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BASEBALL: Joplin closes regular season with win over Lamar; Eagles to host district play

Joplin scored a pair of early runs and kept Lamar at bay until the Eagles used a three-run sixth inning to pull away to a 5-2 win in the regular season finale on Wednesday at the JHS Athletic Complex.

“It is always good to come out in that last regular season game and get a win on your home field,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “Hopefully, that propels you into next week when you only have one guaranteed game left. We say all year that all of the ups and downs and everything throughout the season leads you to this point. Hopefully, we can find some renewed energy coming off this win and get after it next week.”

ON DECK

Joplin ends the regular season with a 14-14 record. The Eagles are the fifth seed as the hosts of the Class 6 District 6 Tournament and take on fourth-seeded Republic at 1:30 p.m. on Monday at the JHS Athletic Complex. 

“We are so blessed to have this facility and to be able to play at this place,” Wolf said about hosting. “Anytime we can bring games to Joplin and put them on our field, we are excited to do so. Hopefully, our kids will take a little home field pride out there with them and execute the way we are capable of.”

ON THE MOUND

Brady Mails started the game and earned the win after allowing one unearned run on six hits and four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings pitched. Joe Jasper worked 1 1/3 innings in relief, allowing one unearned run on two hits and a strikeout.

“He struggled a little early getting his tempo and finding his balance,” Wolf said of Mails’ outing. “When he found it, he did a good job of hitting spots and getting some quick outs for us.”

Robert Lawrence took the loss after allowing two runs on eight hits, a walk and two strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings of work. Ryan Davis worked 1 1/3 innings of relief, allowing three runs, two earned, on two hits, a walk and two strikeouts.

GAME ACTION

After Lamar left the bases loaded in the top of the first, Joplin swung the momentum in its favor with the game’s first run coming in the bottom of the frame. Byler Reither singled to right-center field with one out before stealing second and coming around to score on a two-out, two-strike single by Ethan Guilford to make the score 1-0.

The Eagles added to their lead an inning later with another two-out run when Reither doubled to center to score Isaac Meadows from second for a 2-0 advantage.

Lamar cut the lead in half in the top of the fifth when Lawrence doubled off the wall in left field to plate a run. The Tigers stranded the tying and go-ahead run.

Lamar threatened to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning when Alex Wilkerson singled to lead off the frame before ending up on second with two outs. Jasper entered in relief and induced a flyout to end the threat.

“That’s a tie game if he doesn’t get that out,” Wolf said of Jasper’s relief appearance. “For him to go out there and get us back in the dugout still up a run was a good job by him.”

Joplin struck for insurance in the bottom of the sixth inning after Kyler Stokes ripped a two-out single to left field to plate Bodee Carlson from second to make the score 3-1. Guilford followed with a sharp single up the middle to bring Stokes home for a second run in the inning. Landon Maples, who was courtesy running for Guilford, scored later in the inning on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 5-1.

“That was huge to be able to come out and score those three runs late in the game,” Wolf said. “Especially right after they scored when they had a little energy and were feeling good. To come out and put up those three took a little air out of their dugout and gave us some confidence.”

Lawrence singled to left field on a 3-2 pitch with one out in the top of the seventh to score a run and trim the deficit to 5-2.

AT THE PLATE

Reither had two hits, including a double, to go alone with one RBI and a run scored, while Guilford had two hits and two RBI. Justin McReynolds had two hits, while Stokes had a hit, one RBI and a run scored.

SOFTBALL: All-Ozark 7 team released; CHC’s Howard is Coach of the Year

 

ALL-OZARK 7 CONFERENCE SOFTBALL TEAM

Player of the Year: Aubry Antle, Exeter 

Coach of the Year: Mike Howard, College Heights 

 

First Team

Maddy Colin, College Heights

Kloee Williamson, College Heights 

Jayli Johnson, College Heights 

Addison Lawrence, College Heights 

Brooke Beerly, Golden City

Natalie Crumpler, Exeter 

Dawnee Sorensen, Exeter 

Emma Sorensen, Exeter 

Lori McNeill, Wheaton 

 

Second Team

Aaliyah Perez, College Heights 

Kaitlyn Bates, College Heights 

Avery Eminger, College Heights 

Kyndall Scott, Golden City 

Tyra Menadue, Golden City 

Madison Crumpler, Exeter 

Jolie Mattingly, Exeter 

Hallie Woods, Exeter 

Monica Hinojosa, Wheaton

BASEBALL: A look at area district tournaments

 

District baseball tournaments will soon get underway across the state of Missouri. 

Below is a look at area district tournaments of interest. 

 

CLASS 6 DISTRICT 6

Joplin is the No. 5 seed and the host of this district.

