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TRACK & FIELD ROUNDUP: Area athletes see success in Springfield, Aurora

HILLCREST INVITATIONAL

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Joplin, Carthage and McDonald County had multiple athletes finish in the top eight of their respective events at Thursday’s Hillcrest Invitational boys track and field invite at JFK Stadium.

There were 34 schools in attendance. The top eight in each event were considered medalists.

Joplin’s Noah Soriano won the pole vault by clearing 4.14 meters. Soriano was the runner-up in the 200-meter dash in 22.66 seconds and also finished ninth in the 100-meter dash.

In the 1600, Joplin’s Ian Horton placed third in 4:33 and teammate Grey Edwards was sixth in 4:34. Edwards took fifth in the 3200 with a time of 10:01.

The Eagles finished sixth in the 4×200 relay, with Tayshaun Palmer, Orion Norris, Fredy Cerrato-Martinez and Davin Thomas competing.

Joplin’s Avarus Kuhn-Wofford finished seventh in the 300 hurdles.

In the field events, Joplin’s Cordell Washington finished third in the high jump, Dontrell Holt placed fourth in the shot put and Drew VanGilder was eighth in the javelin.

Carthage’s Daryl Martin placed second in the 300 hurdles in 41.77 seconds. Martin was also third in the 110 hurdles in 15.95 seconds. 

Carthage’s Miguel Solano took second in the 800 with a time of 1:58, while Micah Lindsey placed second in the shot put (15.9m) and third in the discus (44.7m).

Carthage’s 4×400 relay team of Braxton McBride, Solano, Martin and Joseph Childs finished fifth. 

Also for the Tigers, Trenton Yates finished sixth in the triple jump and was seventh in the 110 hurdles.

McDonald County’s Josh Pacheco was fourth in the triple jump and teammate Andrew Moritz placed fifth in the javelin. Mac County’s Toby Moore was ninth in the discus.

McDonald County’s 4×400 relay finished eighth, with Dominic Cervantes, Adrian Diojayke-Diopulos, Esteban Martinez-Olvera and Pacheco competing. 

 

AURORA ICE BOX RELAYS

AURORA, Mo. — Athletes from College Heights Christian and Seneca fared well at the Aurora Ice Box Relays on Thursday. 

College Heights Christian had two event winners in the girls meet, as Jesalin Bever won the 300 hurdles in 50.73 seconds and Marla Anderegg took first in the 800 with a time of 2:41.

CHC’s Jayli Johnson finished second in both the 100 and the 400, while Lauren Ukena took third in the 200, Anderegg placed fourth in the 1600 and Maddy Colin was fourth in the discus.

The CHC girls finished third in two relays, the 4×800 and the 4×400. 

Aurora’s Makena Hall won four events—the long jump, triple jump, pole vault and 100 hurdles.

Cassville’s Jolie Evans (1600, 3200) and Monett’s Vayla Smith (200, 400) won two events apiece.

Other local individual event winners in the girls meet were Seneca’s Isabella Renfro (shot put), Mount Vernon’s Camryn Cornell (high jump), Sarcoxie’s Nikki Roth (javelin) and Aurora’s Maci Montgomery (discus).

Also for Seneca’s girls, Cambry Long took second in the 200, fourth in the triple jump and fifth in the 400, Amber Garrison took fourth in the shot put, Addyson Jones was fourth in the high jump and Dalisia Reed took fourth in the 800.

Aurora (107), Monett (92) and Cassville (89) were the top three girls teams. 

College Heights (67.5) and Seneca (66) finished sixth and seventh in the standings.

On the boys side, College Heights Christian’s Caleb Quade placed third in the high jump and fourth in the triple jump, while teammate Steven Calandro finished fourth in the 300 hurdles and Levi Durling was sixth in the 200. 

The Cougars finished third in the 4×400 relay and were fourth in the 4×800 relay, sixth in the 4×200 and sixth in the 4×100.

Seneca’s Brock Pendergraft won the discus with a toss of 120-8. Also for the Seneca boys, Grant Landers was third in the triple jump, Blake Hurn took fourth in the 100, Brodie Probert placed fourth in the 400 and Ethan Altic took fourth in the 800.

The Indians finished fourth in two relays, the 4×200 and the 4×100.

Monett’s Konner Poynter won four events—the 100-meter dash, the 200, the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles.

Aurora’s Daunte Floyd (triple jump, high jump) and Sarcoxie’s Jaron Malotte (long jump, pole vault) won two events apiece. 

