on four hits to seize the lead. They added two more in the later innings, and Vienna was unable to rally.

Troy Wulff started on the mound, giving up seven hits and eight runs (four earned) over two and two-thirds innings while striking out four. Nichols again led the offense, driving in two runs while going 1-for-3. Vienna showed patience at the plate, working seven walks despite the loss.