NEOSHO, Mo. — Top-seeded McDonald County made the most of the miscues by fourth-seeded Neosho on the way to a 13-2 win in five innings in the Class 4 District 6 semifinals on Thursday at the Neosho Athletic Complex.
The Mustangs (24-6) plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first before the Wildcats cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the third. McDonald County hung three runs on the board in the third before scoring eight times in the fourth to build an insurmountable cushion. Of the 13 runs scored by McDonald County, just four of them were earned as Neosho committed six errors on the night.
“From the very first inning, we made adjustments up and down the lineup to put the ball in play and put pressure on them,” McDonald County coach Heath Alumbaugh said. “In playoff softball, you have to put pressure on a defense and see what happens. We were able to do that. … It was a great team win.”
Neosho finishes the season with a 14-14 record, while graduating seniors Kaitlyn Killion, Lili Graue, Alivia Campbell and Maddie Carpenter.
McDonald County advances to the district title game for the fourth straight season and takes on third-seeded Webb City at 5 p.m. in the district finals on Friday. The contest is a rematch of last season’s district championship, with Webb City walking away with a 5-0 win.
IN THE CIRCLE
Madeline McCall earned the complete-game win after allowing two runs, one earned, on one hit, four walks and 10 strikeouts in five innings of work.
“Madeline McCall is a fierce competitor and has been for four years,” Alumbaugh said. “She is going to continue to be for however long we have her for the rest of this season. That is what she came out and did tonight. She came out and fought through it.”
Chloe Patterson started and took the loss for Neosho after allowing nine runs, three earned, on six hits, a walk and seven strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings, while Carleigh Kinnaird allowed four unearned runs on two walks in a third of an inning.
GAME ACTION
McDonald County got the scoring started in the bottom of the first when Reagan Myrick reached on a throwing error that allowed a run to cross home in the process for a 1-0 lead. The Mustangs added a second run later in the inning on an RBI groundout by Adasyn Leach to make the score 2-0.
“Early runs can be the difference,” Alumbaugh said. “It just ratchets up the pressure right away. If you have a chance to get those runs early, you have to take advantage.”
The Wildcats cut the lead in half in the top of the third when Graue reached on the free pass before coming around to score on an RBI single by McKaylie Forrest to make the score 2-1.
The Mustangs responded in the bottom of the third, with Carlee Cooper tripling to left-center before touching home on an infield hit by Myrick to push the lead back to two runs, 3-1. A pair of runners crossed home later in the inning on a Neosho error on a fly ball with two outs to make the score 5-1.
“We challenge our girls to win or tie every inning,” Alumbaugh said about his team’s ability to answer back after giving up a run. “At times, teams are going to get the best of you and push your back against the wall. But you have to come back fighting, and I felt like we did a good job of that today.”
Neosho added a run in the top of the fourth when Maddie Carpenter scored on a wild pitch, but McDonald County once again answered back in the bottom half when Leach singled to center with the bases loaded to plate a pair of runs and push the lead to 7-2. McDonald County put the game away later in the inning when a run scored on an error before back-to-back walks with the bases loaded forced in runs to make the score 10-2. Three more runs came around to score on another fielding error with the bases loaded pushed the lead to 13-2.
AT THE PLATE
Cooper had three hits, three RBI and scored twice to lead McDonald County. Leach had one hit, three RBI and scored a run, while Nevaeah Dodson had a hit, scored twice and drove in one.
NEOSHO, Mo. — Third-seeded Webb City saw a three-run lead evaporate by the sixth inning only to rebound for three runs in the seventh inning on the way to a 6-3 win over second-seeded Willard in the Class 4 District 6 semifinals on Thursday at the Neosho Athletic Complex.
The Cardinals (16-12) used home runs in the first and third innings to build a 3-0 lead over the Tigers (22-8). Willard threatened in the first four innings before breaking through for two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to tie the game at 3-3. Webb City responded with three go-ahead runs on three hits in the seventh inning to advance to the district championship.
“They set their goals early in the preseason and this is where we want to be—the district championship game,” Webb City coach Shauna Friend said. “We want to continue what we started last year and this was a game we had to win. We knew Willard was a good team that beat us earlier in the season. Our goal was to come out and want it more than they did. It was a great, hard-fought game by both teams. The senior leadership showed through for us.”
The Cardinals advance to their fourth straight district title game and will match up against top-seeded McDonald County with a 5 p.m. matchup on Friday.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this group of seniors,” Friend said. “They are a great group of kids on the field, off the field, on the bus, wherever they’re at. It just makes me not only proud of them, but I am just thrilled for them to be able to continue on in the postseason.”
Webb City’s Laney Taylor delivers a pitch to home in the Cardinals’ win over second-seeded Willard on Thursday in the Class 4 District 6 semifinals. Photo by Israel Perez.
