Thomas Jefferson scored a 184 as a team to take first place in a triangular match with McAuley and Pierce City on Thursday at Schifferdecker Golf Course.
The Warriors took second palace with a team score of 190, while the Eagles shot a 200 collectively.
Playing the front nine, Thomas Jefferson’s Owen D’Amour took top medalist honors with a four-over-par 40, while Pierce City’s Ashton Medlin carded a 41 to take second place. McAuley’s Evan D’Amour and Thomas Jefferson’s Jack Tyrrell tied for third medalist honors and each player shot a 44, respectively.
Rounding out Thomas Jefferson’s scoring was Luke Miller carding a 49 and Caden Myers shooting a 51.
McAuley’s Joe Lupicki scored a 46, while Joe Staton and Daniel Wagner each shot a 50.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — After trailing early, No. 6 Carl Junction rallied back for a 4-3 walk-off win over No. 1 Willard in a Central Ozark Conference clash between two powerhouse Class 5 teams on Thursday.
“The bottom line is Willard is a heck of a baseball team,” Carl Junction coach Jake Stevenson said. “The COC, every game you play, is going to be a dogfight. … We talked a lot about playing for 21 outs. If it doesn’t go your way early, stay in and play hard for 21 outs. … Truly, our guys were super mentally prepared the last few days in practice, stayed the course and got it done today. I was very proud of our guys.”
With the game tied at 3-3 to start the last of the seventh, the Bulldogs (12-4, 3-1 COC) led off the inning with a bunt single to the right side past the pitcher by Cole Stewart, who ultimately reached second on the play after a throwing error. Carson Johnson and Drew Beyer drew back-to-back walks with a Willard pitching change in the mix to load the bases with no outs. The Tigers (13-7, 3-2 COC) shifted defensively and moved to five infielders and two outfielders, with left field wide open. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Noah Southern laced a line drive to an empty left field to bring home Stewart as the winning run.
“First-pitch strike,” Southern said when asked what he was looking for. “I got it and just yanked it down the line. There was nobody in left field and I am a right-handed guy, so I am going to hit to left field most of the time.
“(This win) means a lot. Our goals at the beginning of the year was to be conference, district and state champs. We got another win in conference and hopefully we see these guys again later in the season. Only time will tell.”
“The one thing about it is, and anybody can feel this way, is you could want to try to do too much there,” Stevenson said of the walk-off hit. “Noah stayed short and stayed through a baseball.”
ON THE MOUND
Alex Baker started the game and earned a no-decision after allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits, two walks and five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. Johnson earned the win after pitching 1/3 of an inning in relief and didn’t allow a run.
“They got out and got an early lead but he is such a composed individual, such a high-character kid that the moment is not going to be much for him,” Stevenson said. “There is no one you would rather see on the mound when that happens. You know he is going to overcome it. He did a nice job of settling in and getting outs when he needed it.”
Gavin Burk started for the Tigers and took a no decision after allowing three runs on six hits, two walks and six strikeouts in six innings of work. Jared Miles took the loss after allowing one run on one hit and two walks without recording an out. Evan Gaunt allowed one hit without recording an out.
GAME ACTION
Willard took the game’s first lead in the top of the first inning with two runs. After working a leadoff walk and a one-out single from Grant Merryman put runners on the corners, Cooper Hampton doubled to right-center to plate Blake Hultgren. The Tigers brought home the second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly from Klayton Kiser.
Willard pushed the lead to 3-0 on an RBI single to left-center from Elliott Friend that scored Kiser, who reached base to lead off the fourth inning on a dropped third strike.
Southern led off the bottom of the fourth with a deep shot to the gap in left-center for a triple before coming around to score on an RBI groundout from Dylan Eck to get the Bulldogs on the scoreboard and trim the lead to 3-1.
“It didn’t happen early, which is why they kept us at bay,” Stevenson said about the importance of getting the leadoff man on offensively. “Once we were able to get the leadoff guy on and move some guys over, we felt like we could have some success. It certainly helped us round things out there in the end.”
Carl Junction used some two-out magic to tie the game up in the bottom of the fifth. Johnson singled before Drew Beyer drew a walk. Southern reached on an infield hit to load the bases. With Alex Baker at the plate, the Bulldogs cut the lead one when Johnson scored on a wild pitch Shortly after with Baker still up, Beyer scored on another wild pitch to tie the game at 3-3.
