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BOYS TENNIS: Thomas Jefferson takes third at Joplin invite, host Eagles finish fifth

The Thomas Jefferson Cavaliers finished third and the host Eagles were fifth at the Joplin Invitational boys tennis tournament on Friday at the JHS athletic complex.

Branson went 5-0 in duals to claim the invite championship, while Willard went 4-1 to take second. Thomas Jefferson went 3-2, Glendale finished 1-3-1, Joplin went 0-3-2 and Clever finished 0-4-1.

 

THOMAS JEFFERSON RESULTS

Willard defeated Thomas Jefferson 3-1. 

At No. 1 singles, Caden Lingenfelser defeated Prithvi Nagarajan 6-1, while Alex Crawford beat Lala Chengle 6-2 at No. 2 singles.

At No. 1 doubles, Thomas Jefferson’s Ian Ding and Tyler Brouhard defeated Dawson Amstutz-Brigham Thedell 6-1. At No. 2 doubles, Willard’s Seth Miller-Parker Solum edged TJ’s Devan Murali-Jack Goodhue 7-6 (7-3 tie-breaker). 

Branson defeated Thomas Jefferson 3-1. 

In singles, Branson’s Nate Bartram defeated Nagarajan 7-6 (7-2) and Hayes Stark topped Chengle 6-3.

Ding-Brouhard defeated Garrett Beckham-Jacob Decker 6-2 at No. 1 doubles, while Branson’s Wyatt Carlson-Josh Bartram defeated Murali-Goodhue 6-4 at No. 2 doubles. 

Thomas Jefferson defeated Glendale 4-0.

In singles, Nagarajan beat Eli Hancock 6-1 and Chengle topped Tommaso Nobis 6-0.

Ding-Brouhard defeated Carson Johnson-Jack Barnes 6-0 and Murali-Goodhue beat Eli Thomas-Colin Harris 6-0.

The Cavaliers defeated Joplin 4-0. 

In singles, Nagarajan defeated Aidan Kester 6-0 and Chengle beat Chapel Braman 6-1.

Ding-Brouhard beat Adam Badr-Josiah Hazlewood 6-1 and Murali-Goodhue defeated Michael Mancipe-Hunter Merkley 6-1.

The Cavaliers defeated Clever 4-0.

In singles, Nagarajan defeated Cole Waisner and Chengle beat Jase Whiles. In doubles, Ding-Brouhard beat Dylan Dodds-Anthony Dodds and Murali-Goodhue defeated Cade Clements-Kaden Smith.

 

JOPLIN RESULTS

The Eagles tied Clever 2-2.

Clever’s Waisner and Whiles earned 6-0 wins over Kester and Braman in singles. 

The Eagles won the doubles matches, as Badr-Hazlewood beat Dodds-Dodds 6-0 and Mancipe-Merkley defeated Clements-Smith 6-1.

Joplin tied Glendale 2-2. 

The Falcons won singles matches, while the Eagles won both doubles matches. 

Joplin suffered 4-0 losses to both Branson and Willard. 

Against the Pirates, the Eagles dropped the singles matches and the No. 1 doubles match by 6-0 scores. The Pirates beat the Eagles 6-1 at No. 2 doubles.

Willard won the singles matches against Joplin 6-0 and 6-1, respectively. The Tigers beat the Eagles 6-3 at No. 1 doubles and 6-2 at No. 2 doubles. 

In what turned out to be the de facto championship dual, Branson defeated Willard 3-1. 

 

BASEBALL: Carl Junction names Phillip Cook as new head coach for 2023 season

Carl Junction High School has named Dr. Phillip Cook as their new head baseball coach for the 2023 season.

Dr. Phillip Cook has been named the Carl Junction baseball coach for the 2023 season. Courtesy photo.

Cook will be adding these coaching duties to his current role as Superintendent of Schools.

“Coach Cook is a part of the history of this program, and now he will be part of the future,” said Carl Junction Athletic Director Rich Neria in a press release on Friday. “I know that he loves Carl Junction, the kids, and I know he loves baseball. Our team and the individual players saw a lot of success when he was coaching. We are looking forward to the future with him leading our baseball program on the field.”

