Your online home for Joplin area sports coverage.

Month: March 2022

BOYS TENNIS: Thomas Jefferson blanks Webb City in ‘22 opener

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

In the 2022 season opener, the Thomas Jefferson boys tennis team earned a 9-0 win over Webb City on Friday at the TJ courts. 

At No. 1 singles, Thomas Jefferson’s Ian Ding defeated Jacob McDonald 8-0. Prithvi Nagarajan beat Christian Alberts 8-1 at No. 2 singles, while Tyler Brouhard topped Felipe Perez 8-0.

At No. 4 singles, Lele Qian defeated Lucas Lowery 8-0, while Hari Nagarajan beat Zachary Stump 8-1 at No. 5. At No. 6 singles, TJ’s Devan Murali defeated Aiden Patterson 8-0.

The Cavaliers also swept the doubles matches.

At No. 1 doubles, TJ’s Ding-Brouhard beat McDonald-Alberts 8-1, while Nagarajan-Nagarajan defeated Perez-Lowery 8-2 at No. 2.

At No. 3 doubles, Qian-Murali defeated Stump-Patterson 8-0.

The Cavaliers (1-0) host New Covenant Academy on Tuesday, with the action set to begin at 4:30 pm.

Webb City (0-1) hosts Monett on Monday.

GIRLS SOCCER: Neosho returns solid core in ’22

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

Led by a pair of returning all-district performers, the Neosho High School girls soccer team features eight players who played significant varsity minutes last season.

Returning players who are expected to lead the Wildcats this spring are seniors Erika Ornelas, Breanna Alvarado, Lorlei Pelep and Yulisa Maldonado, juniors Gissele Vargas and Miranda Mendoza and sophomores Eva Maldonado and Ivie Brisco.

Ornelas and Brisco are forwards, while Alvarado, Vargas and Eva Maldonado are midfielders. Pelep, Yulisa Maldonado and Mendoza are defenders. Ornelas and Alvarado both earned all-district honors last season. Ornelas scored 10 goals last year, while Alvarado had seven goals. 

With that group of girls leading the way, Wildcats coach Steve Schnackenberg noted the expectations are set high.

“Our players have really come together and developed a strong bond that will help lead to a successful season,” Schnackenberg said. “They have been working hard and very motivated these first weeks of practice. They are very excited.”

Newcomers expected to contribute at the varsity level include senior midfielder Jamie Tevalan, sophomores Abby Coutu (D), Lindsey Cifuentes (D), Vivi Medrano (M) and freshmen Audrin Roberts (GK) and Kimberly Hernandez (M). 

“I’m excited for them because I think they will fill their roles and contribute to the team right away,” Schnackenberg said of the newcomers.

Schnackenberg noted the program’s numbers are up, which will equal more overall team depth.

“We have a good-sized freshman class this year, so our numbers are really good,” he said. “This will lead to more JV experience, the ability to play more girls up to get varsity experience this year and take some of the pressure off the starters all of the time.”

As far as strengths of the group, Schnackenberg said the team has great chemistry.

“We have a group of amazing young ladies and all of them are on the same page,” he said. “I’m so excited for this season to see how they respond to tough competition and continue getting better every day.”

The Wildcats went 8-14 last season.

Neosho will be in Class 3 District 6 with Branson, Carl Junction, Hillcrest, McDonald County, Parkview, Webb City and Willard. 

The Wildcats began the season with a 3-2 win over Liberty-Mountain View on Thursday. 

Neosho is scheduled to host Pittsburg (Kan.) on March 31. 

TRACK & FIELD: Carthage claims team titles at McDonald County; College Heights athletes fare well

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

ANDERSON, Mo. — In the opener of the 2022 prep track and field season, Carthage’s girls and boys both claimed the team championships at McDonald County’s Ebenee Munoz Memorial Stampede on Thursday.

Carthage’s girls took first in the team standings with 148 points. Cassville (132), McDonald County (124.5), Monett (92) and Jasper (86) rounded out the top five teams. 

The Carthage boys scored 192.5 points to top the standings. 

McDonald County (109), Cassville (105), Monett (103.5) and Southwest (72) finished second through fifth.

Athletes from College Heights Christian also fared well at the meet. 

 

CARTHAGE HIGHLIGHTS

The Carthage girls won three of four relays. The team of Aven Willis, Sydnee Dudolski, Lexa Youngblood and Joey Hettinger took first in the 4×100 in 53.69 seconds. 

Carthage’s 4×400 relay team of Willis, Youngblood, Ava Bunner and Maggie Boyd took first in 4:27, while the 4×800 team of Morelia Reyes, Boyd, Grace Brown and Bunner won in 10:54. 

The Tigers were third in the 4×200, with Willis, Dudolski, Trisha Kanas and Millie Templeman competing. 

Winning individual events for the Carthage girls were Bunner (800), Boyd (1600), Katy Witherspoon (3200) and Karlie Nichols (shot put). 

Hettinger took second in the high jump and was fourth in the long jump, while Templeman placed third in the triple jump. 

Dudolski placed third in the 200, with teammate Trinity Francis fourth. Jenna Calhoon placed third in the 800, while Reyes was fourth in the 1600.

On the boys side, the Tigers won three of the four relays.

The 4×100 relay team of Luke Gall, Cooper Jadwin, Tyler Burt and Aiden Rogers won in 44.64. Gall, Jadwin, Mason Frisinger and Chris Mejia won the 4×200 in 1:37.

The team of Miquel Solano, Burt, Mejia and Landen Schrader took first in the 4×400 in 3:40. The Tigers were fourth in the 4×800. 

Carthage’s Solano won both the 800 (2:07) and the 1600 (4:45). Rogers won the 100-meter dash in 11.76 seconds, while Trenton Yates took first in the 300 hurdles in 44.48 and the triple jump. 

Schrader and Braxton McBride finished first and second, respectively, in the long jump, while teammate Gall was fourth. 

Taking second in their events were Schrader (100), Rogers (200), Burt (400) and Yates (110 H).

Finishing third were Caleb Fewin (3200), Mejia (triple jump), Daryl Martin (300 H) and Zachary Lansford (javelin). 

Schrader finished fourth in the high jump and Martin was fourth in the 110 hurdles.

 

COLLEGE HEIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS

The College Heights girls finished sixth in the team standings with 63.5 points.

Addie Lawrence won three events — the 100 meter dash (13.26), the 200 (27.75) and the 400 (1:00). 

The CHC girls placed second in the 4×400 relay in 4:35.

Jayli Johnson finished third in the 100 and fifth in the 800, while Lauren Ukena took third in the 300 hurdles. Emily Winters finished sixth in the 400, while Maddy Colin took sixth in the discus and was seventh in the high jump. 

