Your online home for Joplin area sports coverage.

Day: March 27, 2022

TRACK & FIELD: Neosho athletes fare well at Harry Lineberry Open House

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

NEOSHO, Mo. — Neosho High School hosted the Harry Lineberry Open House track and field invitational on Friday. 

The Neosho boys won seven events, while the NHS girls took first in four events. 

 

NEOSHO BOYS HIGHLIGHTS

Winning events for the Neosho boys were Evan Haskins (200), Kaden Cole (1600, 3200), Eric Bebie (110 hurdles), Cade Camerer (high jump), Jared Siler (long jump) and Isaiah Green (triple jump). 

Haskins recorded a time of 23.72 seconds in the 200, while Cole’s winning times were 4:31 and 9:52. Bebie finished the 110 hurdles in 16.51.

Camerer cleared 5-9.75 in the high jump, Siler leaped 19-0.25 in the long jump and Green recorded a mark of 40-8.25 in the triple jump. 

Taking second for the Wildcats were Tyrese Hill (200) and Izaiah Hill (400).

Finishing third in their events were  Jack Lankford (200), Haskins (400), Colin Ortiz (PV) and Eric Renner (discus), while fourth place finishers were Talon Mitchell (100), Connor Jordon (400), Bebie (300 H), Grant Landers (TJ), Drew Cobb (PV) and Hadyn Riggs (discus, shot put).

As far as the relays, Neosho’s boys were second in the 4×100 and 4×200 and third in both the 4×400 and 4×800. 

Other event winners in the boys meet were Diamond’s Chase Housh (400), East Newton’s Kelton Sorrell (800) and Gabe Bergen (300 H) and Nixa’s Spencer Ward (100), Afton Hopkins (PV), Tony Perez (discus, shot put) and Koby Graham (javelin). 

 

NEOSHO GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS

Winning their events for the Neosho girls were Chloe Wood (800), Riley Kemna (1600), Kendall Platner (high jump) and Kinley Wilson (pole vault). 

Wood crossed the line at 2:39 in the 800, while Kemna recorded a time of 5:45 in the 1600. Platner cleared 4-9 in the high jump, while Wilson cleared 7-6.25 in the vault. 

Taking second for the Wildcats were Madilyn Ebbinghaus (200), Makayla Peters (400), Wood (1600), Lauren Sullivan (long jump) and Miranda Wennhold (triple jump). 

Finishing third in their events were  Kemna (3200), Miranda Wennhold (HJ), Claire Burghart (PV) and Katelyn Mahurin (shot put).

Taking fourth were Ebbinghaus (100), Platner (300 H), Taigen Mitchell (LJ), Karlee Ellick (TJ) and Sullivan (shot put). 

Neosho’s girls were second in all four relays. 

Winning events for Nixa were Faith Chepkondol (100), Taylor Hopper (200, TJ), Brookelyn Bidinger (400), Alicen Ashley (3200), Camila Figueroa (100 H, 300 H), Ashlyn Allison (discus), Dakota Hale (javelin) and Halle Hanna (shot put). 

 

THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGHLIGHTS

For the Thomas Jefferson boys, Kip Atteberry placed third in the 800 with a time of 2:10. Atteberry was fourth in the 1600 in 4:48.

Elias Rincker was seventh in the 300 hurdles and ninth in the long jump. 

For the Thomas Jefferson girls, Alivia Beard placed third in both the 100 and the 200, while Sarah Mueller finished third in the 800 and Avery Hocker took third in the triple jump.

Gabbi Hiebert was fourth in the 400, with Leah Studer sixth. Mueller took fifth in the 1600, with Macie Shifferd seventh. 

Hiebert and Nico Carlson finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the high jump. Lannah Grigg placed fifth in the shot put.

 

FULL RESULTS: https://mo.milesplit.com/meets/453546-harry-lineberry-open-house-2022/results

TRACK & FIELD: Thomas Jefferson returns state qualifiers, promising newcomers in ’22

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The Thomas Jefferson Independent School track and field squad features eight returning state qualifiers and a number of promising newcomers this spring.

With that, the expectations are high for the Cavaliers. 

“We return eight out of 10 kids who qualified for state last May,” Cavaliers coach Junior Joseph told SoMo Sports. “The kids are eager to get back there again this season. I believe that both of our teams should be able to compete at each meet we attend. Our goal this season is to compete for a conference title and have as many kids as possible qualify for the state meet.” 

The top returners for the TJ boys are senior Elias Rincker (sprints, jumps) and juniors Kip Atteberry (distance), Levi Triplett (sprints, jumps), Ryken Garren (throws) and Benjamin Carroll (throws).

