BRANSON, Mo. — Branson scored seven runs in the sixth inning to rally past Carthage for a 9-3 win on Thursday.
Branson took a 1-0 lead in the second inning before Carthage plated three runs in the fifth to take a two-run advantage. The Pirates scored once in the fifth to trim the lead to one and exploded for a seven-run sixth to cruise to victory.
Carter Jenkins earned the win for Branson after allowing three unearned runs on two hits, two walks and five strikeouts in six innings of work. Andrew Bristow pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
Mason Utter took the loss for Carthage after allowing nine runs, two earned, on three hits, eight walks and eight strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
Caden Kabance was 1-for-2 with two RBI and a walk. Kanen Vogt had a base hit as well.
Zach Kearney-Doyle had a hit and two RBI, while Ridge Schroeder had two RBI for the Pirates. Cade Grimm had a hit, scored twice and drove in one.
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — Third-seeded College Heights faced a two-run deficit with three outs remaining before scoring six times in the seventh inning to defeat second-seeded El Dorado Springs 14-10 in the Class 2 District 6 semifinals on Wednesday.
The win improves the Cougars’ record to 17-3, setting a new all-time single-season win record for the CHC softball program.
College Heights Christian (with McAuley Catholic) advances to the district championship game with a matchup against top-seeded Mount Vernon (18-5) set for 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Maddy Colin earned the win for CHC after allowing 10 runs, seven earned, on eight hits, three walks and eight strikeouts in a seven-inning complete game.
Macie Mays took the loss in relief after allowing 11 runs, seven earned, on 14 hits, six walks and six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
Aaliyah Perez started off the rally in the seventh with a single up the middle to lead off the frame. Sarah Painter singled to left with one out in the inning to plate Perez and bring College Heights within one of the lead, 10-9. After an El Dorado error and a walk from Jayli Johnson to load the bases, Kloee Williamson tied the game up after reaching base on a fielder’s choice that resulted in everyone being safe. Layne Jackson followed with a bases-loaded walk to bring in the go-ahead run. Colin drove home two insurance runs with a single to right field before Addie Lawrence pushed home a run on an RBI groundout to make the score 14-10.
Johnson and Lawrence each had three hits to lead CHC at the plate. Johnson doubled, scored twice and drove in two, while Lawrence tripled, scored twice and drove in one. Williamson, Jackson, Colin and Painter all had two hits. Colin doubled and drove in a team-high three runs. Jackson had an RBI and two runs scored, while Williamson doubled, scored two runs and drove in two. Jackson and Painter each had one RBI and two runs scored. Avery Good doubled and drove in two.
Wriley Taylor, who tripled, and Dani Ogle, who homered, each had two hits and two RBI to lead El Dorado Springs at the plate.
Joplin High School played host to the Central Ozark Conference boys tennis tournament on Wednesday.
In the main local highlight, Webb City’s Trenton Hayes and Cale Stephens won the No. 1 doubles crown.
Below is a look at each bracket of singles and doubles. No team scores are kept at the conference tourney.
Webb City’s Trenton Hayes lunges for a forehand during the championship match of the No. 1 doubles bracket at Wednesday’s COC tournament at Joplin High School. Photo by Jason Peake.
NO. 1 DOUBLES
Webb City’s Hayes and Stephens defeated Carthage’s Charlie Snow and Ryan Phillips 8-2 and then beat Branson’s Caleb Buxton-Benjamin Stark 8-4 in the semifinals.
In the bracket’s title match, Hayes-Stephens beat Nixa’s Isaac Forbis-Benjamin Mills 8-2.
Willard’s Luke Christensen and Brayden Roth beat Branson 8-2 for third and Ozark’s duo of Orion Lewis-Major Cardin defeated Carthage’s Snow-Phillips 6-3 for fifth place.
Joplin’s Logan Merkley-Jeffrey Evenson lost to Branson 8-0 in the first round and then suffered a 6-2 setback to Carthage.
Carl Junction’s Connor Sztamenits-Easton Sztamenits lost to Carthage 8-2, while Neosho’s Christian Williams-Melvin Lopez lost to Ozark 8-3.
Webb City’s Cale Stephens hits a forehand winner against Nixa during the championship match of the No. 1 doubles bracket of the COC tourney. Photo by Jason Peake.
NO. 2 DOUBLES
Branson’s Garrett Beckham and Jacob Decker defeated Willard’s Austin Long-Seth Miller 8-3 in the championship match.
Nixa beat Ozark 8-5 for third place, while Republic’s Garrett Carpenter and Markus Mitchell defeated Carl Junction’s Josecito Figueroa-Jordan Markham 6-4 for fifth.
Webb City’s Caiden Johnson-Tyler Wade lost to Republic 8-5 in the play-in match, while Carthage’s Silas Laytham-Danilo Lopez lost to Carl Junction 8-2.
Joplin’s Ben Wardlow-Colin Vermillion lost to Nixa 8-2 and then suffered a 6-2 setback to Republic.
Neosho’s Blaze McKay and Caden Kelly lost to Ozark 8-1 and then dropped a 6-2 decision to Carl Junction.
NO. 1 SINGLES
Willard’s Caden Lingenfelser defeated Branson’s Gavin Brown 8-4 for the No. 1 singles crown.
Ozark’s Gavin Reese defeated Carl Junction’s Blaine Wilkerson 6-0 for third place, while Carthage’s Silas Smith won the fifth-place match 6-3 over Nixa’s Dallin Attwooll.
In other local results from the No. 1 singles bracket, Webb City’s Jackson Dill defeated Neosho’s Ryno Lee 8-3, Nixa’s Attwooll beat Joplin’s Joshua Yarnall 8-3 and Carl Junction’s Wilkerson defeated Carthage’s Smith 8-3.
Dill lost to Lingenfelser 8-0 and Carthage’s Smith edged Dill 7-5.
NO. 2 SINGLES
In the title match at No. 2 singles, Branson’s Nathan Bartram defeated Willard’s Alex Crawford 8-4.
Nixa’s Mason Murray edged Republic’s Scott Parker 7-6 (7-5) for third place, while Webb City’s Drake Miller defeated Carthage’s Colby Tandy 6-2 for fifth.
In other local results, Joplin’s Michael Mancipe defeated Neosho’s Brandt Gonzales 8-1, Webb City’s Miller topped Carl Junction’s Dan Hodson 8-1, Nixa’s Murray beat Tandy 9-7, Willard’s Crawford topped Miller 8-0, Tandy beat Mancipe 7-5 and Miller topped Ozark’s Nathaniel Bottarel 6-1.
