Carl Junction suffered an 8-1 setback to Ozark on Thursday in a Central Ozark Conference boys tennis dual.
CJ’s lone win came at No. 1 singles, as Blaine Wilkerson defeated Ozark’s Orion Lewis 9-7.
In other singles matches, Ozark’s Stephen Metcalf beat Dan Hodson 8-4, Connor Kitchin topped Ben Morey 8-2, Ethan Fast defeated Will Russel 8-5, Charles Myers defeated Jayden Wolf 8-1 and Brett Kail beat Cameron Ball 8-1.
In doubles, Wilkerson-Hodson suffered an 8-3 loss, while Morey-Russel lost 8-2 and Ball-Wolf fell 8-1.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The Neosho High School track and field squad headed to the Kansas City area to compete at Friday’s Shawnee Mission West Invitational.
Neosho’s boys finished fourth in the team standings with 113 points. Olathe North (138.5), Olathe Northwest (134) and Mill Valley (118) were the top three teams.
Neosho standout distance runner Kaden Cole won two individual events. A Missouri Southern recruit, Cole won the 1600-meter run in 4:31. He crossed the line first in the 3200 with a time of 9:59.
Isaiah Green placed second in the triple jump (43-8.25) and fourth in the long jump (21-10).
Eric Bebie placed third in the 300 hurdles and fourth in the 110 hurdles, Tyrese Hill took fourth in both the 100-meter dash and the 200 and Connor Jordon was fourth in the 800.
Collyn Kivett and Monrow Suldan were fifth and sixth in the javelin, while Jared Siler and Cade Camerer finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the high jump.
Grant Landers and Siler finished fourth and fifth in the triple jump, while Drew Cobb took fifth in the pole vault.
Hadyn Riggs finished sixth in the discus and Carson Newell was sixth in the 3200.
The Wildcats took second in the 4×100 relay and fifth in the 4×400.
For the Neosho girls, sophomore Riley Kemna placed third in the 1600 with a time of 5:42. Kemna also crossed the line third in the 3200 in 12:17.
Kendall Platner was third in the 300 hurdles and seventh in the 100 hurdles, while Chloe Wood took fourth in the 3200 and seventh in the 800.
Finishing fifth in their events were Bailey Miller (pole vault) and Miranda Wennhold (triple jump).
The Neosho girls were second in the 4×800 relay, fourth in the 4×100 and sixth in the 4×400.
JASPER, Mo. — College Heights (with McAuley) held a 1-0 lead before a five-run fifth inning sealed a 7-0 win over Lamar in the first round of the Jasper Invitational softball tournament on Friday.
After taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning, the Cougars (14-2) took complete control after striking for five runs, all coming with two outs, on five hits. Addie Lawrence started the scoring in the fifth with a two-run double to left field before Maddy Colin doubled Lawrence home in the next at-bat for a 4-0 lead. Avery Eminger picked up an RBI later in the inning after getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded before Lauren Ukena wrapped the scoring with an RBI single to left in the next at-bat.
Colin pitched a complete-game shutout, striking out 16 while scattering two hits and walking one in seven innings.
Madison Caruthers took the loss after allowing seven runs on 11 hits, a walk and three strikeouts in six innings.
Aaliyah Perez had three hits and scored a run, while Lawrence doubled, had two hits, three RBI and scored twice for CHC. Colin doubled twice and drove in two, while Jayli Johnson had two hits and scored twice.
College Heights is in the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — With only bragging rights on the line, close rivals Webb City, Carl Junction and Carthage got together on Friday for the Carl Junction Invitational track meet at Bulldog Stadium.
No team scores were kept at the invite, but all three schools had many highlights and several standout performances.
WEBB CITY GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS
The Webb City girls won nine events.
Webb City’s Abi Street and Riley Hawkins are pictured during the 1600 at Friday’s Carl Junction Invitational.
Missouri Southern recruit Riley Hawkins won two individual events. Hawkins crossed the line first in the 400-meter run in 1:02 and also won the 1600 in 5:25. Hawkins took second in the 3200 in 12:26.
Abi Street took first in the 3200 with a time of 12:18 and finished second to her teammate Hawkins in the 1600 in 5:35.
Hally Philpot won the 800 in 2:38 and Alanna Bundy took first in the 300 hurdles in 54.33 seconds.
Sophomore Dawsyn Decker took first in both the shot put (31-3.25) and the javelin (124-0.25), while Aubree Lassiter won the discus (97-5.25).
Webb City’s 4×800 relay team of Sophia Crane, Izzy Lopez, Alanna Bundy and Elliett Capron took first in 10:53.
The Cardinals were second in the 4×200, second in the 4×400 and third in the 4×100.
Finishing second in their respective events were Kylie Jennings (100), Essence Robinson (400, LJ), Crane (800), Chase Stilley (HJ) and Ripley Shanks (pole vault).