IN THE BOX
Southern led CJ at the plate with a perfect 4-for-4 game to go along with a run scored and the game-winning RBI. Johnson had two hits, a walk and scored a run, while Brendyn Downs and Cole Stewart, who scored a run, each recorded hits.
UP NEXT
Carl Junction hosts Pittsburg at 10 a.m. on Saturday
The Joplin High School boys tennis team suffered an 8-1 setback at Republic on Thursday.
Joplin’s lone win came at No. 3 doubles, where Josh Yarnall and Michael Mancipe defeated Republic’s Garrett Carpenter and Jacob Moody 8-6.
“Josh and Michael played a great strategic game,” Joplin coach Aaron Stump said. “They played long rallies, avoided the net player and placed the ball.”
At No. 1 doubles, Republic’s Andrew McMillin-Ian Deckard defeated Logan Merkley-Jeffrey Evenson 8-1, while the team of Braden Snyder-Scott Parker beat Joplin’s Ben Wardlow-Colin Vermillion 8-3 at No. 2 doubles.
In singles play, McMillin edged Merkley 8-5, while Snyder defeated Evenson 8-4.
At No. 3 singles, Republic’s Deckard got past Wardlow 8-5.
“Ben was able to close the gap late in his match to make it close after a slow start,” Stump commented.
“Hunter stepped in to play No. 6 singles since Josh Yarnall was unable to compete,” Stump said. “Michael and Colin also had to play up a rank in their singles matches.”
Joplin is scheduled to host an invite on Friday, weather permitting.
The Thomas Jefferson Independent boys tennis team earned a dominant 9-0 win over Greenwood on Thursday.
The Cavaliers improved to 10-0.
In singles play, Thomas Jefferson’s Ian Ding defeated Nathan Fletcher 8-2, while Noah Hamlett, Tyler Brouhard, Christopher Wheelen, Hari Nagarajan and Prithvi Nagarajan all won their respective matches by identical 8-0 scores.
In doubles, Hamlett-Brouhard beat Fletcher-William Schaller 8-1, while Ding-H. Nagarajan defeated Sanjeev Manganti-Gavin Duncan 8-0 and Wheelen-P. Nagarajan beat William McQueary-Dalton Redden 8-0.
The Cavaliers are scheduled to compete at Joplin’s tournament on Friday.
LIBERAL, Mo. — Ignited by an eight-run fourth inning, the College Heights Christian softball team cruised to an 18-5 win over Liberal on Thursday.
College Heights improved to 13-2 on the season.
The Cougars, who also feature players from McAuley Catholic, scored three runs in the first, eight in the fourth, three more in the fifth and four in the sixth.
College Heights recorded 18 hits. Jayli Johnson, Maddy Colin and Avery Good had three hits apiece, while Kloee Williamson, Layne Jackson, Addie Lawrence and Aaliyah Perez contributed two hits apiece. Lawrence homered, while Colin had two doubles.
Williamson, Colin and Lawrence drove in three runs apiece, while Perez had two RBI. Williamson scored four runs, while Johnson crossed home three times.
Lawrence pitched 2 2/3 innings and allowed two earned runs while striking out one. Colin pitched 3 1/3 innings, striking out nine.
Liberal’s Kyla Porter took the loss. Ellaina LaNear went 3-for-3 with a run scored for the hosts, while Grace Bott scored twice.
College Heights is at the Shelby Estep Tournament on Saturday. The Cougars will play Hollister and Marionville.
WEBB CITY, Mo. — Webb City bounced back from Monday’s loss to Willard in a big way, as the second-ranked Cardinals rolled to an 11-2 victory over Branson on Thursday in a Central Ozark Conference prep baseball clash at Chuck Barnes Field.
Webb City hiked its record to 14-3 overall and 3-2 in the COC. Branson fell to 4-12 and 0-5 in COC with the loss.
The hosts scored runs in five of the six innings they came to the plate.
The Cardinals plated two runs in the bottom of the first against Branson right-hander Andrew Bristow.
Devrin Weathers walked, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and came home on Treghan Parker’s groundout.
Shane Noel singled up the middle and later scored when the Pirates couldn’t corral Matt Woodmansee’s fly ball into center field. The hosts later stranded the bases loaded.
Webb City added a single tally in the second. Weathers singled before Parker and Noel both walked. Woodmansee lifted a sacrifice fly to right, giving the hosts a 3-0 lead.
The Cardinals were unable to do further damage, as they once again left the bases loaded.
In a four-run third, Jeremiah Leaming singled and Eric Fitch and Weathers both walked before Parker cleared the bases with a three-run triple to right-center.
