FAIR GROVE, Mo. — East Newton’s 2022 baseball season ended with a 3-0 setback to Fair Grove on Tuesday in the sectional round of the Class 3 state tournament.
The Patriots, who were in the sectional round for the first time in program history, conclude the season with a record of 12-14.
Ranked second by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association, Fair Grove (25-2) advanced to the quarterfinals round, where they’ll host top-ranked Springfield Catholic (16-10) on Thursday.
Fair Grove pitcher Jaxon Rowden delivered a masterful performance, as the junior limited the Patriots to one hit.
Rowden, who struck out 11, needed only 65 pitches to secure the complete-game shutout victory.
East Newton’s Easton Schrader threw well in defeat. Schrader gave up one earned run on three hits and a walk while striking out seven in six innings.
Will Eichelberger had East Newton’s lone hit.
The Eagles plated the game’s first run in the fourth, as Kade Gallion was hit by a pitch and Kyle Fritts walked before Garin Geitz delivered an RBI double to center.
The score held up until the sixth, when Fair Grove added a pair of insurance runs.
Logan Daniels doubled and Gallion was plunked. Both runners scored on an error for a 3-0 lead.
The run support was plenty for Rowden, who struck out two of three batters in the seventh to seal the win.
The Patriots graduate just two seniors, Schrader and Zackary Jordon.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Wellington-Napoleon rallied from an early deficit to earn a 7-2 win over Jasper in the Class 1 state softball championship on Tuesday at Killian Sports Complex.
The Eagles (16-10) opened the game as the aggressor, plating two runs in the top of the first inning to stake themselves to an early advantage. The Tigers (19-2) responded with a run in the first and two more in the second to take a 3-2 lead. Wellington-Napoleon added insurance with one tally in the third inning before two runners scored in the fifth inning and a final run in the sixth.
Ayden Shannon was clutch at the plate finishing a home run short of hitting for the cycle and in the circle, earning the complete-game win after allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits and 14 strikeouts without walking a batter.
Grace Osborne took the loss after allowing seven runs, five earned, on 11 hits, two walks and three strikeouts in six innings for the Eagles.
Jasper wasted little time reaching the scoreboard as Livia Dumm led off the game with a double to center field before coming around to score two batters later on a one-out RBI single to center field by Bri Haddock for a 1-0 lead. A second run came home in the top of the first inning when courtesy runner Crystal Smith stole third and scored on an error when the throw to the bag ended up in left field to push the lead to 2-0.
Wellington-Napoleon answered back with a run in the button of the first inning when Ayden Shannon tripled to right field before scoring on the throwing error back to the infield to trim the lead to 2-1.
The Tigers tied the game in the top of the second inning when Melanie Thornburg tripled past the left fielder to plate Kailey Henry, who singled with one out in the previous at-bat. Thornburg came around to score later in the inning on an error to give Wellington-Napoleon a 3-2 lead.
Ayden Shannon doubled to lead off the top of the third before coming around to score from third later in the frame on a single up the middle from Isabelle Miller to push the lead to 4-2.
Ayden Shannon collected her third hit with a single in the bottom of the fifth before stealing second and scoring on an RBI single to right field by Morgan Hamilton to make the score 5-2. Another run came home in the inning on an RBI infield hit from Henry with two outs.
Bree Shannon doubled and scored on a run-scoring single by Brilynn Zykan in the bottom of the sixth.
Dumm had two hits and scored a run, while Haddock had a hit and drove in one for Jasper.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Senior Madi Bentley was dominant in her final high school start in the circle and it was a driving force in leading top-ranked Diamond to the program’s first ever state championship as the Wildcats defeated defending state champ Skyline 6-4 in the Class 2 state title game on Tuesday at the Killian Sports Complex.
Skyline (22-5) struck first with a run in the bottom of the second inning before Diamond (29-3) tied it up with a single tally in the third inning. The Wildcats scored the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth inning before pushing across four runs in the seventh frame to build a five-run lead. The Tigers made it interesting in the last of the seventh, scoring three times and leaving the tying run on base when the final out was made.
Bentley earned the complete-game win after allowing four runs on six hits, two walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings.
Jadyn Foster took the complete-game loss after allowing six runs on 11 hits, a walk and five strikeouts in seven innings.