The College Heights boys took eighth place with 29 points. 

Matt Williams was fourth in the 100, Colsen Dickens took fourth in the 400 and Ethan Ukena placed fifth in the triple jump. Caleb Quade was sixth in the 1600 and seventh in the 800. 

The Cougars took fourth in two relays — the 4×100 relay and the 4×400.

 

MCDONALD COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS

For the McDonald County girls, Sosha Howard won the triple jump and took second in the long jump, while Mariana Salas won the javelin.

Lacey Nix placed second in the pole vault. Savannah Leib placed third in both the 400 and the high jump, while Anna Price and Melanie Gillming tied for third in the pole vault. Jada Alfaro was third in the shot put, while Peyton Cooper took third in the discus and Analisa Ramirez was third in the javelin.

Finishing fourth were Howard (100), Madison Burton (3200) and Mikala McCrory (triple jump).

McDonald County’s girls were third in the 4×100 relay, with Corina Holland, Leib, Nix and Price competing. The team of Nix, Holland, Maggie Pratt and Carlee Cooper finished fourth in the 4×200 relay.

The Mac County boys fared well in the throws. Eliam Eliam and Logan Harriman took first and second, respectively, in the discus, while Ricardo Salas and Andrew Moritz were the top two finishers in the javelin. 

Garrett Gricks and Morgan Grider placed second and third, respectively, in the shot put, while Toby Moore was fourth in the discus and sixth in the shot put.

Also for the Mustangs, Joshua Pacheco finished second in the triple jump and was fourth in the 200. 

The Mustangs placed third in the 4×200 relay, with Jared Mora, Pacheco, Samuel Barton and Esteban Martinez-Olvera competing. The Mustangs took fifth in both the 4×400 and 4×800.

Zeth Dake and Tyler Rothrock were fourth and fifth in the 3200.

 

OTHER EVENT WINNERS

Jasper’s Crystal Smith won four events — the 100 hurdles, the 300 hurdles, the high jump and the long jump. 

Other event winners in the girls meet were Cassville’s Annie Moore (PV) and Riley Morris (discus).

Other event winners on the boys side were Monett’s Konner Poynter (200, 110 H), Diamond’s Chase Housh (400), Purdy’s Bryce Ozbun (3200), Cassville’s Peter Littlefield (HJ), Eli Pickett (PV) and Bradan Dickinson (shot put).

 

FULL RESULTS: McDonald County Ebenee Munoz Memorial Stampede 2022 – Complete Results Varsity (Raw) (milesplit.com)

BASEBALL: Neosho opens inaugural Roy B. Shaver Classic with two wins

Posted on by Lucas Davis

NEOSHO, Mo. — Neosho opened up the inaugural Roy B. Shaver Classic baseball tournament in exciting fashion, putting early crooked numbers up on the scoreboard on the way to a 13-3 win over Reeds Spring in five innings on Thursday at Roy B. Shaver Field.

“It was an exciting win,” first-year Neosho coach Bo Helsel said. “There were a lot of balls hit hard, but I don’t think we played our best game. … We preach throwing strikes and not striking out. We had too many strikeouts today, but our pitching threw a lot of strikes. … That was a big win for us for sure.”

Neosho opened with two runs in the first inning before adding four runs in the second and four more in the third inning to build an insurmountable advantage. The Wildcats (3-0) added a single tally in the fourth inning for good measure. The Wolves (1-3) scored three times in the top of the fifth, but Neosho answered back to push the lead back to 10 and end the game early.

Kael Smith earned the complete-game win in the circle for Neosho, allowing three runs, one earned, on seven hits, a walk and six strikeouts in five innings of work.

“The kid is a grinder,” Helsel said. “He is 2-0 now and he just pumps strikes. His changeup was working really well today. He was keeping that down, and he was spotting his fastball. He was throwing strikes all day long and when you do that, you have a chance to be successful.” 

Dayne Smith took the loss after allowing 10 runs, five earned, on eight hits, two walks and four strikeouts in three innings of work. Blake Siege allowed three runs on four hits and two walks in 1 2/3 relief innings.

The Wildcats started the scoring in the bottom of the first when River Brill led the game off with a single before moving to second on a walk. Brill stole third later in the inning, coming around to score the game’s first run after the throw down to third ended up in the outfield. Eli Zar doubled to left-center field to plate Austin Rodriguez to push the lead to 2-0.

Neosho hung a four spot on the scoreboard in the second inning to take complete control of the game. Two consecutive errors by the Wolves allowed the first two Wildcats to reach base to start the inning. Carson Williams followed with a two-run double to left-center to push the lead to 4-0. Wyatt Shadwick added to the lead three batters later when he yanked a ball over the wall in left field for a two-run home run to make the score 6-0 to cap the inning’s scoring.

Neosho added four more runs in the bottom of the third inning to extend the lead to 10-0. After Carter Baslee scored on an error, Carter Fenske had an RBI double to left field, while Brill drove home a run after pulling a single through the right side of the infield. Rodriguez wrapped the scoring with an RBI off sacrifice fly to left field.

“In baseball, when hitters have a lead, they relax,” Helsel said of his team’s start offensively through the first three innings. “Baseball is a sport you can get so tight in, but when you get those early crooked numbers—it was huge for us.”

Zar tripled to lead off the fifth and came around to score on a sac fly from Quenton Hughes to make the score 11-0. 

Reeds Spring prolonged the game after scoring three runs on five hits in the top of the fifth, but Neosho answered back with two more runs in the bottom half to end the game via run rule.

Brill, Zar and Reese Miller each had two hits to lead Neosho on offense. Fenske and Williams doubled. Zar doubled and tripled, while Miller had two triples and Shadwick homered. Shadwick, Hughes and Williams each drove in two, with Rodriguez, Brill, Miller, Fenske and Williams all scored two runs.

Jonathan Foster and Smith each had two hits and an RBI to lead Reeds Spring.

NEOSHO 4, PARKVIEW 3

Neosho ended the evening defeating Parkview in the nightcap of Day 1.

No other information was available at the time of publication.

Neosho will play in the championship game of the Roy B. Shaver Classic at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

BASEBALL ROUNDUP: Joplin, Carl Junction suffer road losses; Carthage drops home game to McDonald County

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

RED OAK 4, JOPLIN 1

CLAREMORE, Okla. — Red Oak (Oklahoma) scored three times in the first inning and went on to beat Joplin 4-1 on the first day of the Tiger/Zebra Classic on Thursday.

The loss drops Joplin to 1-3 on the season. The Eagles continue action in the Tiger/Zebra Classic on Friday with games against a pair of Oklahoma schools—McAlester and Claremore.

