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Day: May 5, 2021

COLLEGE SIGNINGS: Five from Webb City sign letters of intent

Posted on by Jason Peake

WEBB CITY, Mo. — Five Webb City High School seniors made their respective college decisions official at a signing ceremony on Wednesday inside the Cardinal Dome.

Pryce Mason signed to compete in track and field at Missouri Southern, Nickhai Howard signed to play basketball at Labette Community College, Haven Stanley inked to play soccer at Evangel, Roger Carranco put pen to paper to wrestle at Central Missouri and Alex Johnson signed to play football at Westminster College.

A standout pole vaulter, Mason said he’s thrilled to join Missouri Southern’s always-strong track and field program. 

“My best friend (Luke Brumit) is going there and everything pointed in that direction,” Mason said. “I like the coaches and I like the college, so it was kind of a no-brainer. I connected with Coach (Bryan) Schiding right off the bat. It’s going to be a new experience and I think I’m ready for it.”

A 5-foot-11 do-it-all point guard, Howard is heading to LCC in Parsons, Kansas, where he’ll be competing in one of the top juco basketball conferences in the nation. 

“Coach (Jason) Hinson had a lot of confidence in my game and he can help me improve and go to the next level,” said Howard, who earned first team all-COC honors as a senior. “I’m very blessed to play college basketball. Not everybody gets the opportunity. I’m excited to see what happens. I’ve been watching the Jayhawk Conference for a while, so I’m excited to play in it.” 

A forward, Stanley is currently playing a key role as the Webb City girls soccer team is putting together a stellar spring. She’ll continue her soccer career at Evangel.

“The coach (Bruce Deaton) reached out to me and I thought it was a really good opportunity,” Stanley said. “God led me to this decision and I’m really thankful for this opportunity. I’m really excited and honored that I’ll get to be among the select number of people who get to continue their athletic careers in college. I can’t wait. And I’m just very thankful for my coaches here at Webb City who have helped me get to where I am today.” 

Carranco, who placed sixth at the Class 3 state tourney at 182 pounds, said UCM was a right fit due to both academics and athletics. 

“They have the major in what I want to study (mathematics and actuarial science) and they gave me the opportunity to wrestle,” said Carranco, who went 30-10 as a senior. “It means a lot to be able to wrestle at the next level. I love wrestling and I love competing, so I’m looking forward to it.” 

Carranco was also a key member of the Webb City football team. 

A 6-1, 245-pound offensive lineman, Johnson noted getting an opportunity to continue his football career was too good to pass up. 

With that, he’ll head to Fulton, Missouri, to play for the NCAA Division II Blue Jays. 

“It just seemed like the best fit for me,” Johnson said. “The coaches were really inviting and I know they want to help me be the best football player I can be. I love football and wanted to keep playing the game, so this is a great opportunity. I’m excited to get going.” 

 

COLLEGE SOFTBALL: MSSU’S Blackney named MIAA Coach Of The Year, Lions named All-MIAA

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

Kansas City, Mo. – Head coach Hallie Blackney was named MIAA Coach of the Year, while Josie Tofpi was named a first-team All-MIAA selection as the MIAA announced its postseason honors today with a total of eight Lions earned All-MIAA honors.

For Blackney, this is her first time winning Coach of the Year. This season the Lions were picked to finish 11th in the preseason poll, but finished third with a 28-13-1, 19-6-1 MIAA record. The 19 MIAA wins are a school record and the 28 wins are the most since the 2011 season. Blackney has turned around the softball program in her first three years at the helm achieving the first back-to-back winning season for the Lions since 2001-02, and the first top-three finish since the Lions won the regular and postseason MIAA crowns in the 2001 season.

Blackney is the third Lions’ coach to win the award and the first since Ron Faubion guided the team to the 2001 regular and postseason crown. Legendary coach Pat Lipira was a five-time winner of the award (1990, 92,93,95, 98).

Tofpi, a sophomore from Moore, Okla., has played and started in 42 games this season and was named first-team All-MIAA as a shortstop after leading the Lions with a .410 batting average, 55 hits, 34 runs scored, 13 doubles, 32 RBI’s, 81 total bases, a .604 slugging percentage, a .459 on-base percentage, and 95 assists to go with three home runs, while going 5-5 in stolen bases. In the MIAA she is first in assists, tied for second in double plays turned, third in hits, fourth in batting average and doubles, fifth in on-base percentage, and tied for sixth in runs scored. Nationally she ranks 26th in hits and 29th in doubles. This is her second time being named All-MIAA, as a true freshman she was an honorable mention selection.