After Bentley, committed to Southwest Baptist, struck out the first five batters she faced, looking for a sixth, Skyline’s Grace Edge ripped an inside two-strike pitch down the line in left off the foul pole for a two-out solo home run for a 1-0 advantage.
Diamond answered back in the top of the third inning when Grace Frazier singled to right field with two outs before stealing second and third to get in scoring position. Caitlyn Suhrie followed with a run-scoring double down the left-field line to tie the game at 1-1.
Suhrie led off the top of the sixth with a single to right field before moving to second on a stolen base and advancing to third on the same play after an error on Skyline. Bentley followed with an RBI single to center field to plate the go-ahead run for a 2-1 lead. Lexy Bridges doubled to left in the next at-bat to put runners at second and third with no outs in the inning, but Skyline got out of the jam without another run touching home to keep the deficit at one run.
Kabrie Parmley singled to lead off the top of the seventh for Diamond before Lauren Turner followed with a single and moved to second on the throw to put runners at second and third with no outs for the second straight inning. Frazier followed with a single to right field to plate an insurance run for a 3-1 lead. Bridges capped the scoring with a two-out three-run home run over the wall in straight away center field to push the lead to 6-1 lead.
Skyline threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out on a walk and two hits before a second walk in the inning forced home a run. Kalli Edison followed with a shallow single to right field to bring a run home and cut the lead to 6-3 with the bases remaining loaded. Autumn Baldwin singled up the middle in the next at-bat to score a run, but a second run was cut down at the plate for the second out of the inning with the Wildcats’ lead sitting at 6-4. Bentley induced a popup on the infield for the final out to clinch her team’s first ever state title.
Turner had three hits, including a double, and scored a run, while Bridges doubled and homered to go along with three RBI and a run scored. Frazier had two hits, scored twice and drove in one. Suhrie doubled on the way to two hits, an RBI and a run scored.
WAYNESVILLE, Mo. — Webb City and Carl Junction will be sending large contingents to the state track meet.
The Cardinals and Bulldogs earned state berths with their respective performances at Monday’s Class 4 Sectional 3 meet at Waynesville High School.
McDonald County and Monett also had state-qualifiers.
At the sectional, the top four finishers in each event advanced to state. The state track meet for schools in classes 3-5 is scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City.
BOYS QUALIFIERS
Webb City’s Grayson Smith and Justin Allen were the top two finishers in the pole vault. Smith cleared 15-0.25 and Allen got over the bar at 13-1.5.
The Cardinals were third in the 4×800 relay, as Daunte Smiles, Mason Hedger, Blake Vaughan and Roman Borboa recorded a time of 8:17.
Webb City’s 4×200 relay advanced by finishing fourth in 1:31, with Jordan Thornburg, William Wolfe, Dupree Jackson and William Headrick competing.
Also for the Cardinals, Trey Roets was the runner-up in the javelin (169-9.5), Nate Miller finished fourth in the discus (139-8.5) and Evan Stevens placed fourth in the 3200 (9:54).
The Cardinals just missed qualifying in in the 4×100 relay, as they were edged at the finish line by Marshfield for the final spot.
McDonald County’s Joshua Pacheco took third in the triple jump (44-0.75) and teammate Andrew Moritz was fourth in the javelin (166-5.25).
Monett’s Konner Poynter placed third in both the 110 hurdles and the 400-meter dash and finished fourth in the 200 to advance in three events.
Willard (115), West Plains (106.5), Webb City (65), Marshfield (62) and Jefferson City (55.5) were the top five teams.
Webb City senior Riley Hawkins is pictured at the sectional track meet on Monday in Waynesville. Photos by Shawn Fowler.
GIRLS QUALIFIERS
Webb City senior Riley Hawkins advanced in two events, as the Missouri Southern recruit won the 800 in 2:23 and took second in the 1600 with a school record time of 5:16. Hawkins just missed qualifying in the 3200, as she finished fifth.
Also for the Webb City girls, Sami Mancini was the runner-up in the shot put (37-2), Ripley Shanks was fourth in the pole vault (10-0), Abi Street finished fourth in the 3200 (11:49) and Dawsyn Decker took fourth in the javelin (117-6.75).
The Webb City 4×800 relay team of Sophia Crane, Hally Philpot, Izzy Lopez and Alanna Bundy finished fourth in 10:11.
Webb City’s Izzy Lopez is pictured.