Atteberry placed fourth in the 1600 and was 10th in the 800 at last year’s Class 1 state track meet. Rincker, Triplett and Atteberry competed at state in the 4×400 relay with the graduated Kelsey Atteberry. 

The Cavaliers have a large number of newcomers who are expected to contribute nicely— juniors Jay Ball (throws) and Shayaan Anis (throws), sophomore Cameron Huthsing (sprints) and freshmen Sheraz Anis (sprints), Gavin Box (sprints), Eann Espinoza (jumps), Layton Green (sprints) and Lincoln Miller (sprints).

“Our men’s team will rely heavily on our distance program and field events,” Joseph said. “Kip Atteberry had a great cross country season, finishing fourth at the state meet. Elias Rincker is a great leader and he’ll be leading our jumps and will be in the mix competing for top spots at each meet.” 

Thomas Jefferson’s girls team returns a solid core. Back with prior varsity experience are senior Alivia Beard (sprints), junior Nico Carlson (sprints, jumps) and sophomores Alaina Edmondson (throws), Mia Grubbs (distance), Avery Hocker (jumps, sprints), Sarah Mueller (distance) and Alexis Stamps (multiple events). 

Beard qualified for last year’s state meet in both the 100-meter dash and the 200, finishing 15th and 16th, respectively. 

As a freshman, Hocker went to state in the triple jump, finishing 16th. 

Hocker, Carlson and Beard joined the graduated Sydney Stamps on last year’s qualifying 4×100 relay, while Beard, Hocker, Carlson and Mueller competed at state in the 4×400 relay. 

Newcomers who should contribute nicely for the TJ girls are juniors Samantha Seto (distance) and Phoenix Wade (throws), sophomores Gabbi Hiebert (jumps) and Julianne Wachtel (distance) and freshmen Lannah Grigg (throws), Macie Shifferd (distance), Leah Studer (sprints, jumps) and Jenna Trimble (throws, distance). 

Mueller, Shifferd and Grubbs all qualified for the Class 1 state cross country meet this past fall. 

“On the women’s side, I believe we’ll be able to score in the short sprints with Alivia,” Joseph said. “We’ll have a more-experienced long distance team while getting help from our field events with the throws and jumps.”

Coach Joseph, a former standout thrower at Missouri Southern, noted he’s been extremely pleased with what he’s seen during preseason practices.

“The kids are super excited and eager to get the season started,” Joseph said. “Practices have been extremely positive and everybody has bought in. I thoroughly believe that this will be a great outdoor season. 

“Since the first day of practice, we have been talking about being one team, one unit,” Joseph added. For us to have a great team season it takes everybody being invested into their teammate’s events also. I think both the men and women have taken that to heart and it will translate onto the track. It should be a fun season.” 

 

CAVALIERS BEGIN SEASON

The Thomas Jefferson track team competed at Neosho’s Harry Lineberry Open House on Friday.

For the Thomas Jefferson boys, Atteberry placed third in the 800 with a time of 2:10. Atteberry was fourth in the 1600 in 4:48, breaking his own school record.

Rincker was seventh in the 300 hurdles and ninth in the long jump. 

For the Thomas Jefferson girls, Beard placed third in both the 100 and the 200, while Mueller finished third in the 800 and Hocker took third in the triple jump.

Hiebert was fourth in the 400, with Studer sixth. Mueller took fifth in the 1600, with Shifferd seventh. 

Hiebert and Carlson finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the high jump.  Grigg placed fifth in the shot put.

BASEBALL ROUNDUP: Joplin drops tourney finale; Webb City, Carthage, Carl Junction all earn first wins of ’22; Mustangs improve to 5-1

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

PRYOR 4, JOPLIN 3

CLAREMORE, Okla. — Joplin took an early lead only for Pryor (Okla.) to rally in the later stages on the way to a win to close out the Tiger/Zebra Classic on Saturday.

The Eagles (2-5) scored twice in the first and once in the third to build a 3-2 lead over the Tigers. Pryor plated the tying run in the fourth inning and a go-ahead run in the fifth to earn the win.

Stephen Osborne earned the win after giving up three runs on five hits, five walks and a strikeout in four innings. Ty Conseen pitched 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings, walking one and striking out three.

Byler Reither took the loss after allowing four runs, three earned, on seven hits, five walks and five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Joe Jasper pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief. He allowed one hit and struck out one.

Aden Parker, Josh Gore and Bunk Gray all had two doubles apiece. Parker, Gore and Gray each scored a run while Gore also added an RBI.