Ashlynn Williams, a sophomore from Oklahoma City, Okla., has played in 41 games getting the start in 40 games this season and was a second-team selection as a catcher. She posted a .302 batting average, with nine doubles, five triples, four home runs, while collecting 32 RBIs, slugging .594 and recorded 204 putouts. Williams ranks second in the MIAA in triples and is 12th nationally. Defensively has the 11th most putouts in the MIAA and has caught seven runners stealing this season.

Kara Amos, a freshman from Independence, Mo., has played in 39 games this season and has been named on the second-team as a utility / pitcher this season after going 9-5 in the circle with a 2.73 ERA in 21 appearances. Amos has pitched 71.2 innings so far this season striking out 51, limits opposing batters to a .251 batting average a team-high, while having a 1.28 WHIP. In the MIAA she ranks ninth in ERA, tenth in opposing batting average and in WHIP. With the bat she has a .337 batting average with four home runs and 24 RBIs to go with a .452 on-base percentage (10th in MIAA), while drawing a team-high 18 walks.

Earning honorable mention accolades were senior second basemen Makaila Leonhart from Nixa, Mo., junior pitcher Abby Atkin from Garden City, Mo., sophomore utility player Leighton Withers from Benton, Ark., freshman outfielders Yazmin Vargas from Garden City, Kan. and Adrianna Young from Tulsa, Okla.

Leonhart has played in and started 40 games this season while having a .303 batting average with nine doubles, three triples, and 15 RBIs, while slugging .479, is 12-14 in stolen bases and has 86 assists. Leonhart ranks tied for second in double plays turned with teammate Tofpi among others, tied for sixth in triples, has laid down seven sacrifice bunts to be tied for second in the MIAA, and is 10th in assists. This is the second time earning honorable mention accolades in her career.

Atkin is 9-5 with a 2.74 ERA in the circle having made 26 appearances. She has five complete games this season to go with one shutout and a combined shutout in 102.1 innings of work, striking out 40 and limiting opposing batters to a .268 batting average. Atkin joined the 200-career strikeout club this season and currently ranks tenth in Southern history with 202.

Withers has played in 42 games with 40 starts, while posting a .343 batting average with seven doubles, three triples, three home runs and 29 RBIs. She has a .552 slugging percentage, to go with a .454 on-base percentage (7th in MIAA), and has 102 putouts and 32 assists playing across the infield this season. She tied the single-game record for hit-by-pitches (3) and set the single-season record this season (12).

Vargas has played and started 41 games this season while having a .317 batting average with 32 runs and is 29-31 in stolen bases to lead the MIAA. She is tied for eighth in single-season at Southern in stolen bases, while ranking fifth nationally, and leads the outfield crew with 88 putouts this season, as well.

Young has played in 39 games getting the start in 33. She has a .301 batting average, with 11 RBIs and is 13-16 on the basepaths, ranking tenth in the MIAA in that category.

Southern will start the MIAA Tournament this weekend as the Lions play host to Missouri Western in a best-of-three series beginning Friday with first pitch at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex set for 3 p.m.

 

PREP BASEBALL: Webb City, Carl Junction earn top two seeds for district tournament

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

Webb City and Carl Junction are the top two seeds for the Class 5 District 6 baseball tournament.

In the May 18 quarterfinals, top-seeded Webb City hosts eighth-seeded Parkview, fourth-seeded McDonald County hosts fifth-seeded West Plains, second-seeded Carl Junction hosts seventh-seeded Neosho and third-seeded Glendale hosts sixth-seeded Branson.

The semifinals are May 19, with the district title game slated for 1 p.m. on May 22.

Carl Junction announces newest Athletic Hall of Fame class

Posted on by Jason Peake

The Carl Junction Athletic Department will induct its sixth class into its Hall of Fame on May 12.

The members of the 2021 Carl Junction Athletic Hall of Fame induction class are Michael Frizzell, Steven Thomas and the 2000 baseball team.

A reception to honor these and past inductees will begin at 6 p.m. on May 12 in the Primary 2-3 Multi-Purpose Gym, followed by the induction ceremony in the Stark Performing Arts Center at 7. 

New Missouri Southern head football coach Atiba Bradley will be a guest speaker.

Current Carl Junction High School Bulldog Award winners and Iron Dog winners will also be honored.

Frizzell, class of 1988, was the first Carl Junction wrestler to earn two state titles–1986 and ’87. Frizzell also placed third in ’85 and second in ’88. Frizzell was a USA Wrestling All-American and went 126-5 during his prep wrestling career. 

Frizzell, who is Carl Junction’s current wrestling coach, was also an All-American at Central Missouri. 