Taking third for the Cardinals were Stilley (100), Robinson (200), Bundy (3200), Maci Brown (100 hurdles), Lopez (300 hurdles), Khloe Rhuems (HJ) and Aubrey McKnight (javelin). Finishing fourth were Emily Countryman (1600), Chloe Emery (300H), Halle Hurd (TJ) and Kenzie Storm (javelin).
WEBB CITY BOYS HIGHLIGHTS
The Webb City boys won seven events.
Jose Antillon won the 400 in 52.9 seconds, Mason Hedger took first in the 1600 in 4:52 and Roman Borboa finished first in the 3200 (9:57).
William Wolfe won the high jump (5-10), Justin Allen took first in the pole vault (11-11.75) and Dupree Jackson claimed first in the long jump (20-10.5).
The Cardinals won the 4×800 relay and took second in the 4×100 and 4×400.
Taking second in their individual events were Jordan Thornburg (100), Omari Jackson (200), Daunte Smiles (800, 1600), Evan Stevens (3200), Aidan Alberty (HJ, LJ), Dalton Thurlo (shot put), Nathaniel Miller (discus) and Malique McCarter (javelin).
Third-place finishers were Dakota Grove (1600), Hedger (800), Dustin Brockmiller (3200), Jace Jones (110 H), Jadon Brisco (300 H) and Thurlo (discus).
Finishing fourth for the Cardinals were William Headrick (100), Max Higginbotham (200), Ricardo Arrieta (800), Joshua McDaniel (110 H), Jones (300 H), Joseph DeGraffenreid (HJ), Brisco (PV), Omari Jackson (LJ) and Lucas Ott (javelin).
CARL JUNCTION GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS
Carl Junction’s Olivia Vediz won both the long jump and the triple jump at Friday’s Carl Junction Invitational. Photo by Jason Peake.
The Carl Junction girls won seven events.
Carl Junction freshman sprinter Sydney Ward won two individual events, the 100-meter dash in 13.01 seconds and the 200 in 27.55.
Bulldogs senior Olivia Vediz won both the long jump (16-8) and the triple jump (34-4.25).
Sloan Uebinger won the 100 hurdles in 18.56 seconds, while Emerson Lundien took first in the pole vault (10-3.5).
The Bulldogs won the 4×100 relay and took third in both the 4×200 and the 4×400.
Finishing second in their events were Loren Lee (discus) and Madilyn Olds (javelin), while third-place finishers were Emily Rice (400), Acadia Badgley (PV) and Hannah Cantrell (TJ).
Riley Briggs (800) and Delaney Harris (PV) took fourth in their respective events.
CARL JUNCTION BOYS HIGHLIGHTS
Owen Hensley was the top performer for the CJ boys, as he took second in the pole vault (11-5.75).
Finishing third for the Bulldogs were Colton Talken (200), Jack Lawson (400), Quin Kennedy (HJ), Caleb Graham (PV), Donnie Keith (shot put) and Braxton Dodds (javelin).
Taking fourth were Tony Stewart (400), Parker Epperson (TJ) and Dylan Robbins (shot put).
The Bulldogs finished second in the 4×200 relay, third in the 4×100 and third in the 4×400.
CARTHAGE GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS
Carthage’s Joey Hettinger won the girls high jump with a leap of 4-11.75.
The Tigers won the 4×200 relay, with Aven Willis, Sydnee Dudolski, Ashlyn Brust and Lexa Youngblood competing. Willis, Youngblood, Brust and Boyd won the 4×400. The Tigers were second in the 4×100.
Dudolski was the runner-up in the 200, Jaidyn Brunnert finished second in both hurdle races and the triple jump, while Lilly Holmes took second in the shot put and third in the discus.
Taking third for the Tigers were Morelia Reyes-Perez (800), Maggie Boyd (1600), Hettinger (LJ) and Jordan Childs (shot put).
Fourth-place finishers for the CHS girls were Marissa Boyer (100), Trisha Kanas (400), Jenna Wilson (3200), Brunnert (HJ), Millie Templeman (LJ) and Nichols (shot put).
CARTHAGE BOYS HIGHLIGHTS
Carthage won three relays on Friday at Carl Junction.
In a solid showing, the Tigers won nine individual events and three relays.
Luke Gall won the 100-meter dash in 11.9 seconds, Taye Witherspoon took first in the 200 in 25.14 and Miquel Solano crossed the line first in the 800 with a time of 2:04.
Trenton Yates won the 110 hurdles (17.09) and the triple jump (41-10), while Daryl Martin took first in the 300 hurdles (43.96).
Micah Lindsey won two events, taking first in the shot put (46-11.5) and the discus (137-3.75), while Zachary Lansford won the javelin with a toss of 149-7.
The CHS boys won three relays.
Carthage won the 4×100 relay in 44.47 seconds, with Landen Schrader, Gall, Cooper Jadwin and Aiden Rogers competing.
