Your online home for Joplin area sports coverage.

PREP SOFTBALL: Local players named all-state 

 

The Missouri High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association has released its all-state teams for 2021.

Several local players were recognized in Class 4.

McDonald County’s Madeline McCall (pitcher), Webb City’s Kaylyn Gilbert (catcher) and Peyton Hawkins (infield) and Neosho’s Lil Graue (outfield) were first-team selections.

Nevada’s Peyton Eaton (pitcher) and Bailey Ast (infield) were second-team picks. 

In Class 3, Aurora’s Brooke Schutte (utility) was a second-team pick.

PRO BOXING: Joplin’s ETG hosts Rumble in the Heartland

 

ETG Sports & Events Center in Joplin hosted Rumble in the Heartland on Saturday night.

The event, promoted by Skip Stewart, featured pro and amateur boxing, along with several amateur kickboxing and mixed martial arts bouts.

In a pro boxing featured bout, Donnie Reeves earned a unanimous decision over James Roach after six rounds of lightweight action.

The judges scored it 60-53, 60-53 and 59-54 in favor of Reeves, who fights out of Hannibal, Missouri. Roach is from Grove, Oklahoma.  

In a heavyweight pro boxing bout, Jody Linthicum of Joplin earned a first-round technical knockout over John Kiser of Leavenworth, Kansas. 

In amateur kickboxing action, Jason Love of Joplin earned a second-round TKO over Cody Beck in a heavyweight clash, while Arkansas native Zerek Zumwalt won via split decision over Anthony Tolbert in a cruiserweight bout. Two judges scored it 29-28 in favor of Zumwalt, while the third judge scored it 29-28 in favor of Tolbert, a Cassville native. 

Also, Nikki Jeffrey won an amateur MMA bout in the bantamweight division.