The Eagles take on No. 4 Republic at 1:30 on May 16 at the JHS Athletic Complex, with the winner likely facing the No. 1 seed in the semifinals. In the regular season meeting between the COC foes, Republic topped Joplin 3-0. 

In Monday’s other opening-round contests at JHS, No. 1 Nixa meets No. 8 Springfield Central at 11 a.m., No. 2 Kickapoo takes on No. 7 Lebanon at 4 p.m. and No. 3 Ozark will play No. 6 Carthage at 6:30. 

Nixa is currently ranked third in Class 6, while Kickapoo is ranked sixth. 

The semifinals are slated for 4 and 6:30 on May 17, with the title game scheduled for 5 on May 19. 

 

CLASS 5 DISTRICT 7

Neosho’s Roy B. Shaver Field will host this district tournament that features four local teams.

In Saturday’s quarterfinals, No. 4 Carl Junction plays No. 5 Raytown South at 10 a.m., No. 3 Neosho takes on No. 6 Pembroke Hill at noon, No. 2 Webb City meets No. 7 Grandview at 2 and No. 1 McDonald County will take on No. 8 Ruskin at 4.

The semifinals are slated for 4 and 6 on May 16. If the higher seeds hold, there could be Webb City vs. Neosho and Mac County vs. Carl Junction matchups in the semifinals. 

The district title game is at 6 on May 18. 

The top two seeds, the Mustangs and Cardinals, met on April 5, with Mac County earning a 2-1. Webb City edged Neosho 1-0 in another nail-biter. 

McDonald County is ranked fourth in Class 5 and Webb City is ranked 10th. 

 

CLASS 4 DISTRICT 11

Top-seeded Aurora is the host for this district.

In opening-round games on May 16, third-seeded Mount Vernon meets sixth-seeded Seneca at 4 and fourth-seeded Monett takes on fifth-seeded Cassville at 6. 

The semifinals are at 4 and 6 on May 17. Aurora awaits the Monett-Cassville winner and No. 2 Reeds Spring will clash with either the Mountaineers or Indians. 

The title game is at 5 p.m. on May 19.

The Houn’ Dawgs are ranked 10th in Class 4. 

 

CLASS 4 DISTRICT 12

Harrisonville is the host for this district, which will feature the Nevada Tigers, along with Clinton, Pleasant Hill, Summit Christian and the host Wildcats. 

As of Wednesday, the seeds and bracket were unavailable. 

 

CLASS 3 DISTRICT 11 

Lamar is the top seed and the host of this district. 

The quarterfinals are Saturday, with No. 4 Pierce City playing No. 5 Diamond at 3:30 before No. 3 East Newton takes on No. 6 Sarcoxie at 5:30.

Lamar and No. 2 Southwest have first-round byes.

The semifinals are May 16 at 4 and 6, with the title game to follow at 5 on May 17. 

 

CLASS 2 DISTRICT 12

College Heights is the fourth seed in this district, which will be hosted by Miller.

The quarterfinals are slated for Friday, with third-seeded Skyline meeting sixth-seeded Miller at 11 a.m. and fourth-seeded College Heights taking on fifth-seeded Jasper at 1.

No. 1 Marion C. Early awaits CHC or Jasper at 4 on May 16, while No. 2 Ash Grove plays the Skyline-Miller winner at 6 in the second semifinal. 

The title game is at 6 on May 17. 

Marion C. Early is ranked sixth in the Class 2 poll. 

 

CLASS 2 DISTRICT 11

Verona is the host. 

The quarterfinal matchups on Saturday feature No. 2 Purdy vs. No. 7 Crane at 11, No. 4 Verona vs. No. 5 Blue Eye at 1 and No. 3 Galena vs. No. 6 Wheaton at 3. 

The top seed is Marionville. The semifinals are May 16 at 4 and 6, with the title game slated for 5 on May 18.

Marionville is ranked first in Class 2, while Purdy is ranked ninth. 

 

CLASS 1 DISTRICT 7

McAuley Catholic is the No. 2 seed and has a first-round bye in this district, which is hosted by Hurley. 

In Friday’s quarterfinals, No. 3 Exeter plays No. 6 Greenfield at noon and No. 4 Hurley meets No. 5 Lockwood at 2. 

No. 1 Billings awaits the Hurley-Lockwood winner, while McAuley plays either Exeter or Greenfield in the semifinals at 6 p.m. on May 16.

The title game is scheduled for 5 on May 17.

BASEBALL ROUNDUP: Neosho, CJ earn wins; Webb City, Joplin, McAuley and CHC fall

NEOSHO 14, SENECA 3

SENECA, Mo. — Neosho built a 7-3 lead heading into the sixth inning before erupting for a seven-run sixth inning in a run-rule win over Seneca to wrap the regular season on Tuesday.