Trevor Lyons earned the win after allowing one run on six hits, a walk and six strikeouts. Denver Hamilton earned the save for Red Oak with two strikeouts in one relief inning.

Ethan Guilford took the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits, two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings. Joe Jasper allowed one run on two hits and a strikeout in one relief inning.

Red Oak took the early advantage after scoring all of its first-inning runs with two outs. Chase Pair highlighted the inning with a two-run single to right field. The third run of the inning came home on a Joplin error.

After four scoreless innings by both teams, Joplin cut the lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth when Tyler Schumann doubled to right field with one out to score Guilford, who walked to lead off the inning.

Red Oak answered back in the bottom half when Tanner King singled home Cason Hood on a line drive to center with one out to push the lead back to three.

Hood doubled and scored a run to lead Red Oak at the plate. Pair had a hit and team-high two RBI.

Schumann doubled and had an RBI for Joplin. Guilford, who scored a run, Layten Copher, Byler Reither and Brady Mailes all had hits for Joplin.

 

HOLLISTER 10, CARL JUNCTION 6

HOLLISTER, Mo. — The Carl Junction Bulldogs rallied for four runs late in the game, but it wasn’t enough, as the host Tigers held on for a 10-6 non-conference victory.

Hollister held a comfortable 10-2 advantage after the fifth inning when the Bulldogs plated two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings. 

Carl Junction (0-3) received two hits apiece from Jordan Woodruff, Dalton Mills and Drew Massey. Massey and Logan Eck drove in two runs apiece, while Mills scored three runs. 

Eck took the loss after allowing six runs, two earned, on six hits and two walks in three innings. Lucas Vanlanduit, Mekhi McGarry, Hunter Cantrell and Kyler Stewart all pitched in relief.

Hollister’s Hunter Jones was the winning pitcher. He went 4 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits while striking out five. 

Ethan Wright drove in three runs for the Tigers, who improved to 4-0.

The Bulldogs will play two games at McDonald County on Saturday. The Bulldogs meet the Mustangs at 10 a.m. and then meet Camdenton at 2.  

 

MCDONALD COUNTY 5, CARTHAGE 3

CARTHAGE, Mo. — McDonald County rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh inning to earn a 5-3 win over Carthage on Thursday at Carl Lewton Stadium. 

McDonald County improved to 3-1 on the season. 

The Mustangs had six hits, one apiece by Cole Martin, Weston Gordon, Levi Helm, Isaac Behm, Cross Dowd and Tucker Walters. 

Gordon, Helm, Behm and Destyn Dowd drove in one run apiece for McDonald County. 

Helm went three innings on the mound, allowing one run on one hit while striking out three. Cross Dowd, Destyn Dowd and Gordon pitched in relief. 

Carthage fell to 0-3. 

The Tigers had four hits, one apiece by Caden Kabance, Nate Norbury, Parker Copeland and Clay Kinder. 

Kade Arr started for the Tigers and scattered three hits in four innings, striking out four. 

Zach Geter and Bradyn Tate pitched in relief. Geter allowed two runs on three hits in two innings. Tate struck out three in a scoreless frame. 

Carthage scored a run in the first when Logan Carmickle scored from third on a wild pitch. 

The Tigers added two runs in the bottom of the fourth, as Copeland and Kinder both scored on errors. 

In the fifth, the Mustangs plated three runs on a walk, a hit and three errors to tie it up. 

The score held up until the seventh. 

The Mustangs loaded the bases when Helm scored the go-ahead run by charging home from third on a wild pitch. An insurance run scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Destyn Dowd.

The hosts went down in order in the bottom of the seventh. 

The Tigers will play two games on Saturday at Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin. Carthage meets Marshfield at 10 a.m. and Ava at 3.

The Mustangs will debut their new turf field on Saturday with a game against Carl Junction at 10 a.m.

 

 

TRACK & FIELD: Joplin area athletes to watch this spring

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The Joplin area will feature a number of track and field standouts this spring. 

Based on last year’s results, and featuring a number of returning state medalists, below is a quick look at the Joplin area’s top returning tracksters. 

 

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD ATHLETES TO WATCH

ADDIE LAWRENCE, COLLEGE HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN

Addie Lawrence had a remarkable 2021 season on the track.

As a sophomore, Lawrence earned four gold medals at the Class 1 state track meet, leading the College Heights girls to a team championship.   

Lawrence claimed individual state titles in the 100-meter dash (12.5 seconds) and the 400-meter run (57.5). 

She also anchored CHC’s winning 4×100 and 4×200 relays with Jayli Johnson, Allie Fiscus and Lauren Ukena. 

Lawrence is now set to begin her junior season. 

 

JENNALEE DUNN, JOPLIN

At last spring’s Class 5 state meet, Joplin’s Jennalee Dunn finished eighth in the 1,600 in 5 minutes, 8 second while also placing 11th in the 800 in 2:22. 

Now a senior, Dunn had a stellar cross country season. She placed 14th at state with a school record time of 18:36. 

Dunn, who has signed with Cornell University, will look to end her prep career on a high note this spring. 

 

ALLY MONTEZ, CARL JUNCTION

Carl Junction’s Ally Montez earned three medals at last year’s Class 4 state track meet.

As a junior, Montez was the runner-up in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 45.46 seconds and also placed fourth in the 100-hurdles in 14.87. 

Montez also ran a leg of Carl Junction’s 4×100 relay team that finished second in 49.8 seconds. 

Montez, now in her final prep campaign, has signed with Pittsburg State. 

 

JAYLI JOHNSON, COLLEGE HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN

College Heights’ Jayli Johnson placed sixth in the Class 1 200-meter dash (27.21) and was part of CHC’s two gold-medal winning relays. 

As a sophomore, Johnson also ran a leg of CHC’s 4×400 relay that finished third. 

A junior, Johnson qualified for state during the fall cross country season. 

 

OTHER LOCAL GIRLS TO WATCH: Webb City’s Abi Street (distance), Riley Hawkins (distance) and Ripley Shanks (pole vault); Carl Junction’s Olivia Vediz (triple jump, long jump, 4×100 relay) and Emerson Lundien (pole vault); McDonald County’s Mariana Salas (javelin) and Sosha Howard (TJ); Neosho’s Chloe Wood and Riley Kemna (XC state qualifiers); Carthage’s Joey Hettinger (high jump); Thomas Jefferson’s Alivia Beard (100, 200), Avery Hocker (TJ), Sarah Mueller (cross country state qualifier); CHC’s Lauren Ukena (300H); McAuley Catholic’s Kendall Ramsey (cross country state qualifier); Seneca’s Rylee Darnell (HJ). 

