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Day: April 26, 2023

SOFTBALL: Pierce City rallies past College Heights

Posted on by Lucas Davis

 

PIERCE CITY, Mo. — Pierce City rallied from a 1-0 deficit with single tallies in the second and third innings on the way to a 2-1 win over College Heights (with McAuley) on Wednesday.

The Cougars (15-3), fresh off clinching their third straight Ozark 7 Conference title, took the initial lead in the top of the first inning when Jayli Johnson doubled with one out before coming around to score on an RBI single to center by Lauren Ukena.

The Eagles (12-9) tied the game when a run scored on an error in the bottom of the second and took the lead an inning later on an RBI groundout by Olivia Stanphill.

Stanphill earned the complete-game win after allowing one run on six hits, two walks and two strikeouts in seven innings.

Maddy Colin took the loss after allowing two unearned runs on three hits and six strikeouts in six innings of work.

Allie Stout had two hits, while Johnson doubled and scored to lead CHC at the plate. Ukena had a hit, a walk and drove in one.

College Heights hosts East Newton on Thursday.

SOFTBALL: Top-ranked Mount Vernon improves to 29-1

Posted on by Jason Peake

The Mount Vernon High School softball team improved to 29-1 on the season by beating Clever 5-0 on Tuesday.

Harley Daniels earned the shutout victory in the circle for the Mountaineers. Daniels struck out 11, walked one and scattered eight hits in seven innings.

Rae Downing went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Hali Stokes drove in two runs. Allie Schubert, Ava Bellis and Daniels had one RBI apiece.

The Mountaineers, who recently set a school record for wins in a season, have won 21 straight games since falling to Diamond on March 22.

The Mountaineers and Wildcats are set for the rematch. Mount Vernon is at Diamond on Friday, with first pitch slated for 5 p.m.

Mount Vernon is ranked first in Class 2 by the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association. Diamond (24-8) is ranked second. 

 

TRACK & FIELD: Area athletes shine at Monett Invitational, host Cubs claim team titles

Posted on by Jason Peake

MONETT, Mo. — Area track and field teams competed at the Monett Invitational on Tuesday.

The host Cubs captured both team titles at their home meet.

The top five girls teams were Monett (98), College Heights Christian (85), McDonald County (76), Aurora (73) and Sarcoxie (61.5).

The top five boys teams were Monett (112), McDonald County (110.6), Neosho (102.6), Aurora (59.6) and School of the Ozarks (59).

There were more than 20 teams competing at the event.

 

COLLEGE HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN HIGHLIGHTS

The College Heights girls won five events.

Marla Anderegg won two events, the 800 with a time of 2:38 and the 1600 in 5:50.

The CHC team of Jayli Johnson, Allie Stout, Lauren Ukena and Jesalin Bever won the 4×200 in 1:51 and the same foursome also took first in the 4×400 in 4:21.

Johnson won the 400 (1:01) and was the runner-up in the 100, while Maddy Colin took second in the discus.

Ukena was third in the 200 and fifth in the 300 hurdles, while Jesalin Bever finished fourth in the 300 hurdles and fifth in the 100 hurdles.

For the College Heights boys, Caleb Quade and Logan Decker finished second and third in the long jump, while Quade took third in two events, the high jump and triple jump.

Steven Calandro and Ian Edwards finished seventh and eighth in the 300 hurdles, Josiah Thomas finished seventh in the 3200 and Colton McMillan was eighth in the 1600.

The CHC boys placed fifth in the 4×200 relay and sixth in the 4×800.

 

THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGHLIGHTS

Thomas Jefferson senior Kip Atteberry won the boys 1600 with a time of 4:43.

Also for the Cavaliers, Sheraz Anis placed eighth in the 110 hurdles and the Cavaliers finished eighth in the 4×800 relay.

For the TJ girls, Sarah Mueller took second in the 800 and fifth in the 1600, while Lannah Grigg finished third in the discus, Nico Carlson placed fifth in the high jump and Samantha Seto finished sixth in the 3200.

The TJ girls took second in the 4×800 relay, with Seto, Macie Shifferd, Mueller and Carlson competing.

 

NEOSHO HIGHLIGHTS

Neosho’s boys won the 4×200 relay in 1:35, with Bentlee Farley, Konnor Siler, Lathan Cote and Colton Burr competing. 