Cook played high school baseball at Baxter Springs High School under Don Karnes. He began his college career at Allen County Community College under Coach Val McLean and transferred to Pittsburg State when they started their program in 1991 under Coach Steve Bever. Cook was a team captain at PSU for two years.

Following graduation, Cook taught social studies and coached baseball at Fairland, Oklahoma, for five years before coming to Carl Junction in 1997. He finished his baseball coaching career three years later as his 2000 team played in the state championship game. From there, Cook took a promotion to high school assistant principal. Two years later, he made a move to the District Office as the Assistant Superintendent, and in 2005, he became Superintendent of Schools at Carl Junction.

Cook’s overall coaching record stands at 160-64, with seven out of eight district championships.

Cook will be replacing Jake Stevenson as the Bulldogs’ coach for the 2023 season. Stevenson is following a similar path as he will now be an assistant principal at the intermediate school.

“I am so proud of Jake,” said Cook in the release. “He has been a great role model for our students on the field and as a teacher in the Kindergarten – 1st Grade Building. As he steps into this next role, he will have an opportunity to continue his influence with more students. He has the leadership qualities that you look for in education leadership. He is smart and cares deeply for students and his fellow educators. I can see Jake as a superintendent in Carl Junction one day.”

“I played at Carl Junction and was fortunate to make my way back to coach here,” Stevenson said in the release. “Joining the leadership in CJ has been my goal, and when the position at Intermediate Building became available, I knew that is where I was supposed to be. I’m looking forward to watching the next steps for Bulldog baseball. We have a baseball tradition and culture that has been a part of this program for a long time. Coach Cook helped build this program and will keep it strong for the years to come.”

“Baseball has always been a part of my life,” Cook said in the release. “I have missed being involved with kids at this level. As I look at my former players today, I am so proud of them. They were not only winners on the field, but they have become winners in life. Athletics is such an important part of education. I’m looking forward to influencing kids in another way.”

TRACK & FIELD: Athletes from College Heights Christian, McAuley Catholic compete at Lamar

 

LAMAR, Mo. — College Heights Christian and McAuley Catholic were among the teams competing at Thursday’s Lamar Rotary Relays track meet.

For College Heights Christian’s boys, Colsen Dickens finished third in the 400-meter run in 52.9 seconds. Ethan Ukena placed fifth in the triple jump, while Caleb Quade took seventh in both the 800 and the high jump. 

The CHC team of Zach Beaty, Dickens, Ukena and Matt Williams finished sixth in the 4×100 relay. The Cougars were also sixth in the 4×800. 

McAuley Catholic’s Michael Parrigon finished third in the 1600 in 4:50 and also took sixth in the 800 with a time of 2:09. 

The Warriors were eighth in the 4×200 relay, with Jacob Bracich, Jake Higginbotham, Dylan Taffner and Jack Jones competing. 

The team of Armando Alberto, Phillip Motazedi, Grant Horinek and Drew Zeb took eighth in the 4×800. 

Other local event winners in the boys meet were East Newton’s Chase Sorrell (800), Gabe Bergen (300H), Michael Crowe (HJ) and Dominic Shaw (discus), Monett’s Konner Poynter (100, 200, 400) and Julio Cruz (3200), Mount Vernon’s Wyatt Cordray (110H), Nevada’s Drew Beachler (LJ, TJ) and Lukas Higgins (shot put) and Lamar’s Trace Wilhite (javelin). 

The top five boys teams were Lamar (109.5), East Newton (88), Nevada (78), Butler (65) and Pittsburg, Kansas (64.5). 

For the McAuley girls, Kendall Ramsey won the 3200 in 13:47 and also finished fourth in the 1600 with a time of 6:07.

College Heights Christian’s Emily Winters was sixth in the 400. 

For the Seneca girls, Rylee Darnell was third in the high jump, Cambry Long took fourth in the 400 and Katelyn Fyock was sixth in the long jump.

Other local event winners in the girls meet were Monett’s Karlee McCallister (100, javelin), Jasper’s Crystal Smith (200, 110 hurdles, 300H), Lamar’s Marcy Miller (HJ) and Elise Ferris (LJ), Nevada’s Lillian Hart (TJ) and Liberal’s Abby Barton (800). 