The Wildcats (13-15) scored three runs in the second inning before both teams scored a pair of runs in the third. Neosho plated two more tallies in the fifth and Seneca (5-21) answered with a run in the bottom half.

The three-run second inning was highlighted by an RBI single from Austin Rodriguez and Quenton Hughes added an RBI double an inning later before Tanner Nesvold picked up an RBI with a single for Seneca in the bottom of the third.

Carter Fenske added a two-run single for Neosho in the top of the fifth. In the six-run sixth frame, Rodriguez had a two-run double to left, while Hughes also had an RBI double. Eli Zar also drove in a run with a single through the left side.

Carson Williams earned the win after allowing three unearned runs on four hits and four strikeouts in five innings of work. Rodriguez allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning of relief.

Grant Houchin took the loss after allowing 12 runs, five earned, on eight hits, a walk and three strikeouts in five innings.

Hughes had three hits, two for doubles, two RBI and scored a run. Fenske had two hits, four RBI and three runs scored. Carter Baslee had two doubles and scored twice, while Rodriguez had two hits, including a double, and drove in three.

Third-seeded Neosho hosts sixth-seeded Pembroke Hill in the Class 5 District 7 Tournament at noon on Saturday at the Neosho Athletic Complex.

 

CARL JUNCTION 8, ST. MARY’S COLGAN 6

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Carl Junction built an early 5-1 lead and held off St. Mary’s Colgan for a non-conference win in the Bulldogs’ final regular season contest of the year on Tuesday at Jaycee Ballpark.

Lucas Vanlanduit earned the win after allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits, a walk and two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Jordan Woodruff allowed three runs on four  and two walks in 2 1/3 relief innings, while Gaige Carson allowed two hits and struck out three in one relief inning.

Keller took the loss after allowing five runs, three earned, on four hits, three strikeouts and five walks in 2 1/3 innings. Vogel allowed three runs on four hits and three walks, while Bodart did not allow a run on two hits and two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings of relief.

Arlen Wakefield broke a 1-1 tie with a two-out, two-run double to center field in the second inning to start the production in the four-run frame. After a run came home on an SMC error, Jordan Woodruff tripled to left to plate a run and push the lead to 5-1.

Mekhi McGarry singled home a run in the fourth for Carl Junction before Shane Diskin and Bentley Rowden picked up an RBI each on back to back two-out singles with runners in scoring position to push the lead to 8-3.

An RBI double by Simmons and a sac fly two batters later cut the Panthers’ deficit to 8-5. Keller singled home a run an inning later to wrap the scoring in the game. 

Colgan loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh inning before three straight strikeouts ended the game.

Kyler Perry had three hits, including a double, and three runs scored, while Wakefield had a hit, two RBI and scored a run. Woodruff had a hit, drove in one and scored a run.

Fourth-seeded Carl Junction takes on fifth-seeded Raytown South in the first round of the Class 5 District 7 Tournament at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Neosho Athletic Complex.

 

KICKAPOO 6, WEBB CITY 4

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Cardinals led 4-1 when the Chiefs erupted for three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie it up. Kickapoo plated two runs in the sixth for the final margin of the non-conference clash at Pittman Field.  

Webb City scored once in the first, as Eric Fitch reached on an error and later scored on Kenley Hood’s ground out. 

The Cardinals went up 2-0 in the second after Jeremiah Leaming walked and later scored from third on a wild pitch.

Kickapoo got on the board in the third on Noah Wilkinson’s RBI double. 

Webb City added two runs in the fourth, as Hood scored on a sacrifice fly from William Hayes and Cade Wilson singled and later scored on a passed ball. 

The Chiefs tied it up in the bottom half on Evan Vienhage’s three-run home run. The hosts went ahead with two runs in the sixth on Anderson Underwood’s RBI triple, with Underwood later scoring on a wild pitch. 

Ranked sixth in Class 6, Kickapoo improved to 24-5. 

Nate Owen was the winning pitcher. He tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Hayden Strenfel, who allowed four runs, three earned in 3 1/3 innings. 

The Chiefs recorded five hits in the game. The Cardinals were limited to three hits, one apiece by Cy Darnell, Wilson and Kaylor Darnell. 

Webb City’s Cooper Crouch went five innings, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks with five strikeouts. Walker Sweet went one inning and gave up two runs on one hit and a walk while striking out three. 

Ranked 10th in Class 5, Webb City (15-15) hosts St. Mary’s Colgan at 4:30 on Thursday in the regular-season finale. 

 

WILLARD 12, JOPLIN 1 (5 INNINGS)

WILLARD, Mo. — Willard started fast and didn’t let up in a five-inning win in the final Central Ozark Conference matchup of the year for Joplin on Tuesday.

Willard (27-6, 8-1 COC) clubbed three home runs in the win, which included a six-run fourth inning to put the game out of reach.