The Wildcats were second in the 4×100 (Farley, Tryone Harris, Burr, Siler) and were third in the 4×400 (Virgil Rosiere, William Ebbinghaus, Brock Pyle, Cote).

Farley and Siler finished second and third in the 100, while Harris took fourth in the 200, Ebbinghaus was fourth in the 400 and Isaiah Rhone finished fifth in the 110 hurdles.

In the field events, Cade Camerer took second in the high jump, Drew Cobb was the runner-up in the pole vault, Collyn Kivett placed fourth in the javelin and Nicolas Olivares finished fourth in the shot put. 

Neosho’s girls finished fifth in the 4×100 relay, with Kendra Clark, Olivia Emery, Kali House and Keely Keeton competing.

Keeton placed fifth in the triple jump.

 

SENECA HIGHLIGHTS

For the Seneca boys, Brodie Probert finished third in the 400, Grant Landers was fourth in the long jump and sixth in the triple jump, Blake Hurn finished sixth in the 100 and Brock Pendergraft was seventh in the discus.

The Indians were fifth in the 4×100 relay, fifth in the 4×400 and sixth in the 4×200.

For the Seneca girls, Isabella Renfro won the shot put (33-2), Anna Adkins placed third in the high jump, Cambry Long finished fourth in the 400 and sixth in the 200, Dalisia Reed took third in the 800 and sixth in the 1600 and Amber Garrison was sixth in the shot put.

The Indians finished fourth in the 4×200 relay, with Adkins, Addyson Jones, Savannah Johnson and Long competing.

 

MCDONALD COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS

McDonald County’s Josh Pacheco won two events and finished second in two others.

Pacheco won the 100-meter dash in 11.52 seconds and finished second in the 200 with a time of 23 seconds. Pacheco won the long jump (19-3) and took second in the triple jump (41-4.5).

Hunter Leach was the runner-up in the 800, Toby Moore took second in the shot put and third in the discus, Andrew Moritz placed third in the javelin, Caleb Garvin finished fourth in the 3200 and Samuel Barton was fifth in the triple jump.

McDonald County’s 4×800 relay team of Leach, Arthur Mead, Miguel Mora and Dalton McClain took first in 8:48. The Mustangs were second in both the 4×200 and 4×400 relays and fourth in the 4×100.

For the Mac County girls, Anissa Ramirez won the javelin (104-2.5), Savannah Leib took second in the high jump, Lacey Nix was the runner-up in the pole vault, Carlie Martin was third in the triple jump and fourth in the discus and Roslynn Huston took fourth in the shot put.

The MCHS girls were second in the 4×400 relay, with Clara Horton, Corina Holland, Ireona Nirka and Anna Price running.

 

MONETT HIGHLIGHTS

Monett’s Konner Poynter won four events in the boys meet, the 200 in 22.69 seconds, the 400 in 51.35 seconds, the 110 hurdles in 15.41 and the 300 hurdles in 41.92.

Monett’s Julio Cruz won the 3200 in 10:09 and took second in the 1600 in 4:44. Monett’s Jonathan Jayden Apostol took first in the triple jump with a leap of 41-6.75.

For the Monett girls, Karlee McCallister won the 100 in 13.31 seconds.

Sadie Camp took second in the 3200 and third in the 1600, while Vayla Smith was second in the 400 and fourth in the 200 and Allyson Inman finished second in the javelin.

 

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Other individual event winners in the boys meet were Sarcoxie’s Jaron Malotte (pole vault), Jasper’s Noah Neher (discus), Aurora’s Ethan Husmann (shot put) and Marionville’s Gabe Whitman (800).

Sarcoxie’s boys won the 4×100 relay, with Blake Heckmaster, Antonio Benito, Garrett Smith and Noah Garrison competing.

On the girls side, Jasper’s Crystal Smith won four events, the 200, the 100 hurdles, the 300 hurdles and the high jump.

Aurora’s Makena Hall took first in three events, the long jump, triple jump and pole vault. 

Sarcoxie’s girls won two relays, the 4×100 and the 4×800. Competing in the 4×100 were Jocelyn Benito, Jordyn Misner, Madison Chrisman and Ariel Wilson. Running the 4×800 were Lily Garrison, Remington Garrison, Andela Hirtz and Laney Dorris.