Parker then sprinted home on Noel’s run-scoring grounder, making it 7-0.
Branson got on the board in the fourth when Ridge Schroeder homered to left.
Webb City extended its lead in the bottom half of the fourth, as Cole Gayman singled, Aiden Brock walked and Fitch delivered a two-run single through the right side to give the hosts a 9-1 advantage.
The Pirates added a run in the sixth, but Weathers delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the frame for an 11-2 lead.
Branson was limited to four hits in the game.
Senior right-hander Eli Goddard made his first start of the season for the Cardinals. He went four innings, allowing three hits while striking out three to earn the win.
Cooper Crouch struck out four in two innings of relief, while Noel pitched a scoreless seventh.
Weathers had two hits, two RBI, stole three bases and scored three runs for the Cardinals, while Parker drove in four runs. The Cardinals had eight hits and took advantage of nine walks.
Ranked second in Class 5, Webb City travels to Francis Howell on Saturday for games against the host Vikings and Rock Bridge. Francis Howell is ranked third in Class 6, while Rock Bridge is ranked ninth.
Winning a combined 24 events, College Heights Christian’s girls and boys both captured team championships at the 2021 Ozark 7 Conference Track Meet on Wednesday at Thomas Jefferson’s J.P. Humphreys Track and Field Complex.
The College Heights girls compiled 234 points and host Thomas Jefferson was second with 133.
College Heights’ boys topped the standings with 193 points, while Thomas Jefferson was second with 109.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS
College Heights Christian’s Grace Bishop is all alone as she crosses the finish line first in the 1600. Bishop won three events for the CHC girls.
The College Heights girls won 13 events, including all four relays.
Grace Bishop won three events—the 800-meter run, the 1600 and the 3200.
Allie Lawrence took first in both the 100-meter dash and the 400, while Allie Fiscus won both hurdle races.
Other individual event winners for the CHC girls were Jayli Johnson (200) and Maddy Colin (discus).
Finishing second in their respective events were Johnson (100), Lauren Ukena (200, 400), Colin (300 hurdles, high jump), Riley Peterson (triple jump) and Layne Jackson (javelin).
Taking third place in events were Katie Moss (800), Sophia Moore (triple jump) and Bishop (discus), while Moore (3200), Avery Parker (800, 1600), Sue Choe (200) and Peterson (long jump) all earned fourth-place finishes.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS BOYS HIGHLIGHTS
The College Heights boys won 11 events, including all four relays.
Derrick McMillan took first in both the 800 and 1600, while Gatlin Bender won both the triple jump and the shot put.
Other individual event winners for the CHC boys were Colsen Dickens (400), Jace Edwards (3200) and Caleb Quade (high jump).
Finishing second in their respective events were Corban Thomas (400) and Taegan Fink (javelin).
Taking home third-place were Matt Wililams (100, 200), Rolen Sanderson (800, 1600), Steven Calandro (300 H), Brayden Youngberg (3200) and Bender (javelin).
Finishing fourth in their respective events were Calandro (110 H), Edwards (300 H), Calandro (3200) and Thomas (LJ).
THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGHLIGHTS
Thomas Jefferson’s Sydney Stamps won three events—the high jump, the long jump and the shot put.
Avery Hocker took first in the triple jump and was the runner-up in the long jump, while Lainey Edmondson was the runner-up in the discus.
Sarah Mueller took second in both the 800 and 1600 and also finished third in the 3200.
Alivia Beard finished second in the 200 and third in the 100, while Nico Carlson was third in both the high jump and long jump.
Also for the Thomas Jefferson girls, Mia Grubbs was third in the 300 hurdles, with teammate Tannah Cassatt fourth.
The TJ girls placed second in both the 4×100 and the 4×400 relays.
Leading the Thomas Jefferson boys was Elias Rincker, the champion in both the 300 hurdles and the long jump.
Benji Carroll won the discus and placed third in the shot put.
Kip Atteberry finished second in both the 800 and 1600, while Kelsey Atteberry was the runner-up in the 3200 and placed fourth in the 400.
Desi Hix took second in the 200 and was fourth in the 100, while Levi Triplett was second in the high jump.
The Cavaliers took second in both the 4×100 and 4×400 relays.
MCAULEY CATHOLIC HIGHLIGHTS
McAuley’s girls were fourth (42 points) in the standings, while the Warriors were fifth in the boys standings (49 points).
The McAuley girls were second in the 4×200 relay and third in the 4×100.
