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CROSS COUNTRY: Local athletes compete at Neosho; Youngworth pleased with McAuley’s showing

 

Andy Youngworth was definitely pleased with his McAuley Catholic Warriors at the conclusion of Saturday’s season-opening Neosho Warm-Up cross country invitational. 

“It was a great day for Warrior Cross Country,” said Youngworth, who made his debut as McAuley’s head coach. “It was a sunny, warm morning but our kids competed hard. For more than half of them, this was their first cross country race.” 

The invite featured 2-mile races. 

In his high school debut, McAuley freshman Michael Parrigon finished fourth in the boys race, crossing the line in 11 minutes, 26 seconds.  

McAuley’s Kevin Tran finished 21st in 13:16, while teammate Armando Alberto was 25th in 13:28. Youngworth noted it was the first ever cross country meet at any level for both Tran and Alberto. 

For the McAuley girls, Kendall Ramsey finished 14th with a time of 15:18. 

Also of note, St. Peter’s Catholic Middle School’s Amelia Hagale recorded the 10th fastest time (15:04) among all female runners. 

McAuley’s cross country teams will compete at the Aurora Invitational on Sept. 2. 

 

NEOSHO RESULTS

Neosho’s Kaden Cole crossed the line first in the boys race with a time of 10:21. 

Also for the Wildcats, Carson Newell was third (11:18), Gabe Mabrey took fifth (11:29), while Harry Slinkard (11:47) and Connor Jordon (12:02) finished seventh and eighth, respectively. 

Neosho’s Bryce Hall finished 11th (12:20) and teammate Corbin Goins (12:30) was 15th.  

For the Neosho girls, Chloe Wood (12:43) and Riley Kemna (13:18) finished first and second, respectively. 

The Wildcats had three other girls finish in the top seven, as Adriana Adams placed fourth in 14:29, Makenna Davis took fifth with a time of 14:35 and Lakyn Prough was seventh in 14:53. 

 

COLLEGE HEIGHTS RESULTS

College Heights Christian’s Caleb Quade placed 10th in the boys race with a time 12:15. 

Jayli Johnson led the College Heights girls by finishing third in 14:26.

Also for the CHC girls, Madelynn Jordan was 20th, Sophia Moore was 21st, Madi Carson finished 24th and Stella Moore was 26th. 

 

THOMAS JEFFERSON RESULTS

Thomas Jefferson’s Kip Atteberry was the runner-up in the boys race with a time of 11:13. 

For the TJ girls, Macie Shifferd (14:55) and Sarah Mueller (14:58) finished ninth and 10th, respectively. 

 

VOLLEYBALL: Cavaliers begin season at Verona tourney

 

The Thomas Jefferson volleyball team competed at the Verona Tournament on Saturday.

The Cavaliers went 1-3-1 on the day.

Thomas Jefferson defeated Purdy 25-15, 25-18. The Cavaliers tied with Golden City (26-24, 16-25).

Exeter defeated TJ 25-21, 25-23, Sarcoxie topped the Cavaliers 25-18, 25-13 and Marionville beat Thomas Jefferson 25-12, 28-26.

The Cavaliers will compete at Purdy on Monday and then host Greenfield on Tuesday night. 

PREP SOFTBALL: Joplin starts season 4-0 with two wins on Saturday; CJ drops two games

Joplin moved to 4-0 on the young season after earning a 4-2 win over Hillcrest and a 10-1 win over Branson on Saturday to wrap up play in the Branson/Aurora Bash softball tournament.

Carl Junction fell to 0-4 after dropping a 17-0 contest to Branson and a 10-6 game against Hillcrest.

 

JOPLIN 4, HILLCREST 2

Joplin erased an early deficit with three runs crossing home in the bottom of the first inning before going on to beat the Hornets in the opener.

With Joplin trailing 1-0 after the top half of the first, Bailey Ledford reached on a four-pitch walk and touched home to tie the game moments later on an RBI triple from Jadyn Pankow, who came around to score on a wild pitch in the next at-bat to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead. The third run of the inning came around to score on an RBI groundout by Hope Oakley. 

Joplin pushed the lead to 4-1 in the last of the third inning when Izzy Yust picked up an RBI on a groundout that scored Ledford.

Payton Jones earned the win in the circle after allowing two runs on eight hits, a walk and two strikeouts in five innings of work. Jill McDaniel earned the save after striking out one and walking one in one relief inning.

Pankow and Yust each had one hit, one RBI and scored a run, while Taryn Casey and Ryleigh Surridge each recorded base hits. Ledford walked twice and scored two runs, with Oakley also tallying an RBI.

 

JOPLIN 10, BRANSON 1

Joplin scored in every inning on the way to a 10-1 win over Branson to close out the Branson/Aurora Bash.

The Eagles scored two runs in the first and second innings, one run in the third and fourth innings and capped off the win with a four-run fifth inning.

McDaniel earned the complete-game win in the circle after allowing one unearned run on four hits and six strikeouts in six innings.

Madisyn Tracy highlighted the first inning with a two-run double to give Joplin a 2-1 lead. Abby Lowery tripled home a run in the second before a second run came home on a passed ball. Yust picked up an RBI double in the fourth inning, while Libby Munn and McDaniel recorded RBI singles in the last of the fifth.

Tracy led the Eagles at the plate with two hits, including a double, two RBI and a run scored. Liz Snider had two hits and scored a run, while Ledford also recorded a pair of hits. Yust doubled, scored a run and drove in one, with Lowery adding a triple, a run scored and an RBI. Pankow tripled and scored a run. Munn and McDaniel each had hits, scored a run and drove in one.

Joplin is at McDonald County on Tuesday.

 

BRANSON 17, CARL JUNCTION 0

Branson scored nine runs in the first inning and eight more in the second on the way to a three-inning win over Carl Junction on Saturday.

Kaleah Morrison earned the win for the Pirates after allowing one hit, walking four and striking out two in three innings.

Hannah Cantrell took the loss for Carl Junction after allowing nine runs, one earned, on four hits and four walks in 2/3 of an inning. Emma Fleming allowed eight runs, three earned, on two hits, four walks and a strikeout in 2 1/3 relief innings.

Sierra Daily led Branson at the plate with two hits, including a triple, three RBI and a run scored. Langley Miller had a double, three RBI and scored twice.

Madi Olds led CJ with a 1-for-2 game at the plate.

 

HILLCREST 10, CARL JUNCTION 6

Hillcrest scored four times in the first inning and crossed home six times in the third to build a 10-1 advantage on the way to the win over Carl Junction on Saturday.

Carl Junction scored five runs in the fourth inning to trim the deficit to four, with the rally ending there.

Cantrell led the Bulldogs at the plate with a perfect 3-for-3 game, scoring a run and driving in one. Allison Plumlee doubled, with Dezi Williams earning a hit, scoring a run and picking up an RBI. Olds and Addie Brock also recorded a hit. 

Hannah Cole took the loss after allowing 10 runs, two earned, on seven hits, four walks and two strikeouts in four innings.

Carl Junction hosts Cassville on Monday at 4:30.