 

MONETT INVITATIONAL

Girls team scores: Monett 98, College Heights 85, McDonald County 76, Aurora 73, Sarcoxie 61.5, Seneca 52, Galena 50, Jasper 45, Thomas Jefferson 36.5, School of the Ozarks 35, Lighthouse Christian 28, Marionville 19, Diamond 15, Southwest 15, Neosho 12, New Covenant 12, East Newton 8, Wheaton 6, Bronaugh 4, Walnut Grove 4, Hollister 1.

Boys team scores: Monett 112, McDonald County 110.6, Neosho 102.6, Aurora 59.6, School of the Ozarks 59, Sarcoxie 54, Galena 49, Jasper 46, College Heights 40, Seneca 30.6, Southwest 19.6, Marionville 14, Diamond 12, Thomas Jefferson 12, Cassville 11, Lighthouse Christian 5, Wheaton 4. 

 

BOYS GOLF: Thomas Jefferson tops Carthage JV 

Posted on by Jason Peake

The Thomas Jefferson boys golf team hosted the Carthage JV team on Tuesday for a dual at Schifferdecker Golf Course. The nine-hole match was played on the front nine in cool conditions.

The Cavaliers posted a team total of 204 to the Carthage JV team total of 216.

Thomas Jefferson’s Beck McKinney fired the low score of 44 to capture the first place individual honors. 

Carthage’s Micah Brust took second place with a 47 and Thomas Jefferson’s Jack Tyrrell shot 48 for third place.

Also competing for the Cavaliers were Thomas Harrold (56), Teo Chevillard (56), Ethan Renger (60) and Liam Sexton (72).

Also competing for the Tigers were Cael Perry (55), Camden Campbell (57), Luke Lewis (57), Connor Wagoner (68) and Gabe Mercer (72).

BOYS TENNIS ROUNDUP: Webb City tops Joplin, Carthage beats Neosho

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

WEBB CITY 5, JOPLIN 4

WEBB CITY, Mo. — Joplin won two of the three doubles matches, but Webb City claimed four of the six singles matches to earn a Central Ozark Conference boys tennis victory on Tuesday. 

At No. 1 doubles, Joplin’s Adam Badr and Josiah Hazlewood edged Jacob McDaniel and Trevor Peterson 8-6.

At No. 2 doubles, Joplin’s Leif Garrity and Oscar Kienzle beat Zachary Stump and Lucas Lowery 8-6.

Webb City’s Felipe Perez and Tristan Lynch defeated Roman Venturella and Chapel Braman 8-4 at No. 3 doubles.

At No. 1 singles, Webb City’s McDonald defeated Badr 8-4 and Peterson beat Hazlewood 8-5 at No. 2 singles.

Joplin’s Garrity defeated Stump 8-2 at No. 3 singles.

Webb City won at No. 4 and No. 5 singles, as Perez defeated Venturella 8-2 and Lynch topped Braman 8-2.

At No. 6 singles, Joplin’s Kienzle edged Lowery 9-7.

“We lost a close match tonight against Webb City,” Joplin coach Aaron Stump said. “Adam and Josiah were great at No. 1 doubles. They hit a couple obstacles in singles and weren’t able to string together enough games at the end for a comeback. Leif and Oscar played really well at No. 2 doubles in their first match as a varsity doubles team. They also came away with singles wins by playing out a lot of lengthy points.”

Webb City will compete at the Monett Invitational on Wednesday. 

Joplin is at Branson on Thursday.

 

CARTHAGE 9, NEOSHO 0

CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Tigers swept the three doubles matches and six singles matches against the Wildcats on Tuesday.

In doubles, Carthage’s Charles Snow and William Wallace defeated Christian Williams-Willis Jarvis 8-1, while Silas Laytham and Danilo Lopez-Gramajo beat Reid Snyder-Peyton Williams 8-1 and Joshua Rivera and Eli Scott topped Breckin McAffrey-Noah Schade 8-3.

In singles, Snow beat Christian Williams 8-4, Laytham defeated Jarvis 8-1, Rivera topped Snyder 8-3, Lopez-Gramajo beat Peyton Williams 8-2, Wallace handled McAffrey 8-1 and Fabian Solano defeated Schade 8-1.

Neosho is at Republic on Thursday. Carthage is at the Monett Invitational on Wednesday. 