Nevada and Lamar both finished with 98 points in the team standings. Monett (76), Pittsburg (56) and Butler (51) rounded out the top five teams.

There were 21 teams in attendance. 

FULL RESULTS: Lamar Rotary Relays 2022 – Lamar HS Results (Raw) (milesplit.com)

TRACK & FIELD: Joplin athletes set meet, school records at Willard invite

 

WILLARD, Mo. — The Joplin Eagles had a record-setting evening at the Jason Pyrah Invitational on Thursday at Willard High School. 

Joplin’s Donovyn Fowler set meet records in the jumps, Donovahn Watkins bested the meet record in the shot put, while Jennalee Dunn and Hobbs Campbell surpassed previous school and meet records in their respective distance events. 

A senior, Fowler won both the long jump (23-5.5) and the triple jump (48-5.25). An Oklahoma signee, Fowler bested his own meet record in the long jump while topping the previous meet record in the triple jump by two feet. 

A junior, Campbell was the runner-up in the 1600-meter run with a school record time of 4:17. New Covenant’s Tanner Talley won the event in 4:12. Both Talley and Campbell bested the previous meet record time of 4:24.

Campbell also placed second in the 800-meter run in 1:57.74. Talley won the race in 1:54. Both runners topped the previous meet record of 1:57.85.

A senior, Watkins won the shot put with a heave of 60-6. The previous meet record was 59-1.

Joplin finished second in both the 4×100 and 4×400 relays, and the Eagles placed third in both the 4×800 and 4×200 relays.

Orion Norris took fourth in the 100-meter dash and was sixth in both the 200 and 400, while Ian Horton finished fifth in the 3200. 

Korey Read placed fifth in the 110 hurdles, Avarus Kuhn-Wofford and Gustavo Onate finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 300 hurdles and Evan Matlock finished fifth in the 800 and sixth in the 1600.

Also for the JHS boys, Zaben Barnes took sixth in the 3200, with Grey Edwards seventh, Logan Bever was seventh in the pole vault and Luke Vieselmeyer took seventh in the high jump. 

Joplin’s boys finished second in the team standings with 119.5 points. Willard was first with 132.5. 

A senior who has signed with Cornell, Dunn won the girls 1600-meter run, breaking her own school record and setting a meet record with a time of 5:03. Dunn, 10 seconds faster than the runner-up in the event, shattered the previous meet record of 5:15. 

Brynn Driver placed second in the triple jump (32-9.75) and also finished third in the 400 with a time of 1:01. 

Maria Loum and Allie Lawrence finished third and fourth, respectively, in the pole vault, while Abigail Eckert finished fifth in the long jump, Claire Jasper was fifth in the shot put, Lawrence placed sixth in the 200 and Mairi Beranek was eighth in the 3200. 

The JHS girls were second in both the 4×100 and 4×200 relays and third in the 4×400. 

Joplin’s girls finished fourth in the team standings with 72 points. Nixa (89), Clever (87.5) and Marshfield (74) were the top three teams. 

McDonald County’s Mariana Salas won the girls javelin with a meet record toss of 115-10.

For the Mac County boys, Cole Thomas won the javelin (30.25m) and Joshua Pacheco was third in the long jump.

 

FULL RESULTS: Jason Pyrah Invitational 2022 – Willard Jason Pyrah Invite (Raw) (milesplit.com)

ROUNDUP: McDonald County baseball; College Height softball earn wins; other area teams in action

MCDONALD COUNTY BASEBALL 8, CASSVILLE 0

ANDERSON, Mo. — Class 5 sixth-ranked McDonald County used a four-run second inning on the back of a no-hitter from Cross Dowd on the way to a shutout win over Cassville on Thursday.

Dowd earned the no-hit shutout win for McDonald County (16-4) on 95 pitches. He struck out 13 and walked two.

Devin Bailey took the loss after allowing four runs, two earned, on two hits, four walks and two strikeouts in two innings.

Destyn Dowd had two hits and scored a run, while Cross Dowd had a hit and scored twice. Levi Helm and Weston Gordon each had a hit and scored.

