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Day: March 23, 2022

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD: Neosho Wildcats reloaded for ’22 season

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The Neosho High School girls track and field team will feature a solid group of returning varsity performers and a large number of promising newcomers this spring.

With that in mind, Wildcats coach Terri Kemna expects to see steady progress throughout the 2022 season.

“We are excited about having some great returners and a lot of new faces, including some athletes who have not participated in track until this year,” Kemna said. “The young ladies have a great work ethic and attitude and there is a lot of great leadership on the team. 

“I expect to see a lot of growth,” Kemna added. “We have talented returners, but a lot of new faces who will contribute. And our numbers are balanced. Because our team is really young and our more experienced athletes are very positive, I anticipate a lot of excitement as we work hard, have fun, and get better.”

Six seniors return with varsity experience — Bailey Miller (pole vault, 400, 800), Claudia Johnston (throws), Heaven Kivett (sprints, 4×800), Taigen Mitchell (sprints), Jamie Patterson (throws) and Kendall Platner (jumps, hurdles). 

There are 10 juniors returning with prior varsity experience. They are Jayden Adams (distance), Makenna Davis (distance), Gracie DeFoor (throws), Madi Ebbinghaus (sprints), Karlee Ellick (jumps), Hannah Fehring (sprints, hurdles), Katelyn Mahurin (throws), Lakyn Prough (distance), Kaylee Schibi (throws) and Kinley Wilson (sprints, pole vault).

Sophomores who gained varsity experience last year are Claire Burghart (pole vault, sprints), Riley Kemna (distance), Cadence Martensen (throws), Makayla Peters (sprints, jumps) and Miranda Wennhold (sprints, jumps).

Fellow sophomores Lillian Brown, Kylie Flewelling and Skye Holmes are also expected to contribute. 

Senior Lydia Chapman (pole vault, sprints) and junior Aubrey Costello (sprints) are newcomers who are expected to compete at the varsity level.

Coach Kemna also expects a large group of freshmen to make an impact. They are Adrianna Adams (distance), Reagan Bevis (throws), Emma Brown (throws), Brenna Bryand (throws), Beclynn Garrett (sprints, javelin), Bianca Haulman (sprints, middle distance), Edith Holmes (sprints, middle distance), Kimora Linny (sprints), Ariana Mendoza (sprints), Rylyn Moritz (sprints), Madi Olson (throws), Novendrea Samuel (sprints), Audrey Sims (throws), Lauren Sullivan (throws), Lexie Wasson (sprints), Hale White (sprints) and Chloe Wood (distance).

Wood and Riley Kemna qualified for the state cross country meet this past fall, finishing 45th and 77th, respectively. 

Coach Kemna said her team’s strengths include great leadership, positive attitudes and a great work ethic.  

“Our numbers are up and athletes are supportive of each other,” she said. “This will help us reach our goals by improving PRs and finishing stronger than last year as a team at meets. I think winning is important, but also is the process of tracking growth.” 

Coach Kemna added there’s plenty of excitement surrounding the program ahead of Friday’s season-opening home meet.

“Right now, I don’t have a lot of concerns, but I am interested in the personality of the team as a whole and how it develops as the season progresses because there are so many new faces,” Kemna said. “Based on what I’ve seen so far in the first few weeks of the season, I’m optimistic that we will continue to be positive and work hard. I can’t stress enough how the girls who were here last year are contributing to setting the tone of working hard and being supportive of each other.”

The Wildcats will host the Harry Lineberry Open House on Friday, with the action scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

 

BOYS TRACK & FIELD: Strong senior class to lead Neosho this spring

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

A large group of seniors are expected to lead the way for the Neosho High School boys track and field squad this spring.

The Wildcats will rely on 17 seniors with prior varsity experience to score big points at each and every meet. 

“The strength of our program this season is our senior leadership,” Wildcats coach Randy Mustain said. “We have a great group of leaders when they want to be. If we can stay focused and hold each other accountable, that will be the difference in what we’re able to accomplish this season.”

The seniors returning with prior varsity experience are — Kaden Cole (800, 1,600, 3,200), Zane Ornelas (800, 1,600), Oscar Granados (800, 1,600, 3,200), Brandon Doyle (800, 1,600, 3,200), Connor Jordon (400, 800), Jose Coria (200, 400), Landen Wasson (100, 200), Talon Mitchell (100, 200), Evan Haskins (100, 200, 400), Marcus Duncan (100, 200), Sean Branham (110H, 300H), Eric Bebie (110H, 300H), Colin Ortiz (110H, 300H), Andrew Rupert (discus, javelin), Eric Renner (discus, shot put, javelin), Haydn Riggs (shot, discus) and Brian Recinos (pole vault).