For the McAuley girls, Kendall Ramsey finished second in the 3200 and was third in the 1600, while Kloee Williamson was fourth in the 100, JoJo Wheeler was fourth in the shot put and Jennifer Archer was fourth in the discus.
The McAuley boys finished second in the 4×200, third in the 4×800 and fourth in the 4×100.
Jacob Bracich finished second in the long jump and teammate Joe Lupicki was third.
Thomas Black took third in the 400 and Bracich was fourth in the 200.
WHEATON HIGHLIGHTS
Wheaton’s Monica Hinajosa won the girls javelin, the only girls event that wasn’t won by a College Heights or Thomas Jefferson athlete.
Wheaton’s Chad Meyer won the boys 100, 200 and the javelin, while teammate Fernando Gonzalez won the 110 hurdles.
OZARK 7 CONFERENCE MEET Girls team standings: College Heights Christian 234, Thomas Jefferson 133, Wheaton 43, McAuley Catholic 42, Verona 28, Golden City 2. Boys team standings: College Heights Christian 193, Thomas Jefferson 109, Wheaton 95, Verona 62, McAuley 49, Golden City 7.
College Heights’ Derrick McMillan, Thomas Jefferson’s Kip Atteberry and CHC’s Rolen Sanderson were the top three finishers in the boys 1600 at Wednesday’s Ozark 7 Conference Track Meet at Thomas Jefferson. All photos by Jason Peake.
Thomas Jefferson’s Sarah Mueller and McAuley Catholic’s Kendall Ramsey finished second and third in the 1600.
Runners compete in the 400-meter run. CHC’s Colsen Dickens won the race.
McAuley’s 4×200 relay team is pictured.
College Heights Christian’s Addie Lawrence and Jayli Johnson and Thomas Jefferson’s Alivia Beard were the top three finishers in the girls 100-meter dash.
McAuley’s Kennedy DeRuy hands off the baton to Kayleigh Teeter during the 4×100 relay.
Thomas Jefferson’s girls compete in the 4×100 relay.
The CHC girls compete in the 4×100 relay.
Runners compete in the 100-meter dash. Wheaton’s Chad Meyer took first.
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Carthage’s boys tennis team earned a 9-0 win over Neosho on Wednesday in Central Ozark Conference action.
In singles play, Carthage’s Silas Smith beat Kuhio Sohl 8-1, while Colby Tandy defeated Christian Williams 8-5 and Ryan Phillips knocked off Melvin Lopez 8-3.
In other singles matches, Carthage’s Charles Snow defeated Ryno Lee 8-3, Silas Laytham topped Caden Kelly 8-1 and Danilo Lopez-Gramajo beat Israel Ezra 8-0.
In doubles, Smith-Phillips beat Neosho’s Sohl-Williams 8-4, while Tandy-Snow defeated Lopez-Lee 8-0 and Tyler Howard-Lopez-Gramajo handled Kelly-Ezra 8-0.
Both teams hit the road on Thursday, as Neosho (1-8) travels to Branson (4-2) and Carthage (4-3) is at Willard (5-1).
College Heights ballooned a 2-1 lead with a nine-run sixth inning to earn an 11-2 win over Jasper in six innings on Wednesday.
The Cougars (12-2, 3-0 Ozark 7) broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth when Addie Lawrence singled to left to plate Aaliyah Perez. College Heights doubled the lead an inning later when Jayli Johnson scored on a passed ball.
Jasper cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the sixth when Courtney Spear singled home Livia Dumm, but College Heights added insurance in a big way.
College Heights started the bottom of the sixth inning with a batter reaching by error before the first out was made on a strikeout. The next eight Cougars reached base with seven runners scoring in the process. Lawrence started the scoring with an RBI single to center before Perez singled home a run two batters later to make the score 4-1. After a bases-loaded walk by Johnson forced home a run, Kloee Williamson came up with a two-run single before Layne Jackson doubled home a run to push the lead to 8-1. Maddy Colin singled in the hole at short to plate another run before Avery Good made the score 10-1 with an RBI groundout. Lawrence wrapped the scoring with an RBI double to left to end the game via run rule.
Maddy Colin earned the win in the circle after allowing one run on three hits, a walk and 11 strikeouts in six innings.
Lawrence had three hits and a team-high three RBI as well as a run scored to lead CHC. Williamson had two hits, two RBI and scored a run, while Sarah Painter had two hits and scored a run. Johnson had a hit, an RBI and scored a team-high two runs.