 

REPUBLIC BASEBALL 5, CARTHAGE 3

REPUBLIC, Mo. — Republic held a 5-1 lead after five innings and held off a late rally from Carthage on Thursday.

Gavyn Beckner earned the win after allowing two runs on eight hits, two walks and seven strikeouts in six innings. Ace McWatters earned the save after allowing two runs on five hits in one relief inning.

Kaden Arr took the loss after allowing five runs, three earned, on six hits, six walks and six strikeouts in five innings of work.

Carthage started the rally with two outs in the sixth after Sylas Browning, who singled to left to start the inning, scored on a double steal, with Nate Norbury taking second after reaching with a single. 

Clay Kinder and Ty Perry had back to back RBI singles in the top of the seventh with two away but the final out was made with the tying run on second.

Braxdon Tate and Logan Carmickle each had three hits, with Carmickle driving in one and scoring once to lead Carthage at the plate. Caden Kabance and Browning had a hit and scored a run. 

 

OZARK 12, NEOSHO 0 (5 INNINGS)

OZARK, Mo. — Ozark scored 11 runs in the first three innings on the way to a five-inning Central Ozark Conference win over Neosho on Thursday.

The Tigers scored three times in the first inning, five times in the second and three more runs in the third to build a commanding lead before adding a single tally in the fourth frame to score a run in every at-bat.

Devyn Wright earned the complete-game win after throwing five scoreless innings on three hits and two strikeouts.

Austin Rodriguez took the loss after allowing eight runs, three earned, on four hits, three walks and a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings.

Cooper Buvid doubled and had two RBI and scored twice, while Brady Dodd had a hit, scored a run and drove in three.

River Brill, Carter Fenske and Carter Baslee registered hits for Neosho

 

LIBERAL BASEBALL 6, COLLEGE HEIGHTS 5

LIBERAL, Mo. — Liberal broke a back-and-forth 5-5 tie with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning on the way to a win over College Heights on Thursday.

The Cougars and Bulldogs exchanged two runs in the second inning before CHC added a single tally in the top of the third to take the lead. Liberal regained the lead with a three-run fifth before College Heights scored twice in the top of the sixth to tie things up at 5-5. The Bulldogs pushed across the go-ahead run in the last of the sixth to earn the win.

Kole Wiles earned the win after allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits, four walks and two strikeouts in six innings. Matthew Boehne earned the save after pitching a scoreless seventh inning on one hit.

Ben Thomas took the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, on seven hits, four walks and a strikeout.

Payton Morrow had two hits, including a double, and two RBI. Chase Ray had one hit and one RBI, while Boehne had a hit, scored a run and drove in one.

Josh Anderson had two hits, including a double, and three RBI for CHC. Austin Miller and Kelton Welch each had a hit and scored a run, with Welch adding an RBI.

 

COLLEGE HEIGHTS SOFTBALL 6, LIBERAL 3

LIBERAL, Mo. — Playing as the home team after inclement weather forced the game to Liberal, College Heights (with McAuley) built a four-run lead through the first three innings on the way to a win over the Bulldogs on Thursday.

The Cougars (13-2) took the initial lead in the bottom of the first when Kloee Williamson singled home Jayli Johnson before she touched the plate later in the frame on an RBI groundout by Maddy Colin for a 2-0 lead. Addie Lawrence hit an inside-the-park home run that scored Williamson, who singled with one out in the inning, in the third inning to push the lead to 4-0.

Liberal (with Bronaugh) had a three-run fourth inning highlighted by an RBI double from Jordan Goodell.

Lawrence tripled to right field in the bottom of the fourth inning to plate two runs to wrap the scoring in the game.

Colin earned the win after allowing three unearned runs on two hits and 13 strikeouts in seven complete innings.

Kyla Porter took the loss after allowing six runs, three earned, on eight hits, a walk and four strikeouts in six innings.

Lawrence homered and tripled to go along with four RBI and a run scored to lead CHC at the plate. Williamson had three hits, scored three runs and added an RBI and a walk. Colin, Aaliyah Perez and Lauren Ukena each had hits, while Johnson scored twice.

BASEBALL: Webb City rallies late, earns COC win at No. 7 Branson

 

BRANSON, Mo. — Webb City plated four runs in the final two innings to earn a 5-3 come-from-behind win over Branson on Thursday in a Central Ozark Conference clash at Pirate Park. 