Other local event winners were Aurora’s Ethan Husmann (shot put) and Jose Ibarra (javelin) and Cassville’s Matteo Lumetta (1600) and Caleb Leach (3200).

Rogersville (141.5), Monett (121) and Cassville (109) were the top three boys teams. 

Seneca (45.5) and College Heights (42) were sixth and seventh, respectively. 

GIRLS SOCCER: Vargas’ 45-yard free kick delivers Wildcats their first win

NEOSHO, Mo. — Neosho senior defender Gissele Vargas struck a perfect ball on a free kick from about 45 yards out to break a scoreless tie late in the second half and give the host Wildcats their first win of the season in dramatic 1-0 fashion on Thursday night against rival McDonald County at historic Bob Anderson Stadium.

“It was smart of her,” Neosho coach Steve Schnackenberg said. “She steps up a lot for us. That was a big play.”

Neosho and McDonald County played a match Thursday reflective of two rivals each vying for that so far elusive first win of the season.

“We really needed it,” Schnackenberg said. “We played a lot better than we’ve been playing, so they deserved it. I think Mac played well, but it’s nice to see us get that (first win).”

The Mustangs had multiple scoring opportunities in the second half, but the Wildcats and their sophomore goalkeeper Yaretzi Parker were up to every challenge from McDonald County players like Alexis Abbott and Anna Clarkson.

“Yaretzi had a really good game again today,” Schnackenberg said. “She’s been stepping up big for us. That one goes through the defense, and she still gets it and makes that save. She had three or four just really nice saves.”

Neosho improved to 1-3 on the season and the Wildcats play next with their Central Ozark Conference opener on the road against Joplin, an opponent the Wildcats are 5-17 against over their last 22 meetings with a current three-match losing streak against the Eagles.

“We’re going in the right direction,” Schnackenberg said. “We’re getting better every day and we looked a lot better tonight than we have been. Obviously, we’re looking to continue to grow and get better and we’re optimistic. The girls are starting to come together and we’re starting to figure them out as coaches. We’re making some progress.”

McDonald County dropped to 0-6 on the season and the Mustangs next strive for their first win of the season Monday on the road against Greenwood.

BASEBALL: McDonald County, Seneca earn wins

MCDONALD COUNTY 8, HOLLISTER 4

ANDERSON, Mo. — The McDonald County Mustangs rode a five-run fifth inning to an 8-4 victory over the Hollister Tigers on Thursday.

The Mustangs improved to 8-5 after a fourth-straight win.

McDonald County trailed 4-1, but erupted for five runs in the game-changing fifth. The Mustangs added two insurance runs in the sixth.

Three players had two hits apiece for Mac County—Isaac Behm, Jack Parnell and Lane Pratt.

Weston Gordon and Parnell drove in two runs apiece, while Cross Dowd, Behm and Parnell each scored two runs. Destyn Dowd, Behm and Pratt had one RBI apiece.

Cross Dowd earned the win after going 6 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits while striking out seven. Behm recorded the final two outs on the mound.

Hollister’s Malachi Henry took the loss after giving up five earned runs on seven hits in five innings.

McDonald County is at Providence Academy on Friday.

 

SENECA 7, AURORA 2

AURORA, Mo. — Seneca used a six-run fourth inning as the catalyst to a win over Aurora on Thursday.

After three walks to start the inning, Seneca’s Kaden Clouse came up with an RBI single before Drew Sherwood followed with a two-run single to left to give the Indians (6-6) a 3-1 advantage. Seneca added a run on an error, a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and a sacrifice fly from Colton Curtis to wrap the scoring in the inning.

Grant Houchin earned the win for the Indians after allowing two unearned runs on two hits, a walk and 13 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

Kelton Brown took the loss after allowing five runs on three hits, five walks and three strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.

Sherwood had one hit, two RBI and scored a run to lead Seneca at the plate. Clouse had a hit, scored a run and drove in a run. Kade Johnson doubled, drove in a run and scored once.

Seneca is at Liberal on Monday.

BASEBALL: McReynolds deals Joplin a win over Carl Junction in COC opener

When navigating through a rough stretch of play, teams often turn to its ace on the mound to right the ship.

Joplin did just that on Thursday at the JHS Athletic Complex, as the Eagles (4-7, 1-0 COC) rode a strong start from their ace, Justin McReynolds, to snap a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over Carl Junction (2-6, 0-1 COC) in both team’s Central Ozark Conference opener.

Joplin pitcher Justin McReynolds delivers a pitch to home while leading the Eagles to a win over Carl Junction in the Central Ozark Conference opener on Thursday. Photo by Jamie Beck.