One of the most rewarding and mentally demanding experiences that comes with playing the game of baseball are the moments of dealing with success and failure.
On Wednesday, Joplin’s Alex Curry experienced both in the Eagles’ Central Ozark Conference matchup with Carthage at the JHS Athletic Complex.
In the bottom of the seventh, Joplin (12-6, 4-1 COC) had the bases loaded and one out with the game tied at 3-3 when Curry hit a ball up the middle that looked like it might drive home the winning run. Instead, Carthage was able to turn a double play to end the threat and force extra innings. Fast forward to the bottom of the ninth with a runner on second and two outs and the game still tied, Curry came through with a single to right field to plate Bodee Carlson to give the Eagles a 4-3 walk-off win in extra innings over the Tigers (5-10, 0-4 COC).
“I really just learned from the last couple of at-bats,” Curry said. “He was throwing me a bunch of curveballs. I sat on one and hit backside like I always do. It’s a real confidence booster for everybody. … I think we will fly from here and do what Eagles do—win.”
“Alex has been really good for us all year,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “What you saw in his last at-bat, driving the ball backside, not trying to do too much, is what he has been able to do all year. … It is big on him to step up in that situation after three pretty tough at-bats and come through. That shows a lot of toughness on his part. There was a lot of focus and confidence right there to get the job done.”
GAME ACTION
Joplin took the initial lead of the game after Justin McReynolds crossed home on an infield hit with two outs by Kyler Stokes in the bottom of the second.
Carthage answered back right away, scoring three times in the top of the third. After a walk and an error allowed the first two Tigers to reach base and end up in scoring position, Wil McCombs grounded out for an RBI to tie the game. Caden Kabance scored later in the inning on a first-and-third double steal to put Carthage on top 2-1. Clay Kinder came around to score with two outs on a wild pitch to push the lead to 3-1.
Carthage’s Caden Kabance steals home in the Tigers’ loss to Joplin on Wednesday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
The Eagles cut the lead to one in the bottom of the fourth inning after McReynolds, who reached on an error, came around to score on a groundout from Stokes. Joplin tied the game in the next at-bat, as Carlson singled to short to allow Carson Wampler to touch home.
“I told them that this game is hard enough and we are putting a lot of pressure on ourselves trying to do too much,” Wolf said about his team battling back from a two-run deficit. “We just have to do enough. Just be good enough. We were able to get guys to second and third and scored a couple of runs without hitting the ball out of the infield. Sometimes, that’s baseball. We just had to grind that game out.”
Carthage had a runner on second with two outs in the top of the eighth but failed to push across the go-ahead run.
Joplin had a chance to end the game in the bottom half of the eighth inning when McReynolds singled to center field with a runner on second with one out only to see the Tigers come up with a game-saving play by throwing the would-be winning run out at home plate.
“I told my guys that we’ve lost to two of the top teams this week in the COC (Joplin and Nixa) on a walk-off,” Carthage coach Luke Bordewick said. “It’s frustrating, but the overall message is we are right there with anybody if we play the ball we want to play. The negative note is eventually we have to start winning some of these one-run baseball games.”
Joplin’s Josh Harryman delivers a pitch to the plate in the Eagles’ COC win over Carthage on Wednesday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.
ON THE MOUND
Kohl Cooper started for Joplin and took a no-decision after allowing three runs, one earned, on two hits, a walk and three strikeouts in three innings. Josh Harryman earned the win after tossing six dazzling relief innings without allowing a run. He scattered two hits, walked one and struck out three in his longest outing of the season.
“As long as he was throwing up zeros he was staying out there,” Wolf said with a laugh about Harryman’s outing. “That’s huge for him to come into that situation when we’re down. He came in and was able to hold them at bay and give us a chance to win. He made some really big pitches. … He was really efficient and pounded the zone.”
Mason Utter started and took the no decision after allowing three unearned runs on four hits, three walks and two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Kaden Arr took a tough-luck loss after allowing one run on four hits, three walks and two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
“Getting out of that bases-loaded jam in the seventh was huge,” Bordewick said of Arr’s outing. “They put pressure on us in the eighth, too. He was just, time and time again, locating his fastball, curveball and changeup. You can’t ask much more out of your reliever.”
IN THE BOX
Stokes led Joplin at the plate with two hits and two RBI. McReynolds had a hit and scored twice. Carlson and Wampler each had one hit and scored one run and Carlson drove in one. Curry had one hit and an RBI.
Kaden Kralicek had two hits in four trips to the plate to lead Carthage, while Kanen Vogt and Micah Lindsey also added base hits. McCombs drove in one.