 

BOYS TRACK & FIELD ATHLETES TO WATCH

DONOVYN FOWLER, JOPLIN

Joplin’s Donovyn Fowler had a breakout junior season last spring.

At last May’s Class 5 state track meet, Fowler was the runner-up in the triple jump (47-7.25) and he placed fourth in the long jump (22-11). 

Fowler was also a state-qualifier in the 200-meter dash and with Joplin’s 4×100-meter relay team. 

Fowler, one of the nation’s best who has the goals set high in his signature events as a senior, has signed with Oklahoma. 

 

GRAYSON SMITH, WEBB CITY

As a sophomore, Webb City’s Grayson Smith was the state runner-up in the Class 4 pole vault. He cleared 14-10 at state. Smith finished the season strong, as he placed fourth at the sectional before earning silver at state. 

Now a junior, Smith will look to reach new heights and take his place as the state’s best vaulter this spring.

 

DONOVAHN WATKINS, JOPLIN

As a junior, Joplin’s Donovahn Watkins placed fourth in the Class 5 shot put with a toss of 53-3.75.

Watkins has signed with Coffeyville Community College in Kansas to participate in both track and field and football. 

 

HOBBS CAMPBELL, JOPLIN

Joplin’s Hobbs Campbell had a memorable sophomore season. Last May, Campbell finished sixth in the 1,600 (4:20) at the Class 5 state meet. Campbell also ran a leg of Joplin’s 4×800 relay that finished fourth in 7:55. 

A junior, Campbell had a solid cross country season, as he placed 14th at the state meet. 

 

KADEN COLE, NEOSHO 

A senior who has signed with Missouri Southern, Neosho’s Kaden Cole is coming off a stellar cross country season. 

Cole crossed the line sixth at the Class 5 state cross country meet this past fall with a time of 15:33. 

Last spring, Cole finished 11th in the 1,600 at the state meet. He’ll look to improve upon that finish this May.

 

ROMAN BORBOA, WEBB CITY

At last spring’s Class 4 state track meet, Webb City’s Roman Borboa placed eighth in the 1,600 (4:29) and took 15th in the 800 (2:05). 

A key performer on a state championship squad, Borboa also ran a leg of Webb City’s 4×800 relay team that placed fourth. 

A senior, Borboa finished 19th at last fall’s state cross country meet (16:06).

 

KIP ATTEBERRY, THOMAS JEFFERSON

At last year’s Class 1 state track meet, Thomas Jefferson’s Kip Atteberry finished fourth in the 1,600 in 4:48. He also placed 10th in the 800 in 2:09. 

A junior, Atteberry placed fourth at the Class 1 state cross country meet this past fall with his 5K time of 17:03. 

 

OTHER LOCAL BOYS TO WATCH:  Carthage’s Miquel Solano (800); Joplin’s Ian Horton, Zaben Barnes, Nicholas Horton, Evan Matlock (distance); Webb City’s Billy Wolfe (sprints, relays) and Dustin Brockmiller (distance); Carl Junction’s Collin Emmert (distance); College Heights’ Derrick McMillan (800), Colsen Dickens (400), CHC’s 4×800 relay (McMillan, Rolen Sanderson, Corbin Thomas, Caleb Quade) was second at state; McAuley Catholic’s Michael Parrigon (state cross country qualifier); Carthage’s Zach Lansford (javelin); McDonald County’s Josh Pacheco (triple jump) and Andrew Moritz (javelin).  

 

BASEBALL PREVIEW: Neosho under new leadership with high expectations in 2022

Posted on by Lucas Davis

Neosho named longtime assistant coach Bo Helsel the new head coach of the Wildcats in the offseason and he is ready to help turn the program around after a 4-23 season a year ago.

“The team is very excited for the upcoming season,” Helsel, who spent six years as an assistant in the program, said to SoMo Sports. “We struggled last year, so our guys are ready to show (Southwest Missouri) and the (Central Ozark Conference) what we are really made of. We have preached culture over and over with our guys and they have put in the time and effort to produce a solid season for Neosho.”

Neosho welcomes four members from a year: junior shortstop/pitcher River Brill, junior P/INF Carter Fenske, junior C Eli Zar and junior OF/P Wyatt Shadwick.

The Wildcats will rely on several newcomers this season to fill the void of the departing senior class from a year ago. Expected to contribute at the varsity level is senior 2B/P Carson Williams, senior OF/P Reese Miller, senior OF Matthew Velasco, junior OF/P Austin Rodriguez, junior UTL/P Kael Smith, junior 1B/P Carter Baslee, sophomore 3B/P Quenton Hughes and junior UTL/P Coty Dumond (a move in from McDonald County).

“I think we will compete in the COC and in districts as well,” Helsel said about the upcoming season. “We have a few seniors that we will rely on for leadership and a massive junior class that is going to get the bulk of our playing time. A lot of our juniors this year already have varsity experience playing in the COC, so they won’t be intimidated when it comes to our conference schedule.” 

When asked what he felt the strengths of his team were going to be, Coach Helsel said he felt the weaknesses for the Wildcats a year ago would turn into the team’s strengths this season. And that is thanks to the work he has seen his team put in during the offseason. 

“All offseason and the first few weeks of practice we have consistently told our players that we need to throw strikes and limit strikeouts,” Helsel said. “If you do those things in high school baseball you are setting yourself up for success. I believe that the effort we put into these two things will end up being a strength for us, where last year it was a weakness.”

As Neosho heads into the inaugural Roy B. Shaver Classic baseball tournament scheduled Thursday-Saturday, the major concern for the Wildcats this season is preventing innings to snowball out of control.

“The big area of concern for our kids will be limiting the big innings,” Helsel said. “We have struggled occasionally in really bearing down and keeping the crooked numbers off the scoreboard for the other team. If we can stay focused when the other team is rolling and get out of innings with clutch defense or pitching, we have a solid chance to overcome this challenge. 

Neosho (2-0) opens the Roy B. Shaver Classic with a 2:30 p.m. matchup against Reeds Spring before battling Parkview at 7:30 on Thursday.

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.

BASEBALL PREVIEW: New era underway at College Heights

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

A new era is officially underway for the College Heights Christian School baseball program.

Phillip Jordan is the program’s new head coach and the Cougars will feature a large number of underclassmen in key roles this spring.

“There is a lot of anticipation for the 2022 season,” Jordan said. “We have a lot of new pieces, and feel by the end of the season we can be very competitive. With so many new players, we hope to have a winning record and compete for the Ozark 7 and district championship.”

College Heights returns six players with prior varsity experience. 

Nick Brueggemann (P/OF) is the lone senior, while Ben Thomas (P/OF), Bo Sitton (U) and Grady Prescott (2B) are juniors and Kelton Welch (SS) and Caleb Evans (1B/DH) are sophomores.