The Cardinals trailed 3-1 when they rallied for two runs apiece in both the sixth and seventh innings, avenging an early-season loss to the Pirates in the process. 

Receiving votes in the Class 5 poll, Webb City got back to .500 at 10-10 overall and the Cardinals are now 3-2 in the COC. 

No. 7 Branson fell to 12-7 overall and 0-5 in the COC. 

The Cardinals pushed across a single tally in the first, as Cy Darnell tripled to right-center and later scored on a fielder’s choice. 

The Pirates plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth. After a hit by pitch and a walk, the tying run scored after a fielder’s choice and an error. Next, Carter Jenkins connected for a two-run home run to left, giving Branson a two-run advantage. 

The Cardinals tied it up with two runs in the sixth. Kenley Hood singled and Jeremiah Leaming reached on an error. After two outs, Cade Wilson singled to right. An error on the throw back in allowed a run to score.

Next, the Pirates failed to corral Kolton Eilenstein’s grounder, and the game was deadlocked at three after Branson’s third error of the frame. 

Webb City took the lead for good in the top of the seventh. Eric Fitch and Cy Darnell both singled before a balk moved the runners to second and third. 

Next, McQuade Eilenstein smacked a go-ahead, two-run double to the fence in left field, giving the Cardinals a 5-3 lead.

Branson put two runners on-base in the bottom of the seventh, but Webb City reliever Walker Sweet retired the side. 

Kaylor Darnell started for the Cardinals. He went five innings and allowed no earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out six. 

Sweet fanned three and gave up one hit in two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win. 

The Cardinals recorded nine hits. Cy Darnell and Hood had two hits apiece. 

Collin Ross started for Branson and allowed one earned runs on five hits in five innings. Andrew Bristow was charged with the loss after allowing two earned runs on four hits in two innings.

Webb City will take on a pair of state-ranked Class 6 teams on Saturday in St. Charles — No. 10 Francis Howell and No. 5 Rock Bridge.

BOYS GOLF: With top three scores, McAuley Catholic wins triangular vs. Thomas Jefferson, Diamond

 

With the top three individuals, the McAuley Catholic boys golf team won a triangular on Thursday at Schifferdecker Golf Course. 

The Warriors turned in a four-person score of 182, while Thomas Jefferson had a 201 and Diamond had a 227.

McAuley’s Evan D’Amour was the medalist with a 40, while teammates Rocco Bazzano-Joseph (43) and Joe Staton (45) finished second and third, respectively. 

Also competing for the Warriors were Trey Martinez (54) and Jeffery Horinek (56). 

Thomas Jefferson’s Luke Miller, Caden Myers and Jack Tyrrell all carded 49. Also for the Cavaliers, Jake Jarrett and Tony Touma both carded 54.

Diamond’s top performer was Nathan Gray, who shot 51. Also competing for the Wildcats were Kyler Terry (57), Peyton Marbough (59), Ty Douglas (60) and Luke Lorenzen (64).

The teams played the par-36 front nine. 

BOYS TENNIS ROUNDUP: Joplin, Neosho suffer COC losses; Thomas Jefferson improves to 9-0

 

REPUBLIC 8, JOPLIN 1

Republic earned an 8-1 win over Joplin in a Central Ozark Conference boys tennis dual on Thursday at the JHS athletic complex.

Joplin’s lone win of the dual came at No. 2 singles, as Michael Mancipe defeated Garrett Carpenter 8-3.

“The highlight for this evening was Michael’s performance,” Joplin coach Aaron Stump said. “Michael plays consistent points and doesn’t have many unforced errors, which has been his strength this season. I was happy to see him win a match for our team.”

The Tigers won the other five singles matches and the three doubles matches. 

“Our No. 1 player was out again today, but we are optimistic about having him return to play next week,” Stump said. “Adam Badr and Josiah Hazlewood are communicating well and winning quite a few points in doubles, as are the team of Michael Mancipe and Hunter Merkley. Our No. 3 doubles team has shuffled players in recent matches, but they are improving.”