Thomas, class of 1985, was a three-sport standout, earning eight varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. 

The 2000 Carl Junction baseball team was the state runner-up in Class 3. The Bulldogs went 24-5 overall. 

Coaches of the team were Phil Cook, Dennis Vilela, Rich Neria and Flave Darnell. 

Team members were Heath Crowder, Craig Walkenshaw, Levi Daniel, Wes Smith, Trey Hance, Jordan Hackney, Corey Hall, Nathan Doubledee, Curtis McDaniel, Tate Gregory, Matt Clemons, Ryan Sheffield, Matt Mesplay, Kevin Kubik, Tyler Morris and Danny Powers.

Crowder College softball, baseball are winningest combo in NJCAA Division I

Posted on by Jason Peake

NEOSHO, Mo. – Crowder College’s softball and baseball teams are the winningest combined programs in NJCAA Division I athletics this spring.

Both teams combine for an 89-12 record – softball is 45-6 and baseball is 44-6 at the end of the regular season. NJCAA polls as of May 3 have softball ranked at No. 13 and baseball at No. 6 in Division I.

This is a milestone accomplishment for both programs. The next school in combined wins is Florida Southwestern State at 82-17. Roughrider softball and baseball have been ranked in the top 20 or have at least earned votes throughout the 2021 season.

Region 16 tournament play begins this Friday for both programs. 

The Crowder softball team will travel to Jefferson Community College and play the host team at 10 a.m. A win would advance them to the semifinals on Saturday at 10 a.m. against the Three Rivers-North Central winner.  

Roughrider baseball earned the top seed and will host the Region 16 sub-regional starting Friday at 2 p.m. in a best-of-three series versus the No. 8 seed (TBD) at Lallemand Family Field on the Neosho campus.  

For more information, go to www.crowderathletics.com.

 

 

PREP BASEBALL: Joplin rallies from early deficit and uses five-run 3rd to beat Carl Junction in COC action

Posted on by Lucas Davis

Joplin rallied back from an early deficit and used a five-run third inning en route to a 9-3 win over Carl Junction in Central Ozark Conference action on Tuesday at the JHS Athletic Complex.

The Bulldogs (14-8, 3-4 COC) struck for two runs in the first inning before the Eagles (15-9, 6-2 COC) added single tallies in the first and second frames to tie the game up at 2-2. Joplin put momentum firmly in its favor after scoring five runs with two outs in the third for a 7-2 advantage. The Eagles added a two-out insurance run in the fifth and another in the sixth before Carl Junction wrapped the scoring with a run in the seventh.

“This league is really good and you have to show up everyday and compete your tail off to have a chance to win,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “Anytime you can get a win in this conference, it feels good.”

“Joplin is a good team and they do a lot of good things,” Carl Junction coach Jake Stevenson said. “Their body of work shows they are a good team. I thought our guys came out ready to play. Maybe some things didn’t go our way inside the game, but we just have to overcome adversity a little better. When we do that, we will be a good version of ourselves.”

Joplin’s Ethan Guilford delivers a pitch to home in the Eagles’ COC win over Carl Junction on Tuesday. Photo by Israel Perez.

ON THE MOUND

Ethan Guilford earned the complete-game win after allowing three runs, two earned, in seven innings of work for Joplin. He allowed six hits, one walk and struck out five.

“Ethan was really good,” Wolf said. “When he is keeping the ball down and his slider is working on the edge, working with confidence, he can be a lot to handle. He was pounding the zone.”

Drew Beyer started and took the loss for Carl Junction after allowing eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits, two walks and six strikeouts in four innings. Kyler Perry allowed one unearned run on three hits, two walks and a strikeout in two relief innings.

GAME ACTION

Carl Junction didn’t need long to reach the scoreboard, scoring a pair of two-out runs in the top of the first to gain the lead. After two quick outs to start the game, the Bulldogs used a single through the left side by Noah Southern and a single through the right side by Alex Baker to put runners on first and third. A wild pitch allowed Southern to score the game’s first run and Dylan Eck added an RBI single to center field to score Baker.

“Even to start that inning, we had a well hit ball by Carson (Johnson) and a well hit ball by Drew (Beyer) and then followed up with some hits that led us to two runs,” Stevenson said. “I thought our guys came out ready to compete and play. Then, we just kind of went away in the middle innings and tried to come back a little too late.”

Carl Junction’s Keaton Johnston records a putout of Joplin’s Carson Wampler on Tuesday at the JHS Athletic Complex. Photo by Israel Perez.

Joplin got a run back in the bottom of the first when Kohl Cooper ripped a ball over the wall in right-center for a solo home run to trim the lead to 2-1.