Jordan noted his returning varsity letterwinners have led the way on and off the field during the preseason.

“We have great leadership from our upperclassmen,” Jordan said. “It will be key for those guys to bring the younger players along as they adjust to the high school game. There is a lot of talent in the freshmen class, therefore the leadership of our older guys will be important as they continue to develop.”

Newcomers expected to play important roles this spring are sophomore Brayden Youngberg (OF) and freshmen Liam Nelson (CF/P), Josh Anderson (SS/P), Jayce Walker (2B), Smoke Ezell (C), Austin Miller (P/U), Philip Thompson (OF), Tate Angel (OF), Evan Prescott (OF), Josiah Thomas (OF), Bennett Thomas (OF) and Kaleb Kennedy (1B). 

For the Cougars, the keys to success are simple this season.

“Building consistency in all aspects of the game will be important,” Jordan said. “I have seen flashes of good offense, defense, and pitching through our jamboree and first two games. However, we have to consistently compete in the strike zone on the mound, make plays on defense, and take good approaches at the plate if we want to win games.”

Jordan is optimistic the Cougars have the pieces in place to put together a solid season.

“After an 8-11 season in 2021, I feel confident that if we can play consistent baseball we have the talent to have a winning record and reach the goals we have set out,” Jordan said. 

College Heights is off to a 1-1 start, as the Cougars earned a win over El Dorado Springs and suffered a loss to Purdy. CHC will compete in Class 2 District 12.

The Cougars will host Riverton (Kan.) at 5 on Thursday.

 

BOYS HOOPS: All-Central Ozark Conference team released for ’21-22

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The 2021-22 All-Central Ozark Conference boys basketball team is listed below.

 

ALL-CENTRAL OZARK CONFERENCE TEAM

Coach of the Year: Jay Osborne, Nixa

Player of the Year: Colin Ruffin, Nixa

 

FIRST TEAM

Colin Ruffin, Nixa (Sr.)

Always Wright, Joplin (Sr.)

K’dyn Waters, Neosho (Sr.)

Kael Combs, Nixa (Jr.)

Tyler Harmon, Ozark (Sr.)

Ahlante Askew, Republic (Sr.)

Jaret Nelson, Nixa (Sr.)

Joel Pugh, Carthage, (Sr.)

Ethan Whatley, Ozark (Sr.)

 

SECOND TEAM

Gavin Davis, Willard (Sr.)

Kyle Scharbrough, Branson (Sr.)

Kaden Turner, Webb City (Sr.)

Max Templeman, Carthage (Jr.)

All Wright, Joplin (Soph.)

Jordyn Turner, Nixa (Sr.)

Devon McMillin, Republic (Sr.)

Jace Whatley, Ozark (Soph.)

Haden Brown, Willard (Sr.)

Ethan Jones, Branson (Jr.)

SOFTBALL PREVIEW: College Heights returns bevy of talent and is ready for an encore

Posted on by Lucas Davis

After coming off a historic season last year, College Heights softball (with McAuley Catholic) returns a bevy of starters with sights set even higher in 2022.

“We are very excited,” CHC coach Mike Howard said. “Ever since we lost that last game, it left a bitter taste in our mouth. Diamond had a great game against us. … It’s been (a year) since then and we are ready to get back at it and try to repeat the success from last year, even more so.”

The Cougars are coming off a program-best 18-4 record and a district championship last spring. However, CHC did graduate three seniors (catcher Sarah Painter, 1B Layne Jackson and 2B Avery Good) who were integral in the success last season and will be hard to replace. 

“We are going to miss all three of those losses,” Howard said. “All three of those girls were important to our team. … All of them were all-conference and all-district players and Sarah was an all-regional player.”

The good news is College Heights welcomes back five starters, possibly six, including four all-conference players from a year ago, which has the Cougars having aspirations for a memorable run.

Highlighting the list of returners is sophomore pitcher Maddy Colin, who was named the Ozark 7 Conference Player of the Year and was a first-team all-district and all-region selection. She carried a 1.62 ERA and had 224 strikeouts in 121 innings and also hit .375 at the plate to go along with 21 RBI.

Also returning for College Heights: junior Jayli Johnson (.500 BA, 37 runs, 20 RBI), who will transition to catcher this year after earning first-team all-conference, district, region and state honors at shortstop while leading the team in home runs (four), triples (three) and doubles (eight); sophomore 2B/OF Kloee Williamson (.579 BA, 31 runs, 29 RBI), also a first-team all-conference, district, region and state recipient; junior OF Addie Lawrence (.387 BA, 23 runs, 18 RBI), who garnered all-conference and all-district recognition; junior SS/OF Aaliyah Perez (.324 BA, 15 runs), also all-conference and district last year. Lauren Ukena, who was projected to start on the left side of the infield, is also back but may miss significant time with a shoulder injury suffered during basketball season. Sophomore OF Kaitlyn Bates is also back and is expected to step into a much larger role this season.

Newcomers expected to make an impact at the varsity level this year include freshman Libby Fanning, who figures to take over at first base, senior OF Avery Eminger, junior IF/OF Marley Woodford, sophomore Avery Shuemaker and freshmen Toryn Fink (IF/OF) and Callie Spencer.

“We have some girls coming in who are working hard,” Howard added about replacing the positions lost to graduation. “But, I think we will be able to fill those spots nicely.”

Perhaps the biggest strength for College Heights is their experience, and that’s only going to continue to grow. All of the returning players from a year ago are juniors or sophomores, which means the Cougars will run it back with nearly the same squad a year from now. Knowing they have two full years together has motivated CHC to waste any time on its goal of playing for a deep postseason run, which has been evident to Coach Howard by the leadership he has seen from his second-year players in practice.

“Last year was the first year for all of the underclassmen playing high school ball because of the COVID year (two years ago),” Howard said of his juniors and sophomores this season. “For them to come out in their first years and perform like they did, it just says a lot about their character and hard work as athletes. 

“The fact that our returners are so athletic and knowledgeable, they are like coaches on the field. They will put the new girls in the right positions to be successful. I have already seen several times in practice where I have seen a veteran player coaching a younger player. … It is great to be able to have a good core of veteran players to help teach the process.”

Of course, aside from depth and experience with success up and down the lineup, CHC also brings back Colin into the circle after a dominating freshman season that saw her garner numerous awards and accolades, turning heads in the process. 

“I can’t say enough about that kid,” Howard said of his standout pitcher. “She is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen and she is very humble, putting her teammates before herself. She keeps us in every game because her ability to locate pitches so well is unparalleled. She has gotten stronger and I think her velocity is up a little bit. The fact that I know I have her for three more years gives me goosebumps.”