Maddy Colin tossed a five-inning perfect game as the College Heights Christian softball team blanked Lockwood 14-0 on Monday.
A freshman, Colin struck out 13 of the 15 batters she faced and did not allow a hit or a walk in five innings.
The Cougars scored five runs in the second, three in the third, five more in the fourth and one in the fifth. The game ended after the bottom of the fifth due to the run-rule.
Kloee Williamson went 3-for-4 and drove in six runs to lead the Cougars’ offense, while Sarah Painter and Addie Lawrence also recorded three hits apiece.
Jayli Johnson and Layne Jackson added two hits apiece in CHC’s 15-hit attack. Colin drove in two runs with a double, while Lawrence also had two RBI. Kaitlyn Bates, Emi Kuhns and Lauren Ukena all had one RBI apiece in the lopsided win.
College Heights is now 11-2. The Cougars are at Liberal on Thursday.
NEOSHO, Mo. — Carl Junction erased a 2-1 deficit with 13 runs in the final four innings on the way to a 14-3 Central Ozark Conference win over Neosho on Monday.
After the Bulldogs (11-4, 2-1 COC) pushed across the run in the top of the first, the Wildcats (2-15, 0-4 COC) answered back with a two spot in the bottom half to take the lead. Carl Junction’s offense exploded for five runs in the third inning, four runs in the fourth and two each in the fifth and sixth to end the game via run rule.
Drew Beyer earned the win for Carl Junction after allowing three unearned runs on one hit, seven walks and four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Carson Johnson and Kyler Perry combined for 1 2/3 scoreless relief innings. Each had one strikeout.
Lane Yost took the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned, on six hits, six walks and two strikeouts in three innings.
Johnson doubled twice, scored twice and drove in a run for Carl Junction. Alex Baker had two hits, including a double, and finished with a team-high three RBI and scored a run. Perry tripled and had two hits to go along with an RBI and a run scored. Dylan Eck had two hits and scored a run.
CARTHAGE, Mo. — For the first time this season, the Joplin boys golf team did not walk away as tournament team champions.
In a 19-team field at the Sonic Invitational, Glendale took first place as a team with a score of 299. The Eagles, who won all seven team events prior to Monday, took second place with a score of 309, while Ozark placed third after totaling 318.
Other local team finishes include Neosho (348) in seventh, Nevada (349) eighth, Webb City (349) in ninth, Carthage (353) in 10th and McAuley Catholic (400) in 13th.
In individual results, Glendale’s Max Bowman took first place after winning in a playoff over Nevada’s Owen Swearingen. Each player carded a 68.
Joplin’s Harry Satterlee tied for third with a 73, while Fielding Campbell placed fifth with a 74. Kaden Parker finished in a tie for ninth with a 77.
Neosho’s Landon Werneke tied for 11th with a 78 and Joplin’s Wyatt Satterlee tied for 13th with an 80 to wrap up local top 15 scoring.
Fueled by a six-run second inning, Nixa handed Joplin it’s first Central Ozark Conference loss with a 7-1 victory on Monday.
Joplin (11-6, 3-1 COC) took a 1-0 lead into the top of the second inning when Nixa (13-2, 3-0 COC) used four walks and a hit-by-pitch as a catalyst for six runs crossing the plate. Nixa added an unearned run in the sixth inning en route to the win.
“When you give a team of their caliber some extra opportunities, they’re probably going to take advantage of it,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said of Nixa’s six-run second inning. “It’s hard to overcome. At the plate, I thought we had some good at-bats against a pretty good lefty. We just couldn’t get them at the right time and couldn’t string any of them together. … We have to shake some things up, figure some things out and start playing a little better.”
Joplin took the initial lead after David Fiscus brought home a run with the bases-loaded single through the left side to score Bodee Carlson in the bottom of the first inning.
“David has had a lot better approach at the plate here the last three or four games,” Wolf said. “He came up in a big spot and got a hit for us.”
Fiscus’ single was the last of four straight base hits with one out for Joplin, which managed to score just the one tally in the first innings after consecutive strikeouts following the RBI ended the threat with the bags full.
“That was a huge inning to start off the game,” Wolf said. “You feel good getting one, but if you come up with another hit right there, you can push two or three across. That is just confidence in the situation.”