Ethan Guilford and Landon Maples each doubled for Joplin. Guilford had two RBI.

Joplin hosts McDonald County on Tuesday.

 

CARTHAGE 11, MARSHFIELD 6

The Carthage Tigers earned their first win of the season by beating the Marshfield Blue Jays 11-6 on Saturday at Joe Becker Stadium. 

The Tigers plated six runs in the first inning en route to victory. Carthage added two runs in the third, one in the fifth and two more in the sixth.

Sylas Browning and Parker Copeland had two hits and two RBI apiece for the Tigers, while Braxdon Tate drove in five runs and doubled and Clay Kinder scored three runs.

Copeland pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits while striking out three. Kanen Vogt did not allow an earned run in two innings of relief. 

Marshfield’s Bryant Bull gave up four earned runs on four hits and five walks in five innings. 

Marshfield’s Owen Curley and Easton Arthur each drove in two runs on two hits.

 

CARTHAGE 6, AVA 1

Carthage’s Bradyn Tate hurled a gem in this one. 

Tate went all seven innings, striking out 10, walking none, scattering five hits and giving up just one run to earn the pitching win.

The Tigers trailed 1-0 when they put up four runs in the third inning. 

In the big inning, Kinder singled and Caden Kabance and Nate Norbury both walked to load the bases before Logan Carmickle cleared the bases with a triple to right. Vogt’s RBI single to center made it 4-0.

A two-run fourth accounted for the final score. One run scored on an error and the second came home on a double steal. 

Ava’s Andrew Dalton was charged with the loss. He gave up four earned runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings. Dalton was the game’s lone player to record two hits. 

Carthage (2-3) is at Helias Catholic on Wednesday. 

 

MCDONALD COUNTY 2, CARL JUNCTION 0

ANDERSON, Mo. — The McDonald County Mustangs had a fine debut on their new turf field.

McDonald County’s Levi Helm tossed six scoreless innings and also homered to lead the Mustangs past the Carl Junction Bulldogs 2-0 on Saturday.

The Mustangs plated single tallies in both the third and sixth innings. Weston Gordon drove in the first run with a single to center before Helm hit a solo home run to left in the sixth.

On the mound, Helm scattered four hits and struck out seven to earn the win. Gordon recorded the final three outs to earn the save. 

Carl Junction’s Shane Diskin pitched well in defeat. He allowed two runs on four hits and struck out two in 5 1/3 innings. Jordan Woodruff got two outs in relief. 

The Bulldogs had five singles and a double by Lucas Vanlanduit. 

Mac County also beat Camdenton 4-3 on Saturday afternoon.

The game was deadlocked after seven innings when the hosts plated the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Cross Dowd walked and later scored on Tucker Walters’ double.

Walters went 3-for-4, while Isaac Behm and Gordon had two hits apiece.

Gordon, Colton Ruddick and Behm handled the pitching duties. Behm earned the win after going two innings, striking out four. 

McDonald County is now 5-1 on the season. The Mustangs are at Shiloh Christian on Monday. 

 

CARL JUNCTION 3, CAMDENTON 0

ANDERSON, Mo. — Carl Junction picked up its first win of the spring by shutting out the Camdenton Lakers 3-0 on Saturday in their second game at McDonald County High School.

Kyler Perry was the winning pitcher. He went 6 2/3 scoreless innings, scattered four hits and striking out eight. Vanlanduit recorded the final out to earn the save.

Perry also went 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI. 

Carl Junction’s Logan Eck drove in two runs in the second inning with a single to center, with Dalton Mills and Drew Massey scoring.

Perry recorded an RBI single in the seventh for some insurance, with Massey scoring. 

Camdenton’s Kade Durnin took the loss, but he only allowed two earned runs on three hits while striking out nine in six innings. 

The Bulldogs (1-4) host Aurora (4-2) at 4:30 on Tuesday. 

 

WEBB CITY 4, LEBANON 0

WILLARD, Mo. — Cooper Crouch and Walker Sweet combined on a no-hitter as Webb City beat Lebanon 4-0 on Saturday at the Willard Tournament. 

A Crowder College signee, Crouch tossed six scoreless innings and struck out nine. Sweet fanned two in one inning of relief. 

It was the first victory of the 2022 season for the Cardinals. 

 

WEBB CITY 5, MARQUETTE 4

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Cardinals earned their second of the win of the day in a game that was played at Kickapoo High School.

Kaylor Darnell earned the pitching win and recorded three hits. Sweet picked up the save.

Eric Fitch had three hits for the Cardinals.  