College Heights opens the season with a home matchup against Galena (Kansas) at 5 p.m. on Monday at the Joplin Athletic Complex.

BASEBALL ROUNDUP: CHC opens season with split at Purdy, Carthage drops two

Posted on by Lucas Davis

COLLEGE HEIGHTS 17, EL DORADO SPRINGS 2 (3 INNINGS)

College Heights scored seven runs in the second inning and 10 runs in the third on the way to win over El Dorado Springs to open the season in the Purdy Invitational on Saturday.

Benjamin Thomas earned the win for CHC after allowing two runs on two hits, two walks and six strikeouts in three innings.

Austin Miller had three hits, scored three times and drove in two to lead the Cougars at the plate. Joshua Anderson had a hit, scored twice and drove in three. Thomas had a hit and three RBI. Kelton Welch had a hit, an RBO and scored twice.

 

PURDY 12, COLLEGE HEIGHTS 3 (6 INNINGS)

Purdy scored in every inning on the way to a win over College Heights on Saturday in the Purdy Invitational.

The Eagles scored two runs in the first, second, third and fifth innings, while scoring a single tally in the fourth and three times in the sixth. College Heights had a three-spot in the fourth inning for its only runs in the loss.

 

KENNETT 12, CARTHAGE 2

Kennett hung crooked numbers up in the first, second and fifth innings to fuel a win over Carthage on Saturday. 

Kennett scored in every inning, with three runs crossing in the first, two in the second and four in the fifth.

JT Williams earned the win for Kennett after allowing two runs on three hits, four walks and three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Reece Robinett pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, scattering two hits, walking two and striking out seven.

Bradyn Tate took the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits, a walk and four strikeouts in three innings. Zach Geter allowed five runs on eight hits, a walk and two strikeouts in two innings, while Sylas Browning allowed one run on two hits, two walks and a strikeout in one relief inning.

Brooks Nigut had a double, four total hits, three RBI and three runs scored. Reece Robinett had three hits, including a double, three RBI and three runs scored. Matt Gardner had three hits, including a double, and scored twice.

Caden Kabance, Nate Norbury, Logan Carmickle, Kanen Vogt and Braxdon Tate all had hits for Carthage. Braxdon Tate and Norbury each scored runs.

 

GLENDALE 12, CARTHAGE 6

Glendale built an 8-1 lead through three innings and didn’t look back in a win over Carthage on Saturday.

Holding an 8-3 advantage, the Falcons scored single tallies in the fourth and fifth innings before a two spot in the sixth frame.

Kaleb Julian earned the win for Glendale after allowing five runs, three earned, on 10 hits, a walk and a strikeout in 3 2/3 innings. Brooks Kettering allowed one run on one hit, a walk and five strikeouts in 3 1/3 relief innings.

Kaden Arr took the loss for Carthage after allowing seven runs on seven hits, five walks and two strikeouts in two innings. Parker Copeland allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits, three walks and two strikeouts in three relief innings. Brodie Cole gave up two runs on one hit, two walks and two strikeouts in one relief inning.

Jacob House homered and doubled, scored twice and drove in three for Glendale. Cam Stratten had a hit and two RBI.

Norbury had three hits and scored twice, while Kabance and Browning had two hits each. Browning tripled and had an RBI, while Kabance picked up an RBI and scored a run.

BASEBALL: Hollister takes two from Joplin on Opening Day

Posted on by Lucas Davis

It wasn’t the Opening Day of baseball Joplin had hoped for, as the Eagles started the season by dropping both games of a doubleheader against Hollister on Saturday at the JHS Athletic Complex.

Joplin and Hollister opened the season with six scoreless innings before the Tigers erupted for seven runs in the top of the seventh inning on the way to a 7-0 win in Game 1. Hollister built an early lead through the first two innings and went on to complete the sweep 15-3.

“Obviously, we were not very good today,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “But, it’s only two games and there are a lot of them this season. It’s my hope that maybe this humbles us a little bit and puts us in a position where we want to come to work and do some of the little things that are difference makers that we didn’t do today.”

 

HOLLISTER 7, JOPLIN 0

Joplin pitcher Ethan Guilford delivers to home plate in the Eagles’ loss to Hollister on Saturday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.

Joplin’s Ethan Guilford and Hollister’s Hunter Jones were locked in a pitcher’s duel in the first of two games, with each pitching a six-inning shutout heading into the seventh inning.

After a leadoff single, Jones reached on an error on a fly ball to center field to put runners on second and third with no outs. Ryland Franks followed with a two-run double to right-center field to notch the first two runs of the game. Two batters later, Ethan Wright singled to left-center to plate two more runs to push the lead to 4-0. The Tigers added two more runs on an Eagles error later in the inning before Sam Teaster wrapped the scoring with an RBI single up the middle to make the score 7-0.

“The crazy thing is that was a really, really good opening day baseball game for six innings,” Wolf said about the opener. “Both pitchers filled it up, defensively it was clean and it was just really good baseball for six innings before the wheels kind of fell off for us. We couldn’t find a way to recover from that, and that is the type of thing we need to figure out. We can be pretty good when things are going well for us. We have to find a way to compete when we face a little adversity and things don’t go our way.”

Jones earned the win after pitching six innings without allowing a run on two hits, four walks and seven strikeouts. Franks earned the save after walking one in a scoreless seventh.

Guilford took the loss after surrendering three runs, two earned, on six hits and seven strikeouts in six-plus innings of work. Joe Jasper allowed four runs, one earned, on three hits, a walk and a strikeout in one inning.

Franks had two hits, including a double, and drove in two, while Wright also doubled and finished with two hits and two RBI.

Byler Reither and Tyler Schumann each had hits for Joplin.

 

HOLLISTER 15, JOPLIN 3

Joplin third baseman Landon Maples applies the tag for an out in the Eagles’ loss to Hollister on Saturday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.

Hollister wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the second game, plating three runs in top of the first, highlighted by an RBI single from Clay Kemp.

Layten Copher picked up Joplin’s first RBI of the game in the bottom half of the inning to trim the lead to 3-1.

The Tigers added two more runs in the second inning on an RBI triple from Blake Russell and a bases-loaded walk by Teaster.

Hollister blew the game open an inning later with a five-run third frame to push the lead to 12-1. Kemp highlighted the inning with a two-run single, while Luke Calovich had an RBI double.

Ronny Daniels earned the win for Hollister after allowing one run on five hits, two walks and five strikeouts in three innings. Malachi Henry allowed one run on two hits and a strikeout in one inning, while Calovich struck out two, walked two and allowed one run in two relief innings.

Justin McReynolds took the loss for Joplin after surrendering five runs, four earned, on two hits, five walks and two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings. Alex Isbell, Brady Mails and Tyler Duley worked out of the pen.