Cooper Wilken earned the complete-game win after allowing one run on five hits, a walk and seven strikeouts in five innings.

Justin McReynolds took the loss for Joplin (13-14, 6-3 COC) after allowing 11 runs, eight earned, on nine hits, four walks and two strikeouts in three innings. Joe Jasper allowed one run on two hits and a walk in one relief inning.

The Tigers, the top-ranked team in Class 5, used a three-run home run from Cooper Hampton in the first to take a lead before Kade Biellier pushed the lead to 5-0 in the second with a two-out, two-run double to right-center.

Joplin got on the board in the third when Byler Reither hit a solo home run, Willard kept pace in the bottom with a run coming home on a Joplin error for a 6-1 lead. 

Biellier struck again with a two-run home run to center field in the fourth to push the lead to 8-1. Owen Bushnell added a three-run home run to the opposite field later in the inning to push the lead to 11-1. Landon Moore added an RBI single to wrap the Tigers’ six-run inning.

Kyler Stokes had two hits for Joplin at the plate, while Reither homered to finish with an RBI and a run scored. McReynolds and Jackson Queen accounted for the Eagles’ other two hits.

 

MARION C. EARLY 11, MCAULEY 1 (5 INNINGS)

MORRISVILLE, Mo. — Marion C. Early scored five runs in the first inning and added three more in the second frame to build an insurmountable lead in a five-inning win over McAuley on Tuesday.

Hadan Madewell earned the win after allowing one unearned run on two hits, five walks and nine strikeouts in five innings.

Kable Reichardt took the loss after allowing nine runs, six earned, on seven hits, four balls and seven strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. Chase Gardner allowed two runs on five hits and two walks in one inning of relief.

Chance Hampton had three hits and scored two runs while Jacob Presley, Colby Pellam and Isaac Franka, who tripled, all had two hits. Presley scored three runs and drove in two, Pellam had two RBI and a run scored and Franka drove in a pair.

Michael Parrigon and Bradley Wagner had hits for McAuley.

Second-seeded McAuley takes on the winner of third-seeded Exeter and sixth-seeded Greenfield in the Class 1 District 7 Tournament semifinals at 6 p.m. on Monday at Hurley High School.

 

EAST NEWTON 20, COLLEGE HEIGHTS 5 (3 INNINGS)

GRANBY, Mo. — East Newton scored four runs in the first inning, added eight runs in the second and eight in the third on the way to a three-inning win over College Heights in the Cougars’ final regular season contest on Tuesday.

Kolt Walters earned the win after allowing three runs on three hits, four walks and three strikeouts in two innings pitched. Josh Mathis allowed two runs on three hits and two strikeouts in one inning.

Nick Brueggemann started and took the loss after allowing four runs on three hits and two walks in one inning.
Walters had three hits, one a double, one RBI and scored four times, while Ty Bowman had three hits, including two doubles, three runs scored and six RBI. Will Eichelberger and Braxton Wolfe each had two hits, with Eichelberger tripling, two runs scored and an RBI.

Kelton Welch had two hits and scored a run for CHC, while Brueggemann doubled and had an RBI. Jayce Walker had a hit, drove in two and scored once, while Joshua Anderson doubled, drove in one and scored. Smoke Ezell had a hit and one RBI.

Fourth-seeded College Heights takes on fifth-seeded Jasper in the opening round of the Class 2 District 12 Tournament at 1 p.m. on Friday at Miller High School.

BOYS TENNIS: Thomas Jefferson advances to district title match

 

BELTON, Mo. — The Thomas Jefferson Cavaliers are back in a district championship match. 

Second-seeded Thomas Jefferson defeated third-seeded Belton 5-0 on Tuesday in a semifinal contest of the Class 2 District 7 boys tennis tournament.

The Cavaliers will meet top-seeded Barstow at 4 on Wednesday in the district championship match. 

Tom Brumfield’s Cavaliers captured a district team championship last year en route to a runner-up finish in the state tournament. 

On Tuesday, Thomas Jefferson swept all three doubles matches before two singles victories sealed the win. 

In doubles, Ian Ding and Tyler Brouhard defeated Carson Dent-Xavier Diamond 8-0, while Prithvi Nagarajan and Hari Nagarajan beat Nick Van Driel-Caden Petzold 8-0 and Lala Qian and Devan Murali topped Flint Hartmann-Elijah Diamond 8-1.

In completed singles matches, Prithvi Nagarajan beat Jacob Dolphin 6-0, 6-0 and Hari Nagarajan beat Elijah Diamond 6-0, 6-2.

Barstow, last year’s Class 1 champion who bumped up to Class 2 this year, defeated fourth-seeded Webb City 5-0 in the other semifinal. No other information was available on the Webb City-Barstow match.