In doubles, Republic’s Braden Snyder-Chase Elder defeated Badr-Hazlewood 8-3, while Carpenter-Markus Mitchell topped Mancipe-Merkley 8-3 and Curtis Fair-Bryce Martin beat Chapel Braman-Alexei Kester 8-1.

At No. 1 singles, Republic’s Snyder beat Badr 8-4, while Elder won the No. 3 singles match over Hazlewood 8-0.

In other singles matches, Mitchell defeated Merkley 8-3, Fair beat Kester 8-1 and Martin topped Braman 8-2.

 

BRANSON 9, NEOSHO 0

The Pirates earned a clean sweep against the Wildcats in Central Ozark Conference action.

In singles, Neosho’s Christian Williams and Peyton Williams suffered 8-1 losses, while Ryno Lee, Chandler Weber, Jacob Leibham and Wesley Williams all fell by 8-0 scores.

In doubles, Branson’s Jack Dawson-Preston Volz defeated Christian Williams-Peyton Williams 8-3, while Andrew Makuch-Heath Stark beat Lee-Weber 8-2 and Josh Brown-Cash Davis defeated Leibham-Wesley Williams 8-5.

 

THOMAS JEFFERSON 9, GREENWOOD 0

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Thomas Jefferson improved its record to 9-0.

Thomas Jefferson’s Ian Ding, Prithvi Nagarajan, Tyler Brouhard and Devan Murali all won their respective singles matches 8-0, while Lala Qian and Hari Nagarajan won their matches 8-1.

In doubles, Ding-Brouhard beat William Schaller-Gavin Duncan 8-3, Prithvi Nagarajan-Qian defeated Garett Tsubira-John Holmes 8-0 and Murali-Jack Goodhue topped Andrew Scott-Sanjeev-Maganti 8-1.

BASEBALL: Michel’s three-run walk-off home run sends No. 2 Nixa past Joplin

NIXA, Mo. — Class 6 second-ranked Nixa and Joplin took a 1-1 pitcher’s duel into the last of the seventh inning before Rylan Michel ripped a 3-2 pitch off the scoreboard in left field for a three-run walk-off home run to send Nixa to a 4-1 win in district and Central Ozark Conference action on Thursday.

Masen Eagleburger led off the bottom of the seventh with an infield hit before Sam Russo singled with one out two batters later to put runners at the corners for Nixa (18-1, 4-0 COC). Russo moved to second later on a stolen base on the first pitch of Michel’s at-bat to set up the home run.

While the loss against Nixa is the first against a conference foe this season for Joplin (9-9, 4-1 COC), it is also the first against state ranked opponents with three previous wins coming against Springfield Catholic, Webb City and Branson. Joplin continues to navigate state ranked teams on its schedule with a home COC matchup against Class 6 eighth-ranked Kickapoo, also a district game, on Monday at the JHS Athletic Complex.

ON THE MOUND

Hardy Dougan earned the complete-game win after limiting Joplin to one run on five hits, one walk and six strikeouts on 106 pitches in seven innings of work.

Ethan Guilford took the tough-luck loss after allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits, three walks and three strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

GAME ACTION

Joplin took the initial lead with a two-out run in the top of the second inning after Byler Reither singled up the middle off of Dougan’s glove and into center field to bring home Tyler Duley, who was courtesy running for Tyler Schumann.

Guilford worked around traffic in the third, fourth and fifth innings to keep the shutout intact through the first five frames. Nixa stranded two runners in the third, the bases loaded in the fourth and Guilford induced a 4-6-3 double play in the fifth with runners on first and second and one out in the inning.

Nixa led the sixth inning off with a single by Jack Edwards before courtesy runner Alex Thomason was called out and ejected for interference at second base after colliding with Bodee Carlson on a throw to the second-base bag in an attempt to break up a double play on a fielder’s choice groundout by Tanner Grant. With two outs in the inning, John Gholson followed with a solo home run to tie the game at 1-1.

AT THE PLATE

Russo had two hits and scored a run, while Gholson and Michel homered. Michel had three RBI and scored a run, while Gholson had one RBI and scored once.
Reither had two hits and an RBI to lead Joplin. Kyler Stokes, Schumann and Carlson also recorded base hits.