A Missouri Southern signee, Cole finished 11th in the 1,600 at last year’s Class 5 state track meet. 

Juniors Isaiah Green (TJ, HJ, 400), Jared Siler (HJ, LJ), Aiden Howell (LJ, relays) and Tyrese Hill (sprints) are also expected to contribute nicely this season. 

With that large group of upperclassmen leading the way, the Wildcats have the expectations set high. 

“I feel very good about the upcoming season,” Mustain said. “But, as I tell the athletes every year, we will only get out what we put in. We have a lot of talent and potential on our roster, but those two things will mean nothing if we don’t embrace the day-to-day challenges and strive to improve every day.”

Coach Mustain noted there are several newcomers who could also contribute at the varsity level this spring. 

“We are very excited about our freshmen and sophomore classes,” he said. “It will be exciting to see how they are able to contribute to the team this season.”

The Wildcats will host the Harry Lineberry Open House on Friday, with the action scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

With the home meet’s arrival, the spring season will officially kick-off for the Wildcats. 

“We are extremely excited for the upcoming season,” Mustain said. “Our boys have been ready to get back at it since the end of last year when our season did not end as well as we had hoped. This year, we are laser focused on our goals and hope to battle for a district championship.”

BASEBALL: Despite late rally, Webb City suffers home loss to Branson

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

WEBB CITY, Mo. — For the second straight game, the Webb City Cardinals came up one run short.

The Cardinals rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Branson Pirates held on for a 5-4 non-conference prep baseball victory over the hosts on a chilly and wet Tuesday at Chuck Barnes Field. 

The setback came after Webb City suffered a 7-6 loss to Logan-Rogersville on Saturday in the season opener. 

The two teams managed just five hits apiece, as offense was at a premium.

The Cardinals manufactured a run in the bottom of the third inning. William Hayes and Gavin Stowell both walked before Cade Wilson reached on a bunt single. 

Eric Fitch followed with a sacrifice fly into right field, allowing Hayes to score the game’s first run. 

The Pirates plated four runs on three hits, three walks and a hit batter in the top of the fourth. Webb City stranded two in the bottom half of the fourth.

Branson added a single tally in the sixth on Carter Jenkins’ RBI single for a 5-1 lead.

For most of the game, the Cardinals failed to generate any offense against Branson starting pitcher Kale Lankton. 

A crafty junior southpaw who has committed to Evangel, Lankton limited the Cardinals to just three hits and struck out five in 6 1/3 innings.  

However, the Cardinals chased Lankton with one out in the bottom of the seventh after McQuade Eilenstein drew a walk and Wilson doubled.

Branson reliever James Ryan Houston took over on the mound, and a wild pitch allowed pinch runner Kolton Eilenstein to score. 

After Fitch walked, Aidan Brock and Kenley Hood both delivered run-scoring singles, cutting Branson’s lead to 5-4. But the Cardinals were unable to tie it up, as Houston was able to retire the side. 

Stowell took the loss for Webb City. A senior left-hander, Stowell went 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on two hits and six walks with five strikeouts. 

Kaylor Darnell and Walker Sweet pitched in relief. Darnell went 1 1/3 innings, allowing one run and striking out three. Sweet tossed two scoreless innings, striking out six. 

A senior outfielder, Wilson had two of Webb City’s five hits. 

Now under the direction of former Joplin coach Kirk Harryman, the Pirates improved to 4-0.

Andrew Bristow went 2-for-3 for the Pirates, while Collin Ross drove in two runs. 

Webb City (0-2) plays Kickapoo at 7:30 on Thursday at the Willard Tournament. 

 

DISTRICT ASSIGNMENT

Webb City has been assigned to Class 5 District 7. 

Other teams in District 7 are Carl Junction, Grandview, McDonald County, Neosho, Pembroke Hill, Raytown South and Ruskin.

 

 

FULL STATS: Webb City HS (webbcitycardinals.com)

BASEBALL: Joplin earns first win, beats SMC 15-4 in six innings

Posted on by Lucas Davis

Playing as the away team after rain forced the game to be played at the fully turfed baseball field at the JHS Athletic Complex, Joplin poured it on in the later innings on the way to 15-4 win in six innings over St. Mary’s Colgan on Tuesday.