The Tigers also won the 4×200 in 1:34, with Schrader, Chris Mejia, Braxton McBride and Jadwin running.
McBride, Solano, Tyler Burt and Schrader won the 4×400 in 3:35. The Tigers took second in the 4×800.
Finishing second in their individual events were Burt (400), Martin (110 H), Yates (300 H) and Mejia (TJ).
Taking third were Jadason Davis-Maxey (LJ) and Jackson Hettinger (TJ), while fourth-place finishers were Caleb Fewin (1600, 3200) and Edward Carreto-Martinez (discus).
College Heights senior Ethan Meeks signed his letter of intent to play basketball at Southeast Missouri Prep on Friday.
Meeks, who was also considering Calvary University and Westminster College, decided to attend Southeast Missouri Prep because the coaches are giving him an opportunity to continue playing the game of basketball, where he will be a power forward.
“It gives me another chance to play the sport I love,” Meeks said to SoMo Sports. “And I get a chance to get better every day with great coaches and great people around me.”
As Meeks concludes his career as a student-athlete with College Heights, he was quick to point out that he is thankful for everything and everyone at CHC.
“I want to thank all of the people, my coaches and parents, who helped me get to this point,” Meeks said. “Along with all of the coaches believing in me and giving me this opportunity, I want to thank God for giving me the ability to do this and the situation He put me in and all of the people He has put in my life.”
The 6-foot-7 Meeks averaged 10 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as a senior. Meeks made 56 percent of his field goal attempts this past winter for the Cougars, who went 24-5 and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Class 2 state tournament.
On the back of a dominant pitching performance from Rocco Bazzano-Joseph, McAuley hung crooked numbers up in its last four at-bats to build an insurmountable lead in an 11-2 win over Greenfield on Friday at Joe Becker Stadium.
With Bazzano-Joseph dealing a shutout on the mound, the Warriors (5-3) and Wildcats (0-7) took a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning when McAuley struck for three runs with two outs. The Warriors added insurance an inning later when four runs touched the plate in the fourth before two more runs scored in the fifth and sixth frames to build a commanding lead en route to the win.
“I was glad to see our guys come out, play and get past the loss to Exeter last week when we did not play well,” McAuley coach Bryan Jones said. “Defensively, we played well today and had a lot of guys get some chances. I liked seeing the guys get to hit the ball. We had a few guys come off the bench and succeed, which I love to see. I was proud of them.”
ON THE MOUND
Bazzano-Joseph earned the win after striking out 11 batters in five no-hit innings on 67 pitches. He walked one. Michael Parrigon allowed two runs on two hits, a walk and five strikeouts in two relief innings.
“We haven’t gotten a lot of work out of Rocco this season because of the weather,” Jones said. “The one thing I saw that Rocco did well was he started with strikes, and he had command of his fastball and his breaking ball. He did a great job of setting the tone and the pace.”
Austin Pickett took the loss after allowing eight runs, three earned, on five hits, four walks and seven strikeouts in four innings.
GAME ACTION
McAuley broke a scoreless tie with three two-out runs crossing the plate in the last of the third inning. Joe Staton led off the inning with an infield hit on a ground ball up the middle that ricocheted off the pitcher. He was driven in two batters later on a two-out RBI single up the middle from Jack Jones to make the score 1-0.
“We didn’t do a great job early of recognizing the pitch to hit,” Jones said. “We just didn’t adjust up front. The two-out at-bat by Jack kind of opened the floodgates and gave us the momentum and we carried it into the next inning.”
Kable Reichardt followed with a walk and both runners came around to score on a throwing error by Greenfield with the throw from the catcher ending up in left field on a double steal.
The Warriors added insurance an inning later when Bradley Wagner doubled to left field to lead off the inning before scoring two batters later on a single to center by Tripp Miller to push the lead to 4-0. After another run scored on a Greenfield throwing error after a chopper back to the pitcher, Jones knocked in two more runs with a two-out double to center field to push the lead to 7-0.
“We gave him a rest in the field but wanted him to get some swings in,” Jones said of his designated hitter on Friday. “He did a good job today. He’s been working hard in the cage looking for his pitch to drive. … He is there for that reason. We need him to come up big and he did.”
The Warriors loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning before Staton singled to center to bring home a run for an eight-run lead. Bazzano-Joseph picked up an RBI on a fielder’s choice later in the frame for a 9-0 lead.
After Greenfield touched home twice in the top of the sixth on a two-run triple from Delton Greene, Reichardt drove home a run in the sixth on a groundout. Another run came in on a wild pitch later in the inning.
IN THE BOX
Jones had two hits, three RBI and scored a run to lead McAuley at the plate. Staton had two hits, scored a run and drove in one. Miller had a hit, scored a run and drove in one. Kevin Tran and Wagner each had a hit and scored.
The Cardinals won the 4×800 relay and took second in the 4×100 and 4×400.