“It was really important for us to get on the board and cut it in half right there,” Wolf said about Cooper’s home run in the first inning. “It’s just one run, but being down one feels a lot better than two.”

The Eagles tied the game up at 2-2 when Justin McReynolds singled through the right side to plate a run in the bottom of the second.

“He’s just kept working throughout the season,” Wolf said of his sophomore’s performance at the plate. “He came up in some big situations and was able to get the job done. Super proud of him for not making the moment bigger than it was and just finding a way.”

Like the Bulldogs in the first, two-out lightning struck for Joplin in the third inning with a five-run frame to take control of the game. Alex Curry gave the Eagles the lead after an RBI single to right-center. David Fiscus followed with a double down the line to left to plate a run before McReynolds came up with a two-run single to center to push the lead to 6-2. Guilford helped his cause with an RBI single up the middle to cap the scoring.

“Two-out hits win games,” Wolf said. “To be able to string three or four of them together in that situation and put up a five spot should give our guys confidence that we are capable of doing that consistently. There were a lot of two-out hits, but there were a lot of two-strike hits. I think that is important to recognize. You get three of them for a reason. If you keep fighting and find a way to put the ball in play, good things will happen.”

The Eagles put an insurance run on the board in the bottom of the fifth with Carson Wampler singled through the right side with the bases loaded and two outs to push the lead to 8-2.

“I think those two late runs might have been as important as those two early runs,” Wolf said. “It just kind of keeps your energy and momentum going and takes a little away from them.”

Carl Junction’s Carson Johnson hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh to cap the game’s scoring.

Joplin’s Fielding Campbell eyes in a ground ball in the Eagles’ win over Carl Junction on Tuesday. Photo by Israel Perez.

IN THE BOX

Joplin’s offense finished with 12 total hits in the win, with every starter recording at least one hit in the win. McReynolds finished with two hits, a team-high three RBI and a run scored. Cooper homered for one of his two hits and scored a team-high three runs while driving in one. 

“We’ve been talking the last couple weeks about how we are right there and just waiting to break through,” Wolf said of the Eagles’ offensive production. “Hopefully, this is the start of us getting hot and stringing runs and hits up and down the lineup. … It doesn’t have to be something dynamic, I just thought we had a lot of competitive at-bats.”

Baker had two hits and scored a run for Cal Junction. Johnson homered, drove in one and scored one, while Eck had a hit and an RBI.

UP NEXT

Joplin hosts Willard on Thursday.

Carl Junction hosts Branson on Thursday. 

Carl Junction’s Drew Beyer delivers a pitch to the plate on Tuesday at the JHS Athletic Complex. Photo by Israel Perez.

GIRLS SOCCER: Franks leads Carl Junction past Joplin

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

Hannah Franks recorded a hat trick as Carl Junction’s girls soccer team defeated Joplin 4-2 on Tuesday night at Bulldog Stadium.

Carl Junction had 16 shots on goal, and Joplin goalie Serafina Auberry made 12 saves, Joplin assistant coach Cody Brooks told SoMo Sports.

Joplin had five shots on goal.

Franks scored her first goal in the 29th minute and her second in the 35th minute. The second goal was assisted by Kadynce Arnold.

Mya Johnson scored Joplin’s first goal in the 37th minute on a penalty kick. 

Jocelyn Brown gave the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead in the 56th minute before Franks scored her third goal in the 76th minute, with Lauren Burgess assisting on the play.

Johnson scored Joplin’s second goal in the 79th minute. 

Carl Junction (11-8) is at Monett on Wednesday. Joplin (6-10) is at Willard on Thursday.

PREP BASEBALL: Webb City tops Neosho for fifth straight win

Posted on by Jason Peake

WEBB CITY, Mo. — Eric Fitch and Cooper Crouch combined on a one-hitter, Devrin Weathers scored half his team’s runs, Treghan Parker reached a milestone and the host Webb City Cardinals took advantage of numerous extra outs en route to an 8-1 win over Neosho on Tuesday night in a Central Ozark Conference clash at Chuck Barnes Field.  

“This was a good victory,” Webb City coach Flave Darnell said. “We had great pitching and great defense and that usually leads to a victory.” 

Ranked third in Class 5, Webb City improved to 19-5 overall and 6-2 in the COC with a fifth straight win. 

The Cardinals received a stellar start from Fitch, a junior right-hander. Fitch went five innings and allowed just one run on one hit, a walk and a hit batter while striking out five.

A junior right-hander, Crouch tossed two perfect innings in relief. Crouch fanned three of the six batters he faced. 