Webb City (2-3) is at Monett on Tuesday.

 

SOFTBALL: College Heights earns first two wins of the season on the road

Posted on by Lucas Davis

SARCOXIE, Mo. — College Heights earned its first two wins of the season on the road after beating East Newton and Sarcoxie on Saturday. 

 

COLLEGE HEIGHTS 13, EAST NEWTON 0 (5 INNINGS)

Maddy Colin tossed a no-hitter as College Heights (with McAuley) scored early and often to earn its first win of the season over East Newton on Saturday.

Colin was dominant for five no-hit innings in her start to earn the win. She struck out 11 and didn’t allow a walk in a near perfect game, as the Cougars committed one error. 

Faith Jones took the loss after allowing five runs on two hits and three walks in one inning. Gracie Ford allowed eight runs on six hits, six walks and two strikeouts in four relief innings.

College Heights scored three runs in the first inning, highlighted by an RBI double from Addie Lawrence. 

The Cougars poured it on in the second with five crossing the plate. Jayli Johnson had a two-run single and Colin added a three-run triple later in the inning to make the score 8-0.

Lawrence had a three-run double in the third inning, which was followed by an RBI single to Colin to push the lead to 12-0.

Lawrence went 3-for-5 with two doubles, five RBI and two runs scored. Johnson had two hits and two walks and scored a team-high four runs. Colin tripled on the way to two hits and a team-high six RBI. Kloee Williamson had a hit, two walks, scored three runs and drove in one.

 

COLLEGE HEIGHTS 6, SARCOXIE 0

Colin followed up her no-hitter with a two-hit shutout performance as College Heights closed its day with a win over Sarcoxie.

After five scoreless innings, College Heights ended the scoring drought with three runs in the sixth inning before adding three insurance runs in the seventh inning to seal the win.

Colin worked seven scoreless innings, scattering two hits, walking two and striking out 14 to earn the win.

Kylee Walters took the loss after allowing six runs, five earned, on five hits, four walks and 19 strikeouts in seven complete innings.

Williamson broke the scoreless tie in the sixth inning with an RBI double to center field to plate Johnson, who doubled in the previous at-bat. Lawrence followed with a single up the middle to score Williamson and make the score 2-0. Lawrence touched home on a passed ball later in the inning to push the lead to three.

Williamson led CHC at the plate with two hits, three RBI and two runs scored, while Johnson doubled, walked twice and scored twice. Lawrence had one hit, RBI and run scored. Kaitlyn Bates also recorded a hit for the Cougars.

BASEBALL: Strafford knocks off Neosho in 12 innings to clinch tournament title

Posted on by Lucas Davis

NEOSHO, Mo. — Strafford scored three times in the top of the 12th inning to break a 5-5 tie en route to an 8-5 win over Neosho to clinch the inaugural Roy B. Shaver Classic championship game on Saturday at Roy B. Shaver Field.

The Indians (4-0) scored four times in the top of the first inning to take the early momentum before the Wildcats chipped away at the lead until tying the game at 4-4 by the end of the third inning. Strafford scored in the top of the fifth before Neosho tied the game up again at 5-all with a run in the last of the sixth inning. After five scoreless innings and multiple chances by both teams to push across the go-ahead run, Strafford plated three runs in the top of the 12th inning to earn the win.

“It shows the grit of this team (in the way they compete),” Neosho coach Bo Helsel said. “I was just talking to them down there and I said these are the games, granted I hate losing, but these are the games that we need to play to show that we can compete in the COC and to compete in districts. … We never led all day. To go 12 innings and not have one lead is tough. It is the first game we didn’t lead in and getting to that point was a grind. 

“This team is built different. The mentality is different in the dugout. We had a sophomore on the mound who gave up four runs in the first inning and he shut them down the next three innings. That is just the type of grit we have on this team.”

HOT START

The loss was the first of the season for the Wildcats, who have a 4-1 record and have already matched last year’s win total. While surpassing that number with a Roy B. Shaver title plaque would have been nice, it’s clear by Neosho’s start to 2022 that the Wildcats are playing inspired baseball in Helsel’s first year with the program.

“Our kids are playing well,” Helsel said of the Wildcats’ start. “Obviously, we would have loved to have this one. But, the first year in the tournament—the turnout was great, the players were engaged, the coaches were engaged. The opposing teams did great. I loved it. Our kids love this atmosphere. That is different from past years.”

Neosho pitcher Quenton Hughes delivers a pitch to home in the Roy B. Shaver Classic championship game on Saturday. Photo by Israel Perez.