IN THE CIRCLE
Freshman Laney Taylor started and earned the win after allowing two runs on seven hits, a walk and a strikeout in five innings of work. Senior Peyton Hawkins allowed one run on two hits, two walks and a strikeout in two relief innings.
“Laney did a great job of coming out and throwing five solid innings to get us where we needed to be,” Friend said.
Sydni Fletcher took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits, two walks and six strikeouts in three innings, while Hannah Burks allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits, a walk and five strikeouts in four innings of relief.
GAME ACTION
It didn’t take long for Webb City to grab the lead in the semifinals, as Hawkins led the game off with a solo home run to left to put the Cardinals on top 1-0 one batter into the game.
Hawkins singled to lead off the third inning before the home run ball came back into play for the Cardinals, with senior Kaylyn Gilbert driving a 1-2 pitch over the wall to the opposite field in left three batters later to extend the lead to 3-0.
Willard threatened in the first four innings with nothing to show for it. The Tigers stranded six total runners through the first four frames and had a runner on third three times, with Taylor able to work out of traffic.
“I felt like Laney went out there and did a fantastic job of keeping her composure in pressure situations,” Friend said. “She has built up to that, pitching a lot for us this year. She did what she had to do to keep us in the ballgame, and she has been doing that for us all year.”
The Tigers finally broke through in the last of the fifth inning when Harley Durr doubled to right-center to score a run. Alyson Miller added a sacrifice fly later in the inning to bring the Webb City advantage to one run, 3-2.
Jaz Rennison singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the sixth for Willard before Burks doubled to deep right-center field, tying the game at 3-3. Burks tried to score on a ball in the dirt later in the inning but was called out at home.
Webb City third baseman Emalee Lamar hauls in a throw during the Cardinals’ win over Willard on Thursday in the Class 4 District 6 semifinals. Photo by Israel Perez.
Webb City rallied in the top of the seventh to swing the momentum back in its favor. Hawkins got into scoring position with a one-out double at the base of the wall in left-center. Following a walk to senior Emma Welch, fellow senior Hannah Wells singled to the opposite field to bring home Hawkins to give the Cardinals a 4-3 lead. Gilbert followed with a two-run single to left before ending up on third following a fielding error on Willard to add a pair of insurance runs and make the score 6-3.
“That is nothing but senior grit,” Friend said about her team’s ability to rally right away after giving up the lead late. “They didn’t want to give up. I knew right there at the start of the seventh that we were going to win the game because of their attitude, drive and determination.”
Willard was able to bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but the Cardinals snuffed out the rally before a runner touched home.
AT THE PLATE
Hawkins led Webb City in the box with four hits, including a double and home run, three runs scored and an RBI. Gilbert homered, had two hits, three RBI and a run scored.
Durr had three hits, scored a run and drove in one for Willard. Rennison went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Athletes from Joplin and Carl Junction concluded the 2021 season at the 47th MSHSAA Girls Tennis Championships on Thursday at the Cooper Tennis Complex.
EAGLES COMPETE IN CLASS 3
Competing in Class 3, Joplin’s doubles team of Astrid Cardenas and Emma Watts went 0-2.
The Joplin duo suffered a 6-0, 6-0 opening-round loss to St. Joseph Academy’s Elizabeth Choate and Isabella Hong. The St. Joseph Academy squad later advanced to the semifinals.
In the consolation bracket, the Joplin pair lost to St. Teresa’s Academy’s Emma Bridges and Anne Marie Hotze 6-2, 6-4.
Cardenas and Watts finished their stellar season with a record of 26-3. Cardenas is a senior, while Watts is a junior.
BULLDOGS PARTICIPATE IN CLASS 2
The Carl Junction Bulldogs had a doubles team and a singles player competing at the Class 2 state tourney.
Carl Junction’s doubles team of Jenna Besperat and Nicole Sherwood went 0-2.
St. Pius X’s Kintzli Wagner and Megan Giffin defeated the Bulldogs 6-1, 6-2 in the opening round.
Besperat and Sherwood suffered a 6-2, 6-2 loss to Villa Duchesne’s Caroline Potter and Elizabeth Brown in the consolation bracket.
Sherwood is a senior, while Besperat is a sophomore.
In singles, Carl Junction freshman Naiyah Wurdeman went 0-2.
In the first round, Jefferson City’s Sandhiya Baskar defeated Wurdeman 6-0, 6-0. In the consolation bracket, Ladue’s Saba Fajors defeated Wurdeman 6-1, 6-1.
CLASS 1 EVENT BEGINS FRIDAY
Thomas Jefferson’s Allison Ding will take on Duchesne’s Mary Kathleen Beckemeier on Friday in an opening round match of the Class 1 singles tournament.
Mount Vernon will have two doubles teams competing — Brooke Loftus-Jessah Anderson and Isabella Mosley-Allison Schubert.
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Ozark defeated Carthage in straight sets on Thursday in Central Ozark Conference volleyball action, as the visitors won 25-19, 25-17, 25-23.