“Eric and Cooper have been doing a great job and they keep getting better every outing,” Darnell said. “Eric did a great job of keeping the ball down. Cooper came in and looked electric. Both pitchers had good rhythm and that usually leads to good defense.” 

Webb City recorded just four hits in the game, but the hosts took advantage of seven walks and Neosho’s five errors.  

“When you get guys on base you can put pressure on people,” Darnell said. “Devrin does that a lot when he gets on base. We were able to take advantage of their mistakes and that was good to see.” 

Devrin Weathers scored four of Webb City’s eight runs on Tuesday.

The team’s speedy senior leadoff batter, Weathers went 2-for-2, drew two walks, scored four runs and stole five bases.

A senior shortstop, Parker drove in two runs on one hit and a sacrifice fly. Parker is now Webb City’s single-season leader in runs batted in with 48. The previous school record of 46 was set by Chance Sossamon in 2008. 

Wyatt Keplar took the loss for Neosho (3-20, 0-8 in COC), but the senior lefty surrendered just three hits in 4 2/3 innings. Keplar walked six and struck out five.  

“When he’s on and throws strikes, he’s tough and he can beat anybody,” Neosho coach Danny Powers said of Keplar. “To hold Webb City to four hits was good. But unfortunately, we didn’t do the other things well and they cost us runs. When you do that, it’s going to be tough to be in the game against a team as good as Webb City is.” 

Carter Fenske went the final 1 1/3 innings for the Wildcats, allowing one earned run. 

Neosho was limited to three baserunners, with none after the second inning. 

 

GAME RECAP

The Wildcats had their lone hit of the night in the first inning. Lane Yost was hit by a pitch with two outs before Keplar delivered an RBI double to left.

“We got off to a good start and got that double with two outs and I thought we might be able to scrap some runs across,” Powers said. “But you have to credit their pitchers. I know their starter had a four-pitch inning at one point. He settled in. Our at-bats weren’t great, they were pumping in strikes and they had some quick innings.” 

In the bottom half of the first, Weathers walked, stole second and sprinted home on Parker’s RBI single into right. Parker later charged home on a wild pitch for a 2-1 lead.

Neosho’s Eli Zar reached on an error in the second and he was the final Wildcat to reach base.

In the third, Weathers singled and took second on an error. The Kansas State football recruit stole third and came home on an error for a 3-1 advantage.

The Cardinals extended their lead with three runs in the fourth. 

Eli Goddard walked, Aiden Brock singled, Jeremiah Leaming sacrificed and Fitch was retired before Weathers walked. 

In a rare occurrence, three runs scored on three balk calls, giving the Cardinals a 6-1 cushion.

Webb City added two runs in the sixth for the final margin, as Fitch walked and later scored on an error. Weathers singled and later came home on Parker’s sac fly to center. It was Parker’s 48th RBI of the season. 

 

WHAT’S NEXT?

Both teams have their final COC contests of the season on Thursday, as Neosho hosts Nixa and Webb City hosts Republic.

Powers hopes to see continued improvement from his Wildcats as the regular season winds down.

“Our goal right now is we want to be competitive and put ourselves in the position to make other teams make mistakes,” Powers said. “Right now we’re making too many mistakes, whether it’s walking guys or kicking the ball around a little bit. We know even good teams make mistakes. We’re good enough to be competitive late in games. On Thursday we want to keep it close and hopefully we’ll come out on top.” 

For the Cardinals, the importance of Thursday’s game will be determined by what happens between Nixa and Republic on Wednesday. 

With a win Wednesday, Republic would clinch an outright COC title.

If the Eagles top the Tigers, Webb City could still secure a share of a championship on Thursday. 

“Republic’s a very good team and we’re looking for a good showing on Thursday,” Darnell said. “We’re looking forward to Senior Night on Thursday.”

 

GIRLS SOCCER: Webb City tops Neosho, improves to 16-3

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

Webb City defeated Neosho 3-1 in a girls soccer matchup on Tuesday.

Webb City improved to 16-3 overall and 6-1 in the COC.

Mileah Metcalf, Anea Bemo and Melia Blair had one goal apiece for the Cardinals. 

Avery Renfro had Neosho’s goal. 

Webb City had nine shots on-goal, while Neosho had two. 

Neosho’s Shelby Roberts made six saves. Delaney Duke had one save for the Cardinals. 

Metcalf’s goal came just 30 seconds into the match and was assisted by Bemo. 

Renfro’s equalizer was recorded in the 13th minute.

Blair and Bemo scored unanswered goals in the second half. 

Both teams are on the road Thursday, as Webb City is at Republic and Neosho is at Nixa.  

 

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