“Anytime you can roll a guy out there who has been as consistent and effective as he has all year, you feel like you are going to have a chance,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “He is going to give you a chance to be in the game and hopefully have a lead late to win it, and he did that for us again today. It was huge and we needed it. He gave us another great outing opening up conference play.”

McReynolds earned the complete-game win after allowing one run on three hits, four walks and eight strikeouts, while stranding five runners on base.

“He never panicked,” Wolf said of his ace. “He had a little traffic, and some of it was his own doing with a couple of walks, but he executed some pitches in big situations. I thought we played pretty well defensively behind him when we had opportunities to do so.”

On the other side, Carl Junction starter Lucas Vanlanduit was saddled with the tough-luck loss in the pitcher’s duel. Vanlanduit allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits, a walk and seven strikeouts in six innings.

“I was really pleased with how Lucas pitched,” Carl Junction coach Phil Cook said. “He was really filling the zone up. He threw 95 pitches in six innings, and that is a good outing for him. We just need to get some run production for him. … He kept the ball down and kept them off stride with his offspeed. This is his second really good outing in a row. He is pitching really well.” 

Joplin got on the scoreboard early to give its starter a lead to work with. Brady Mails started things off with a leadoff single up the middle before stealing second to get into scoring position. Two batters later, Byler Reither doubled to the gap in right-center field with one out to score Mails for a 1-0 lead.

“Anytime you can get a lead early, it helps everyone relax a little bit,” Wolf said about the early lead. “Especially with Justin on the mound. It makes the game play a little easier.”

Carl Junction’s Lucas Vanlanduit delivers a pitch to home plate during the Bulldogs’ loss to Joplin on Thursady. Photo by Jamie Beck.

McReynolds helped his own cause on the mound with a clutch at-bat at the plate in the bottom of the third inning, lining a two-out single to right field with a runner on third base to push the lead to 2-0.

Carl Junction got on the scoreboard and cut the lead in half in the process during the top of the fourth inning. Logan Eck drew a one-out walk before ending up on third on a two-base throwing error by Joplin on a pickoff attempt. Wyatt McAfee brought home the Bulldogs’ run with a two-out double in a two-strike count to left-center field, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

“Our approach at the plate is getting better every game,” Cook said. “We are right there. … Wyatt is one of those guys who is learning at the plate. He battled, didn’t give in and did a good job of hitting it hard.”

Joplin came back to add insurance in the bottom of the fifth, pushing the lead back to two runs when Reither brought the runner from third home with a groundout to make the score 3-1.

“We talked about it in the dugout,” Wolf said of the late insurance. “We scored first, and to answer their run after they scored was huge. You get that run back and get to keep the momentum.”

Mails had two hits and scored a run for Joplin. Reither doubled and drove in two, while McReynolds had a hit and an RBI.

McAfee doubled and drove in a run, while Bentley Rowden and Drew Massey each collected hits for the Bulldogs.

Joplin plays Hickman at US Ballpark in Ozark on Saturday.

Carl Junction hosts Carthage on Tuesday.

TENNIS ROUNDUP: Joplin, Neosho suffer COC losses; Thomas Jefferson beats Monett

 

NIXA 8, JOPLIN 1

Joplin’s boys tennis team suffered a Central Ozark Conference setback to the Nixa Eagles on Thursday at the JHS Athletic Complex.

“Even though we lost the match, the improvement compared to last year is significant,” Joplin coach Aaron Stump said. “We went from winning 10 games total last season to 38 games, including a match win for Leif Garrity at No. 3 singles. With Nixa’s top eight players being seniors, we’re going in the right direction.”

As Stump noted, Joplin’s lone win of the dual came at No. 3 singles, where Garrity defeated Nixa’s James Harris 8-5.

“Leif consistently kept the ball in play and took advantage of short shots from his opponent to close out points,” Stump said. 

At No. 1 singles, Nixa’s Carson Palmer edged Joplin’s Adam Badr 8-6.

“Adam started off strong, but was outplayed in a few key points,” Stump said. 

In other singles matches, Nixa’s Mason Murray defeated Josiah Hazlewood 8-4, Liam Dalton beat Chapel Braman 8-1, Tyler Upton-Rowley topped Hunter Merkley 8-2 and Tyler Neal edged Roman Venturella 8-6.

“Roman played a great match,” Stump commented. “When he kept the ball deep in play, he was winning games.”

At No. 1 doubles, Palmer-Murray defeated Badr-Hazlewood 8-4, while Harris-Dalton beat Michael Mancipe-Merkley 8-2 and Upton-Rowley-Neal defeated Garrity-Venturella 8-5.