ON THE MOUND

Dakota Ames started and took a no-decision after allowing five runs, three earned, on five hits, three walks and three strikeouts in six innings for the Indians. Mason Denning pitched two scoreless relief innings and allowed one hit and walked two. Gabe Moore earned the win in relief, pitching four scoreless innings while allowing two hits, walking two and striking out two.

Quenton Hughes started for Neosho and took a no-decision after allowing four runs on seven hits, two walks and three strikeouts in four innings. Wyatt Shadwick pitched one inning and gave up one run on one hit, a walk and three strikeouts. Carson Williams took the tough-luck loss after allowing three runs on nine hits, a walk and four strikeouts in seven-plus innings of work. 

“Carson Williams came in the sixth (inning) and just grinded,” Helsel said. “He is one of my hardest workers. He came in and shut them down. He gives up his share of hits, but he always strands those runners. … He pitched the game of his life for sure.”

GAME ACTION

Strafford took the momentum in the first inning after plating four runs, all coming with two outs. Lane Boswell drove in the first run with a single to center field before back to back walks loaded the bases. Evan Helton followed with a double to the gap in right-center field to score three more runs and cap the inning.

Neosho answered with a two-out run in the bottom of the first inning to cut the deficit down to three. Eli Zar picked up the RBI with a single to score River Brill.

The Wildcats added two more runs in the bottom of the second inning to get within one of the lead. Carter Baslee started the inning with a leadoff single before coming around to score on a one-out triple to right-center by Reese Miller. Williams plated Miller in the next at-bat with an RBI groundout.

Like it did in the first two innings, Neosho got the leadoff man on in the bottom of the third inning after Austin Rodriguez reached on an error. And like they did in the first two at-bats, the Wildcats pushed across a run for a third straight inning, this time tying the game at 4-4. Rodriguez moved to second on a single from Shadwick and scored on a Zar groundout.

Neosho first baseman Carter Baslee records a putout in the Roy B. Shaver Classic title game on Saturday. Photo by Israel Perez.

“The percentages (of scoring) go way up when you get the leadoff runner on,” Helsel said. “So many things can happen. You can bunt, you can steal, you can do all kinds of stuff. … It is big for us to get that leadoff guy on base any way possible.”

Strafford reached the scoreboard for the first time since the opening frame when Boswell walked to lead off the top of the fifth before moving to third on a single from Isaac Berg and scoring on a wild pitch to give the Indians a 5-4 lead.

Neosho tied the game back up in the bottom of the sixth inning. The first two runners reached and moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt from Williams. Brill tied the game at 5-5 with an RBI groundout.

Strafford started the top of the seventh with back to back singles before a sac bunt moved both runners into scoring position. The Wildcats got out of the jam after Williams earned a strikeout and a fly out to end the threat.

Neosho had the bases loaded in the eighth inning before a groundout ended the inning. The Wildcats threatened to end the game in the last of the ninth inning after Baslee singled to shallow left with Zar on second, but Zar was thrown out at the plate to preserve the tie.

The Wildcats loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning. Colton Southern flew out to left field, with the runner being thrown out at the plate for the second straight inning.

“We had our chances,” Helsel said. “You get those opportunities with the bases loaded and you have to do something. Maybe I was pushing the baserunners to go, but these are high school arms and I wanted to test them to try and get the run in. We had four opportunities for one big hit, and we just didn’t get it today. That is the way baseball goes sometimes.”

Neosho’s Kael Smith tags a Strafford runner out at third base in the Roy B. Shaver Classic title game on Saturday. Photo by Israel Perez.

Strafford pushed across three runs in the top of the 12th inning to take the momentum after five scoreless innings by both teams. After an out to leadoff the inning, the Indians loaded the bases after a walk, an infield hit and a hit-by-pitch. Ames followed with a single through the left side to score the go-ahead run. JD Hunt singled to left for an RBI and Denning added a sac fly to make the score 8-0.

IN THE BOX

Hunt had four hits and an RBI to lead Strafford at the plate. Blake Cowan and Boswell each had three hits, with Cowan scoring a run and Boswell driving in a run.

Baslee had three hits and a walk scored a run to lead Neosho. Hughes and Williams had base hits, while Miller tripled, scored a run and drove in one. Williams had an RBI.

ON DECK

Neosho is at St. Mary’s Colgan on Tuesday at Jaycee Ballpark.

 

Experienced sports journalists providing great local sports coverage in Southwest Missouri.

Schools

SOMO Sports

SOMO Sports

Learn more about how you can advertise on SOMO Sports!

LEARN MORE

Web design: BigPxl