Joplin (1-2), which earned its first win of the season against the Panthers (0-1) in their first action of 2022, scored 15 runs on 15 hits, including 10 extra base hits made up of five doubles, four triples and a home run. 

The Eagles scored twice in the first, once in the second, three times in the fourth and pulled away with a five-run fifth before icing the win with four runs in the sixth inning.

“It’s always good to get that first win of the year,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “Coming into the game, there is that weighing on you a little bit just trying to get that first one. 

“I thought our approach at the plate was a lot better today. We have things to work on, but we spent a lot of time since Saturday just talking about our mental approach to our at-bats and recognizing situations and what we needed to do in a given at-bat. I am hoping that they are seeing that a lot of those extra-base hits were with two strikes and two outs. We stayed within our approach, stayed short and were still able to drive the ball without trying to do too much. Hopefully, that is something that we will continue to build upon as the season goes on.”

ON THE MOUND

As a staff, Joplin limited the Panthers to just three hits but SMC did benefit early from 10 walks allowed by the Eagles. 

Byler Reither earned the win after allowing three runs, one earned, on one hit, five walks and five strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. Alex Isbell allowed one hit, walked three and struck out two in 2 1/3 relief innings. Landon Maples allowed one run on one hit, two walks and two strikeouts in 2/3 of an inning, while Tyler Duley pitched a scoreless 1/3 of an inning.

“I thought when we threw strikes we were really good,” Wolf said with a chuckle. “We are trying to get guys to understand the process of all of this. When we bury it in the zone and just keep throwing strikes, good things are going to happen for us.”

Kysen Bennett started for SMC and took the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits, a walk and a strikeout in two innings of work. Kaden Vogel surrendered one hit and a walk with three strikeouts in one relief inning. Brooks Badart, Gus Keller, Tristan Voss and John Potusek combined to allow 12 runs on 10 hits, three walks and five punchouts in three total relief innings.

GAME ACTION

After each team scored a pair of runs in the first inning without recording a run-scoring hit in the process, Joplin regained the lead in the top of the second inning fueled by three hits. Bodee Carlson broke the 2-2 tie two batters later with a two-out, two-bag hit to right-center field to plate a run for the 3-2 advantage.

The Panthers tied the game back up in the bottom of the third inning with a run scoring on a wild pitch. SMC was threatening with the bases loaded and two outs before Isbell came on in relief of Reither and forced a pop up to get out of the jam.

The momentum with two outs continued for the Eagles in the top of the fourth inning when Justin McReynolds tripled down the line to left field for an RBI before coming around to score in the next at-bat when Kyler Stokes followed with a two-out RBI triple of his own. Stokes ultimately touched home plate on the play following a Colgan error to make the score 6-3.

“We say it all the time—two-out hits win games,” Wolf said. “They are backbreakers for the other team and they really build up your team when you can get them in terms of energy. That was great to see us coming up and being comfortable with two strikes and two outs to be able to deliver in those situations.”

Joplin plated five runs on five hits an inning later to blow the lead open to eight runs. The Eagles had four extra-base hits in the inning. After a one-out triple from Landon Maples, Tyler Schumann doubled to center field to bring home a run. Two batters later, Carlson came up with an RBI double to left-center field to make the score 9-3. Stokes capped the inning with a two-out, two-run home run to deep left field to bring the score to 11-3 through four and a half innings.

“Kyler has that potential,” Wolf said about the monster home run to left. “He can be the best baseball player on the field when he stays within himself. He didn’t try to do too much on that pitch. It was just a solid swing that he can create bat speed and get into it and drive a ball like that.”

Joplin added four more runs in the top of the six inning to initiate the run rule.

AT THE PLATE

Carlson and Stokes each had three hits to lead Joplin at the plate. Carlson had two doubles and a triple with three RBI and a run scored, while Stokes finished with a triple and a home run to go along with a team-high four RBI and two runs scored. Ethan Guilford doubled and had two hits, while Maples tripled for one of his two hits and scored two runs. Schumann and Braidy Mails each doubled and finished with two hits.

Cooper Simmons had a hit, two walks and an RBI to lead Colgan at the plate. Bennett added a hit and an RBI, while Connor VanBecelaere had a hit and scored a run.

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