Nixa started the second inning with a hit-by-pitch before a walk allowed the first two batters to reach. Nixa tied the game two batters later when Alex Johnson singled up the middle with one out to score John Gholson. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases and forced a run home to give NHS the lead. Ryan Retone followed with a double to center field to score two runs and push the Nixa lead to 4-1. A sac fly and a Joplin error allowed two more runs to score.
Nixa added an unearned run in the sixth after Jaret Nelson doubled off the top of the concrete wall in right-center with two outs to score Retone, who reached on a dropped third strike that at-bat before.
Joplin’s offense had no problem getting runners on base, but did have shortcomings with RISP. JHS stranded the bases loaded in the first and third innings, while leaving five runners on base from the fourth inning on.
“We just have to do a better job of chipping away and putting a run up here or there and giving us a chance,” Wolf said. “I think, to some degree, we are pressing a little bit. Our guys are not making outs on purpose. They are trying to make plays, and sometimes it doesn’t work out. We may have to shake things up and do things a little differently to provide a little spark in the lineup.”
ON THE MOUND
Isaac Mitchell earned the win for Nixa after allowing one run on eight hits, five walks and five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Parker Bridges pitched 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.
Ethan Guilford (6-1) suffered his first loss of the season after surrendering six runs, five earned, in two innings of work. He allowed two hits, walked four and struck out three.
“Ethan has been good for us all year and he will continue to be good for us,” Wolf said. “He had a bad inning in the second and that happens throughout the course of the season. There is no confidence lost in him on the mound.”
Fielding Campbell allowed one unearned run in five relief innings. He scattered three hits, struck out four and didn’t walk a batter.
“Fielding came in and did a tremendous job on the mound for us,” Wolf said. “He gave us every opportunity to come back in that game and to win it. … Him being able to go out and do what he did gave us an opportunity to save some guys for Carthage later this week. … That was a super job by him.”
IN THE BOX
Retone and Nelson each doubled and drove in two to lead Nixa. Retone also scored twice.
Carson Wampler tripled and had two hits in three at-bats to lead Joplin. Kirk Chandler went 2-for-4 with a walk.
Thomas Jefferson’s No. 1 singles player Ian Ding is pictured during Monday’s dual at Joplin High School. Photo by Israel Perez.
Nine duals. Nine wins.
That’s how the Thomas Jefferson boys tennis team has started the 2021 season.
Thomas Jefferson kept its record perfect with a 9-0 win over Joplin on Monday at the JSH athletic complex.
At No. 1 singles, Thomas Jefferson’s Ian Ding beat Logan Merkley 8-0.
“Logan complimented Ian, saying that he is the best player he’s faced this season,” Joplin coach Aaron Stump commented.
Noah Hamlett defeated Jeffrey Evenson 8-1 at No. 2, while Tyler Brouhard beat Ben Wardlow 8-1 and Christoper Wheelen edged Josh Yarnall 9-7 in the night’s closest match.
“Josh had a lot of long rallies against Chris and was up 7-6, but he struggled to close out the match,” Stump said.
Also for Tom Brumfield’s Cavaliers, Hari Nagarajan beat Michael Mancipe 8-1 and Prithvi Nagarajan topped Colin Vermillion 8-1.
In doubles action, Hamlett-Brouhard defeated Merkley-Evenson 8-2, while Ding-H. Nagarajan beat Wardlow-Vermillion 8-1 and Wheelen-P. Nagarajan topped Yarnall-Mancipe 8-3.
Thomas Jefferson hosts Greenwood at 4:30 on Thursday. Joplin (1-6) is at Republic on Thursday. The Eagles will also host a tournament on Friday.
Pictured is Joplin’s Jeffrey Evenson. All photos by Israel Perez.Pictured is Joplin’s Josh Yarnall. All photos by Israel Perez.
WEBB CITY, Mo. — Webb City stranded the tying run at third base and the go-ahead run at second in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Willard held on late to earn a 5-4 victory over the Cardinals on Monday in a Central Ozark Conference clash between the top-ranked teams in Class 5 at Chuck Barnes Field.
The Cardinals made things interesting in the final frame, but in the end, Willard’s five-run fifth inning proved to be the difference.
“Some things didn’t go our way and the ball didn’t bounce the way we wanted it to and that’s unfortunate,” Webb City coach Flave Darnell said. “They’re a good team and we’re right there with them. We hope we get to play them again down the road. But there’s a lot of baseball to play. We have to find a way to get better.”
Willard and Webb City are ranked first and second, respectively, in Class 5 by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association.
Webb City fell to 13-3 overall and 2-2 in the COC, while Willard improved to 14-6 and 3-1 in conference play.
