The Excelsior Springs Tigers closed out their baseball season Thursday in the Class 4 District 15 tournament with a tough 6-0 loss to the Benton Cardinals. The game remained scoreless through the first four innings, with both teams battling for momentum on the mound and in the field. Benton broke the deadlock in the top of the fifth, plating five runs and seizing control of the game.
Excelsior’s offense struggled to gain traction against Benton’s starter, managing two hits over seven innings. The Cardinals added another insurance run in the sixth, capitalizing on fielding errors by the Tigers. Excelsior’s pitchers held their ground early, but once Benton found their rhythm, the momentum swung hard in their favor.
On paper, the teams were evenly matched, with the Tigers coming in as the top seed and Cardinals as the second. With the loss, Excelsior’s season-ending record was 24-12. The Cardinals, down one win from the Tigers going in, secured the same record of 24-12 with Thursday’s win and will go on to play in the state tournament against Chllicothe.
For the Tigers, it wasn’t just the end of the season, but the end of an era. The loss marked the final game in the 32-year teaching career of Aaron Holst. Check out our previous coverage of Coach Holst’s retirement: Coach Holst Leaves Lasting Mark on ESHS and the Community. Though the scoreboard didn’t reflect the effort and heart his team had, Holst remained gracious in defeat, offering praise to the opposing pitcher and reflecting on his career.
“We simply got beat by a guy who was on top of his game tonight,” Holst said. “We’ve beaten him before, but tonight he was better, and we had no answer.” He added.
Though the night ended in disappointment, it was clear that Holst’s heart was in the game, alongside his players and the community. “Today was my final day of teaching,” he said, “it’s been a ride. I’ve been blessed to do this for 32 years.”
As he shook hands and hugged players, fellow coaches, and parents near the dugout after the game, Holst hinted that while this chapter may be closing, his love for the sport won’t be changing. “I don’t think I’m done with baseball,” he said. “I’m going to be out searching for my next baseball opportunity.”
The numbers are only part of the story. Holst’s impact stretches across decades of Tigers who became better players and teammates under his leadership. “You build bonds with these kids and their families—that’s the part I’ll miss the most.”
Thursday’s game may not have ended in celebration, but for those who’ve worn the black and gold under Holst’s leadership, his final outing was a reminder of what makes high school sports matter: the commitment, the community, and the coach who showed up day after day to teach young men not just how to win, but how to grow.
And in that, Coach Holst and his team ended his final season season with pride.
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