“We changed up our No. 3 doubles team for this match,” Stump noted. “This duo communicated well and played quite a few good points.”

Joplin will compete in Branson on Friday.

 

OZARK 8, NEOSHO 1

NEOSHO, Mo. — The Neosho Wildcats suffered a COC loss to the Ozark Tigers on Thursday.

Neosho’s lone win of the match came at No. 4 singles, where Peyton Williams defeated Ben Romano 8-6.

In other singles matches, Ozark’s Connor Kitchin beat Christian Williams 8-4, Stephen Metcalf topped Willis Jarvis 8-1, Ethan Fast edged Reid Snyder 8-6, Coltyn Boyer handled Breckin McAffrey 8-1 and Luke Morris edged Wes Williams 8-6.

In doubles, Neosho’s Christian Williams and Peyton Williams suffered an 8-0 loss to Kitchin-Metcalf, Jarvis-McAffrey fell short, 8-6, to Fast-Boyer and Snyder-Noah Schade lost 8-3 to Romano-Nicholas Psarev 8-3.

Neosho is at Thomas Jefferson on Monday.

 

THOMAS JEFFERSON 6, MONETT 3

MONETT, Mo. — The Thomas Jefferson Cavaliers improved to 4-0 by beating Monett on Thursday.

The Cavaliers won all three doubles matches.

Thomas Jefferson’s Prithvi Nagarajan and Tyler Brouhard beat Ethan Kutz-Heisman Welch 8-4, while Chengle Qian and Jack Goodhue defeated Elijah Ridenour-Logan Kutz 8-5 and Sam Li and Nathaniel Curtis topped Caden Szydloski-Riley Dierker 8-4.

In singles, TJ’s Nagarajan beat Ethan Kutz 8-4, Qian edged Welch 9-7 and Goodhue defeated Logan Kutz 8-3.

Monett’s Ridenour earned the win over Brouhard by default.

Szydloski defeated Li 8-4 and Dierker edged Curtis 8-6.

Thomas Jefferson hosts Neosho at 4:30 on Monday.

BASEBALL: Webb City rallies past Neosho in COC opener

NEOSHO, Mo. — On a day where runs were at a premium, Webb City rallied late to earn a 4-1 victory over Neosho in the Central Ozark Conference opener on Thursday at Roy B. Shaver Field.

Webb City improved to 7-5 overall and 1-0 in the COC after snapping Neosho’s seven-game winning streak.

The Wildcats are now 8-2 overall and 0-1 in the COC. 

The conference opener was a classic pitcher’s duel between Neosho’s Kael Smith and Webb City’s Landon Fletcher.

A sophomore right-hander, Fletcher earned the win after striking out 10 and limiting the Wildcats to three hits and two walks. He only threw 81 pitches.

A senior right-hander who no-hit Webb City last season, Smith took the loss but only allowed four runs. He scattered 11 hits and struck out two on 89 pitches. 

Neither team made an error in the field.

The Wildcats manufactured a run in the second inning without a hit. Wyatt Shadwick walked, stole second and later scored from third on a dropped third strike.

The Cardinals tied it up in the fourth. Shaun Hunt singled to left, with Eli Miller pinch-running. Miller took second on a wild pitch, went to third on Drew Vonder Haar’s ground out and scored on Kenley Hood’s grounder to short.

Webb City scored the go-ahead run in the sixth.

Kaylor Darnell singled to center and went to second on a wild pitch. After an out, Vonder Haar lined a run-scoring single into right-center to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

The Cardinals added two key insurance runs in the top of the seventh.

Cy Darnell reached on a fielder’s choice before Kaylor Darnell singled to put runners on the corners. With two outs, Shaun Hunt ripped an RBI single into left for a two-run cushion.

Next, Vonder Haar singled to load the bases before Hood drove in a run with a fielder’s choice.

Fletcher gave up a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh before the Cardinals recorded the final three outs, with a nifty play at shortstop by Cy Darnell key to retiring the side without any damage. 

Three players recorded two hits apiece for the Cardinals — Kaylor Darnell, Hunt and Vonder Haar. Gage Chapman had the game’s lone extra-base hit, a double.

Neosho’s three hits, all singles, were recorded by Shadwick, Carter Fenske and Colton Southern.

Webb City hosts Glendale at 11 a.m. on Saturday. 

Neosho meets Miami (Oklahoma) at 10 a.m. and Carthage at noon at the Mickey Mantle Classic. Both games will be played at Miami High School.