Joplin catcher Tyler Schumann attempts to leg out a ground ball in the Eagles’ loss to Hollister on Saturday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.

Teaster doubled and finished with two hits, two runs scored and a game-high four RBI for the Tigers. Russell had two hits, two RBI and three runs scored, while Kemp and Calovich each had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI.

Bodee Carlson had two doubles and scored a run, while Copher had two hits and two RBI.

“We need to look at and learn how to make a change in our approach based on what we are seeing,” Wolf said about the day offensively. “Too many times, I think we are up there thinking that we want this (certain) pitch and we’re not going to get it. We have to start looking at what we are going to get and be prepared to do what we can with it.”

ON DECK

Joplin is at St. Mary’s Colgan on Tuesday at Jaycee Ballpark in Pittsburg, Kansas.

 

BASEBALL: Neosho earns two wins to begin ’22 season; Bulldogs drop a pair

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

NEOSHO, Mo. — The Neosho Wildcats began the 2022 prep baseball season on a positive note.

The Wildcats beat Monett 7-4 in the season opener on Saturday morning before knocking off Carl Junction 8-6 later in the day to start the spring at 2-0. 

In the other game of the day, Monett defeated Carl Junction 6-5.

 

NEOSHO 7, MONETT 4

Bo Helsel earned win No. 1 as Neosho’s head coach.

The game was deadlocked at four after four innings when the Wildcats pushed across two runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth.

Neosho’s Austin Rodriquez had two hits and one RBI, while Quenton Hughes, River Brill and Carter Baslee had one RBI apiece. 

Neosho’s Kael Smith was the winning pitcher. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits and struck out six in the complete-game effort. 

Daniel Geiss had two hits and an RBI for the Cubs. 

Geiss took the loss on the mound after giving up two earned runs on five hits in five innings. 

 

MONETT 6, CARL JUNCTION 5

The Cubs rode a five-run first inning to victory. 

Monett’s Geiss went 2-for-4, while Josh Wallace drove in two runs and Marcus Young scored twice.

Young earned the win on the hill after allowing three runs and striking out seven in six innings. Jason Garner earned the save by tossing a scoreless seventh.

Carl Junction’s Kyler Perry took the loss after giving up five earned runs on four hits and five walks in 3 1/3 innings. Perry struck out four.

Hunter Cantrell and Lucas Vanlanduit pitched in relief.

Dalton Mills had two hits, including a triple, and two RBI for the Bulldogs. Shane Diskin, Jordan Woodruff and Vanlanduit drove in one run apiece.

 

NEOSHO 8, CARL JUNCTION 6

The game was tied at four after the top of the fourth. The Wildcats scored twice in the bottom of the fourth and added single tallies in the fifth and sixth. The Bulldogs scored twice in the sixth, but failed to score in the seventh. 

Hughes was the winning pitcher and Wyatt Shadwick picked up the save. Hughes went 5 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on 11 hits while striking out four. 

Shadwick tossed a scoreless seventh. 

Shadwick also went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Rodriquez and Eli Zar drove in two runs apiece. Hughes, Baslee and Smith had one RBI apiece. Smith homered. 

Diskin was charged with the loss after he allowed six earned runs on eight hits in five innings. Logan Eck pitched a scoreless sixth. 

Carl Junction lost despite recording 14 hits. Cole Wilson, Drew Massey and Diskin had three hits apiece for the Bulldogs. Diskin and Wilson drove in two runs apiece.

Jordan Woodruff went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. 

Carl Junction (0-2) hosts Lebanon on Tuesday.

Neosho (2-0) hosts the Roy B. Shaver Classic on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

BASEBALL: Webb City’s late rally falls short in ’22 opener

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

WEBB CITY, Mo.  — A late rally fell just short for the Webb City Cardinals.

In the season opener of the 2022 prep baseball season, Logan-Rogersville bent but never broke in the game’s final inning, and the Wildcats left town with a 7-6 win over the Cardinals on Saturday afternoon at Chuck Barnes Field.

Trailing by three entering the bottom of the seventh, Webb City pushed across two runs in the final frame to make things interesting, but the hosts stranded the potential tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position.

“We had our chances,” Cardinals coach Flave Darnell said. “We had guys at third with less than two outs a couple of times and just didn’t get it done. That’s the way it goes. You have to tip your hat to them (Rogersville). It’s just the first game, but you take the good and the bad from it. We’ve got to be a little bit better in a few areas. I think if we can do that, we’re going to be a good team.” 

The Wildcats held a 7-1 lead after the top of the fifth inning. 

“They got some timely hits early in the game and they were able to do some damage,” Darnell said. “It’s hard to come back from 7-1. We could not get the bats going early.”

The Wildcats pushed across a single tally in the top of the first by taking advantage of two Webb City miscues in the field. 

Webb City shortstop Cy Darnell takes a throw at second base during Saturday’s game against Logan-Rogersville. Photo by Jessica Greninger.

The Cardinals tied it up in the bottom half. With two outs, Kaylor Darnell and Aidan Brock both walked before Kenley Hood delivered an RBI single into left field, allowing Darnell to score. 

The Wildcats took a 3-1 lead in the second on run-scoring singles from Brady Buckman and Logan Taylor. One inning later, Rogersville extended its lead to three after back-to-back doubles from Hunter Lewis and Noah Carrow.

The Wildcats plated three more runs on four hits in the fifth to go up 7-1. And after the top of the fifth, the Wildcats had out-hit the Cardinals 10-1. 

Webb City finally generated some offense in the bottom of the fifth. McQuade Eilenstein doubled to left-center before pinch runner Kolton Eilenstein scored on Cade Wilson’s RBI single into left. 

After Eric Fitch walked, Kaylor Darnell followed with a run-scoring single into right, cutting Webb City’s deficit to 7-3.  

The Cardinals added a run in the sixth on Wilson’s fielder’s choice, with Evan Freeman scoring. 

Webb City rallied in the bottom of the seventh.

Senior right-hander Cooper Crouch started on the mound for Webb City on Saturday against Logan-Rogersville. Photo by Jessica Greninger.

Brock reached on an error, Hood walked and Cy Darnell delivered an RBI single to left. 

Gavin Stowell followed with a single before Hood charged home on a wild pitch. That trimmed Webb City’s deficit to one, and also put Cy Darnell on third and Stowell on second with no outs. 

But Rogersville’s Ross Lawrence struck out both Brantley Carter and William Hayes and then induced a game-ending fly ball off the bat of Wilson to end the game. 

The Wildcats recorded 11 hits. Taylor, Lewis, Carrow and Lawrence contributed two hits apiece for Rogersville (1-0). 