The Cardinals wasted little time in taking the lead, as the hosts pushed across two runs in the first inning.
Devrin Weathers singled on the first pitch of the game, stole second, went to third on Treghan Parker’s flyout and then sprinted home on a wild pitch.
Shane Noel walked and later scored on Matt Woodmansee’s RBI single into left.
The Cardinals turned double plays in three straight innings to keep their early advantage.
Webb City senior Cole Gayman delivers a pitch during Monday’s game with Willard.
“We played great defense in those first four innings,” Darnell said.
But the Tigers rallied for five runs on four hits and an error in the fifth against Webb City starting pitcher Cole Gayman.
Cooper Hampton was hit by a pitch to start the inning, while Klayton Kiser followed with a single. After an out, Elliott Friend singled to center and the Cardinals committed a miscue in the outfield, allowing Willard to tie the game.
Later in the inning, Kyle Beeman lifted a sac fly to right, giving the Tigers the lead. Another run scored from third on a wild pitch.
A walk and another hit by pitch made it 5-2.
“We’re having a hard time right now overcoming mistakes,” Darnell said. “We’re having a hard time with big innings…an error here, a hit batter there and a walk here and there. We just couldn’t overcome it today.”
Down three runs and down to their final three outs, the Cardinals rallied in the bottom of the seventh.
With two outs, Weathers singled to right and then Parker was hit by a pitch before Noel walked.
Woodmansee then drew a bases-loaded walk, trimming Webb City’s deficit to 5-3.
Parker scored from third on a wild pitch, cutting the hosts’ deficit to a single tally.
With runners at second and third, Willard relief pitcher Jared Miles struck out Gayman to end the game.
Willard left-hander Dalen Stewart was the winning pitcher. A Jefferson College recruit, Stewart allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out seven in six innings.
“We battled and stayed in it,” Darnell said. “But you have to tip your hat to their pitcher. For us to come out and get two in the first and get his pitch count up, we thought we could maybe chase him earlier. But he’s a good pitcher and we weren’t able to do that. He beared down. He’s got a good breaking ball and a good fastball. He was aggressive in the zone and kept us off-balance. We didn’t really threaten much until that seventh inning.”
Kiser took over in the seventh and got the first two outs before getting into trouble. Jared Miles recorded the final out to earn the save.
A senior right-hander, Gayman was charged with the loss. He surrendered five runs on seven hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Eli Goddard went the final 2 1/3 innings, striking out three while keeping the Tigers off the scoreboard.
Weathers had three of Webb City’s six hits. Friend and Kiser had two hits apiece for Willard.
Thomas Jefferson Independent and McAuley Catholic were among the teams competing at the One Inch At A Time Track Classic on Saturday at Sarcoxie High School’s Royce Stadium.
The Thomas Jefferson girls finished fourth in the team standings, while McAuley’s girls were 11th. The Thomas Jefferson boys finished seventh in the standings, with McAuley Catholic 12th.
THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGHLIGHTS
Leading the way for the Thomas Jefferson boys was Kip Atteberry, who took second in the 800-meter run and placed third in the 1600.
Elias Rincker placed fourth in the 300 hurdles, while Levi Triplett finished fifth in the 110 hurdles. Rincker also took fourth in the long jump, while Kelsey Atteberry was seventh in the 800.
The TJ boys placed third in the 4×400 relay and took fourth in the 4×100.
For the Thomas Jefferson girls, Sarah Mueller finished second in the 800 and was third in the 1600.
Sydney Stamps finished second in the shot put and also placed third in both the high jump and long jump.
Avery Hocker took third in the triple jump and was also fifth in the long jump, while Alivia Beard placed fifth in the 200 and Nico Carlson finished fifth in the high jump and seventh in the 100.
Also for the Cavaliers, Lainey Edmonson took sixth in the discus and Tannah Griff was eighth in the shot put.
The TJ girls were fourth in the 4×400 relay and fifth in the 4×100.
MCAULEY CATHOLIC HIGHLIGHTS
McAuley’s Kendall Ramsey finished second in the girls 3200 and was third in the 1600.
For the McAuley boys, Jacob Bracich took sixth in the 200, while Joseph Lupicki was eighth in the 100 and Dylan Taffner took eighth in the 400.
SARCOXIE HIGHLIGHTS
Sarcoxie swept the team titles.
Winning individual events for the Sarcoxie boys were Michael Misner (100, 200), Jaron Malotte (pole vault) and Christian Harter (javelin).