Carl Junction’s Ally Montez, Sydney Ward and Olivia Vediz each advanced to state in two individual events.
A senior, Montez won the 100 hurdles in 14.87 seconds and crossed the line first in the 300 hurdles in 44.82.
A freshman, Ward won the 100-meter dash in 12.38 seconds and also took first in the 200 with a time of 25.49 seconds.
A senior, Vediz took second in the long jump (17-1) and placed fourth in the triple jump (34-11.75) to advance in both events.
Montez and Ward also advanced with the 4×400 relay team that finished second in 4:07. Also running were Emily Rice and Delaney Harris.
Monett’s Vayla Smith finished third in the girls 400 in 1:00.9.
West Plains (113), Marshfield (75), Rolla (73), Carl Junction (73) and Webb City (69) were the top five teams.
WAYNESVILLE, Mo. — The Joplin area will be well-represented at this weekend’s MSHSAA Track and Field Championships.
Joplin, Carthage and Neosho all had state-qualifiers at the Class 5 Sectional 3 meet on Monday at Waynesville High School.
At the sectional, the top four finishers in each event advanced to state.
The state track meet for schools in classes 3-5 is scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City.
Joplin’s Donovyn Fowler won both the long jump and triple jump at Monday’s sectional track meet. Photos by Shawn Fowler.
BOYS QUALIFIERS
Joplin senior Donovyn Fowler advanced to state in four events, earning a pair of gold medals to go with two silvers.
For starters, Fowler won both of his signature events, as the Oklahoma signee took first in the long jump with a school record leap of 24-6.5 and also won the triple jump with a leap of 49-5.25.
Fowler also finished second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.78 seconds.
The JHS team of Orion Norris, Davin Thomas, Luke Vieselmeyer and Fowler finished second in the 4×100 relay in 43.45 seconds.
Donovahn Watkins won the shot put and advanced to the state track meet.
Eagles senior Donovahn Watkins was the sectional champ in the shot put with a toss of 58-2.
JHS junior Hobbs Campbell advanced to state in three events. Campbell won the 1600 in 4:21 and took second in the 800 in 1:54.
Joplin’s 4×800 relay finished fourth in 8:06 to advance, with Evan Matlock, Nicholas Horton, Zaben Barnes and Campbell competing.
Campbell just missed advancing in the 3200 after finishing fifth.
Carthage’s Micah Lindsey finished fourth in the shot put with a heave of 49-4.25. The Tigers’ 4×400 relay fell one spot of advancing after taking fifth.
Neosho’s Kaden Cole was the runner-up in the 1600 with a time of 4:24.
Also for the Wildcats, Tyrese Hill finished third in the 100-meter dash in 11.22 seconds to advance, while Isaiah Green finished fourth in the triple jump (43-4.5). Jared Siler fell just short of moving on in the high jump after finishing fifth.
The top six teams were Capital City (98), Joplin (79), Lafayette (55), Republic (55), Nixa (54) and Waynesville (54).
GIRLS QUALIFIERS
Pictured is Joplin senior Jennalee Dunn. Dunn placed second in two events at the sectional meet on Monday, advancing to state.
On the girls side, Joplin senior Jennalee Dunn placed second in two events, the 1600 with a school record time of 4:57 and in the 800 with a time of 2:18.
Joplin’s Maria Loum placed third in the pole vault (9-6.25) and teammate Brynn Driver placed third in the 400-meter dash (1:00.95).
The JHS girls advanced in the 4×200 relay by finishing third, as Allie Lawrence, Abigayle Lowery, Amaya Montgomery and Driver recorded a time of 1:46.
Carthage’s Joey Hettinger placed second in the girls high jump by clearing 5-5.
The Tigers came up just short in the 4×100, finishing fifth. Carthage’s Lilly Holmes was fifth in the shot put and seventh in the discus.
Neosho’s girls were unable to advance. Madilyn Ebbinghaus was fifth in the 200, Riley Kemna finished sixth in the 3200 and Beclynn Garrett was eighth in the javelin.
The top five girls teams were Capital City (102), Lafayette (96), Nixa (83), Eureka (72) and Kickapoo (60).
Webb City’s 4×200 relay advanced by finishing fourth in 1:31, with Jordan Thornburg, William Wolfe, Dupree Jackson and William Headrick competing. 