Mia Camarillo led Carthage with eight kills, while Sydnee Dudolski and Grace Pickering added seven kills apiece.
Abby Holderbaum and Sophie Shannon chipped in four kills apiece.
Olivia Bourgault had 20 digs and four assists, while Dudolski added 10 digs.
Raven Probert had six assists.
Carthage (16-13-1) hosts rival Webb City on Tuesday night to end the regular season.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Top-seeded Nixa overcame an early deficit to knock off fifth-seeded Carthage 5-3 on Thursday in a semifinal contest of the Class 5 District 6 tournament at Springfield Central.
Carthage ends the season with a record of 21-14.
The Tigers plated two runs in the top of the third inning to take an early lead. The first run scored on Mary Grace Richmond’s sacrifice fly before Kate Potter’s run-scoring grounder made it 2-0.
But Nixa pushed across four runs in the fourth. The big inning was highlighted by Kaylee Schlenker’s three-run double.
Both teams traded single runs in the fifth inning.
Carthage’s run scored on Ashlyn Brust’s RBI single. Nixa went up 5-3 in the bottom half when Phoebe Gardner singled and later scored on a Carthage error.
Carthage was limited to four hits. Brust went 3-for-3, while Brooklyn Dolon-Main had one hit.
Carthage’s Jensyn Elder took the loss. Elder allowed four earned runs on eight hits in six innings with four strikeouts.
Maddy Meierer was the winning pitcher. She went the distance and allowed three runs on four hits and struck out nine.
Chloe Karns and Paige Garetson had two hits apiece for Nixa.
Nixa meets second-seeded Ozark on Friday in the district championship game. Ozark defeated third-seeded Republic 4-3.
The Seneca Indians defeated the East Newton Patriots 3-0 on Thursday. The set scores were 25-17, 25-20 and 25-22.
Seneca’s Rylee Darnell had 34 assists and three aces, while Brylee Sage had 12 digs.
Also for the Indians, Jera Jameson contributed 10 kills and two blocks, while Braxton Raulston had eight kills and 10 digs and Ellie Barnes contributed seven kills and seven digs.
Parker Long had six kills and 10 digs, while Tatum White added five kills.
Seneca (12-12-2, 4-2 Big 8) will compete at the McDonald County tourney on Saturday.
WARRENSBURG, Mo. — In a final tune-up before the conference meet arrives, Joplin’s boys cross country team claimed the large school championship at the Warrensburg Invitational on Thursday.
With five runners in the top 19, the Eagles had a team score of 52. Willard and Hickman tied for second with identical team scores of 77. There were 19 teams in attendance.
Joplin’s Hobbs Campbell was the race’s runner-up with a time of 16:28. Warrensburg’s Drew Belardo was first in 16:21.
Joplin’s Ian Horton (17:07) and Zaben Barnes (17:12) finished ninth and 10th, respectively, while Nicholas Horton took 14th (17:26) and Chance Tindall was 19th (17:45).
Also for the Eagles, Max Russell was 44th, Aidan Koch took 52nd and Grey Edwards was 89th.
In the girls race, Joplin’s Sage Mitchell and Allie Keizer finished 33rd and 34th, respectively. Both recorded a time of 22:41.
Also for the Eagles, Averi Burks finished 45th, Jackaline Triplett was 46th, Meridyth Mai finished 59th, Isabella Cruse took 62nd and Cylee Gilreath was 70th.
Grain Valley (45) and Hickman (127) were the top two teams. Joplin was seventh with a team score of 200.
The Eagles will compete at the Central Ozark Conference Meet on Tuesday in Nixa.
Cross country teams from College Heights Christian and McAuley Catholic competed at the Clever Invitational on Thursday.
In the girls race, College Heights’ Jayli Johnson finished 14th in 22:04.
CHC’s Madi Carson was 78th and McAuley’s Kendall Ramsey finished 81st. Also competing for College Heights were Sophia Moore (93rd) and Stella Moore (108th).
Blue Eye’s Riley Arnold took first in 19:30, while Lamar’s Kiersten Potter finished second in 20:23. Aurora’s Kaci Singer finished fourth in 20:43.
East Newton (55) and Strafford (70) were the top two teams. East Newton was led by Alonna Eytcheson, who finished 13th.
McAuley’s top finisher in the boys race was Michael Parrigon, who finished 32nd in 19 minutes flat.
Also for the Warriors, Phillip Motazedi finished 65th, Armando Alberto was 69th and Drew Zeb was 93rd. Also competing for the Warriors were Kevin Tran (122nd), Kable Reichardt (125th) and Cliff Nolan (126th).
College Heights was led by Caleb Quade’s 39th place finish.
The top two boys teams were Stockton (43) and East Newton (57).
East Newton’s Kelton Sorrell, Gabe Bergen and Chase Sorrell finished fourth, fifth and sixth.