Ten Cardinals had one hit apiece. Eight of the 10 hits came in the final three frames of the game. 

“We were able to execute a couple of bunts for base hits that sparked our offense and we had a couple of guys, McQuade Eilenstein and Jeremiah Leaming, that did a good job off the bench and sparked us,” Coach Darnell said.

A senior who bats in the leadoff spot, Wilson drove in two runs. 

Senior right-hander Cooper Crouch started on the mound for the Cardinals. Crouch went 2 1/3 innings and allowed three earned runs on six hits while striking out three. 

Walker Sweet went 2 2/3 and gave up three runs on four hits while fanning three, while Kaylor Darnell tossed two scoreless innings, striking out three. 

“Our three pitchers struck out nine and only walked two today, so that was awesome to see,” Coach Darnell said. 

Rogersville’s Blythe Blakey was the winning pitcher. He limited the Cardinals to one run on one hit while striking out seven in four innings. Lawrence surrendered four earned runs on eight hits in three innings of relief. 

The Cardinals were originally scheduled to open the season on Friday night, but the game with Verdigris (Okla.) was canceled due to the weather. 

 

WHAT’S NEXT?

Webb City (0-1) is scheduled to host Branson on Tuesday, with first pitch set for 4:30 p.m.

 

Kaylor Darnell receives a throw at third base during Saturday’s game against Logan-Rogersville. The Wildcats held on late for a 7-6 win.

 

Walker Sweet delivers a pitch to the plate against Logan-Rogersville on Saturday. All photos by Jessica Greninger/SoMo Sports.

BOYS TRACK: Defending state champ Webb City reloaded for ’22 season

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The Webb City boys track and field team made history last spring by capturing the Class 4 state championship.

Now, the reloaded Cardinals enter the 2022 season with lofty goals and high expectations once again. 

Despite losing a talented senior class to graduation, the Cardinals have a solid core back from last year’s squad to go along with a number of promising newcomers. 

And for the first time in program history, the Cardinals enter a season as the defending state champs.

“We haven’t talked about being state champs at all,” Cardinals coach Dustin Miller said. “But overall, I think there’s more excitement in the community about our program. And we have a higher percentage of desirable athletes out than we normally do. More of the better athletes are willing to try it than they have been in the past. That’s a positive for us.”

Miller expects this year’s new-look squad to continue the program’s tradition of excellence. 

“There’s a different energy for us this year,” Miller said. “We had a very veteran crew last year, and track and field was their priority. That had never happened before. We have a lot of good athletes this year, but a lot of them are new to track and field. We have a ton of young guys and a lot of new guys. We’re excited about that. We’re really green, so we’re going to protect kids and take it slow. We might not look that great early on, but by the end of the season I think we’ll be OK.”

 

WHO’S GONE?

The Cardinals must overcome the loss of a talented senior class. Included in the group were individual state medalists Mekhi Garrard, Pryce Mason, Asa Morgan, Luke Brumit and Zetthew Meister. 

Garrard was the state champ in the long jump and took second in the triple jump. Morgan (110 hurdles) and Brumit (high jump) placed third in their respective events, while Mason (pole vault) and Meister (discus) both finished fourth. 

The Cardinals also lost the majority of their performers on the 4×400 and 4×800 relays that finished third and fourth, respectively. 

 

WHO’S BACK?

Grayson Smith was the state runner-up in the pole vault last May.

The Cardinals return a pair of individual state medalists.

Junior Grayson Smith was the state runner-up in the pole vault after clearing 14 feet, 10 inches, a school record.

Miller said Smith is a clear favorite to claim the gold at this year’s state meet.

“There’s not a lot of guys in the state who can challenge him,” Miller said. “We’re this early in the season and Grayson has already had great attempts at 16 feet. He’s that good. I think everybody else is in trouble.”

Like Smith, junior Justin Allen is expected to score big points in the pole vault. 

“Pole vault is by far our strongest event, but we do a good job of keeping our eyes on championship season,” Miller said. “We’ll be much improved throughout the season.”

Senior distance runner Roman Borboa returns after placing eighth in the 1,600 at last year’s state meet. Borboa also qualified for state in the 800. 

“I expect Roman to become a dominant force in the distance events,” Miller said. 

Miller expects big things out of junior Billy Wolfe, who was part of Webb City’s 4×400 relay that took third in the state last May. Wolfe is an option in the 100-meter dash, the 200, 400 and the high jump. 

Senior distance runner Dustin Brockmiller is a Pittsburg State signee, while junior Jordan Thornburg is a sprinter who is expected to contribute nicely. 

 

NEWCOMERS

The Cardinals have several newcomers, including several multi-sport standouts, who should contribute nicely. 

Senior Dupree Jackson is a sprinter, while junior Dante Washington is a sprinter who may also compete in the javelin and the triple jump.

Juniors Trey Roets and Lucas Ott and sophomore Nate Miller are throwers. 

“We have several good athletes with limited track and field experience, so they are excited to get out there and see how they measure up,” Miller said. 

 

GOALS SET HIGH

Coach Miller is confident his team has the potential to challenge for conference, district and sectional titles. A podium finish at the state meet is another goal for the Cardinals.

“I think we will be able to challenge Joplin for a COC title,” he said. “If we’re Class 4, we’ll have a chance to win districts, qualify at least 10 events to the state meet and have a chance to trophy at state.” 

The Cardinals will soon discover if they will be competing in Class 4 or Class 5 this season. 

Webb City’s track and field squads open the season on March 31 at the Carthage Invitational. 

“That will be a nice early test for us,” Miller said. “There’s always great competition at Carthage.” 

Miller added he’s been pleased with what he’s seen during early-season practices. 

“Our guys are putting out good effort and they have good attitudes,” Miller said. “That’s all we ask for. We’ll put the pieces in place come May.”

 

Roman Borboa is one of Webb City’s returning state medalists this spring. A senior, Borboa is a standout in the 1,600.

BOYS TENNIS: Carl Junction will have young squad this spring; Bulldogs return two starters

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The Carl Junction High School boys tennis team has two returning starters entering the 2022 season.

The Bulldogs will be led by sophomores Blaine Wilkerson and Dan Hodson, a pair of returning letterwinners.

Wilkerson played No. 1 singles last season, and he finished fourth at the Central Ozark Conference tourney. 

Hodson played No. 2 singles at last year’s COC Meet.

Carl Junction coach Ben Coltharp listed juniors Will Russell and Ben Morey as top newcomers this spring.

There are no seniors on this year’s roster. 

“We have a young team with no seniors,” Coltharp said. “This will be for sure a learning and building season.” 

Carl Junction opens the season on March 30 at Thomas Jefferson.

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