BASEBALL: Darnell’s stellar outing leads Webb City past Carl Junction

Posted on by Jason Peake

WEBB CITY, Mo. — A masterful pitching performance from Kaylor Darnell and some timely hitting propelled Webb City to a 6-0 victory over Carl Junction on Tuesday in a Central Ozark Conference matchup at Chuck Barnes Field.

A senior right-hander, Darnell delivered a gem on the mound. 

A Missouri Southern signee, Darnell struck out 11, scattered five hits, walked two and hit one in 6 2/3 shutout innings before reaching his pitch count in the seventh inning.

“We’ll take 11 strikeouts any day,” Webb City coach Andrew Doennig said. “Kaylor definitely kept them down. He didn’t throw real well at the beginning of the game. I think he had 58 pitches through the first three innings. But then he started cruising. It was a great performance. He really settled down and found his fastball and he let his other stuff work for him, too.” 

Webb City senior right-hander Kaylor Darnell struck out 11 and tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings on Tuesday. Photo by Israel Perez.

Ending a three-game skid, Webb City hiked its record to 12-9 overall and 5-1 in the COC. 

Carl Junction slipped to 7-13 overall and 2-4 in conference action.

“We had 11 strikeouts and that was the name of the game,” Carl Junction coach Phil Cook said. “You can’t do that. They only out-hit us 7-5. I wonder what could have happened if we could just cut those strikeouts in half. We needed a hit in a key situation to get us going. 

“Kaylor threw a really good game,” Cook added. “I think he’s one of the better pitchers around the area. I know he’s a good kid and I wish him all the luck…except when he plays us. But he threw a great game tonight.”

In a clash between district rivals, the Cardinals pushed across two runs in the bottom of the first inning against Carl Junction starter Lucas Vanlanduit.

Junior second baseman Sam Weller reached on a dropped third strike to start the frame and senior shortstop Cy Darnell was hit by a pitch before junior catcher Shaun Hunt smacked a two-run double into right-center.

“It’s always nice if you can get on the scoreboard first,” Doennig said. “It was big getting two runs in the first inning like that.” 

With runners on the corners and just one out, the hosts had a golden opportunity for a big inning, but the Bulldogs used a double play and a fly out to avoid further damage in the first frame.

Webb City stranded the bases loaded in the third, as Vanlanduit induced an inning-ending pop-up off the bat of junior designated hitter Brett Korth to keep the game a two-run affair.

The Cardinals blew the game open with four runs in the fourth.

Senior left fielder William Hayes walked, went to second on a passed ball and sprinted home after a Carl Junction error after senior center fielder Gage Chapman laid down a bunt in front of the plate. 

Later in the frame, Chapman charged home after a CJ error following his stolen base attempt at third base. 

Webb City’s Kenley Hood stretches to secure the throw at first base against Carl Junction’s Logan Eck on Tuesday at Barnes Field. Photo by Israel Perez.

Next, Cy Darnell’s sac fly gave the Cardinals a five-run advantage. The hosts weren’t done, as junior third baseman Drew Vonder Haar tripled before senior first baseman Kenley Hood’s RBI single into left made it 6-0.

“We talk all the time about putting pressure on the other team’s defense,” Doennig said. “I thought we did a really good job of that. We ran a little bit, put pressure on them and it worked out for us.”

Carl Junction threatened with two outs in the sixth, as Vanlanduit was plunked before Logan Eck singled. But Darnell was able to retire Drew Massey on a pop fly in foul territory. 

The Bulldogs put two runners on in the seventh after a Webb City error and an infield single by Wyatt McAfee. Doennig was forced to pull Darnell with two outs due to the pitch count. 

Senior righty Walker Sweet took over on the hill and recorded the final out to secure the win. 

Hood went 2-for-4 for the Cardinals, while Hunt drove in two runs and Weller scored twice. 

Chapman had four of Webb City’s six stolen bases. The Cardinals also took advantage of three errors and several wild pitches and passed balls to take extra bags.

“We’ve tried to encourage guys to run, and we’ve got some guys who can really move,” Doennig said. “We took some chances and it worked out.” 

A Pittsburg State signee, the right-handed Vanlanduit took the loss after allowing three earned runs on seven hits, three hit batters and two walks. 

“Lucas threw well,” Cook said. “We just had a couple of innings where it got away from us. We had some miscues and you can’t do that against a good team.”

Senior Gaige Carson tossed two scoreless innings in relief for the Bulldogs.

A sophomore right fielder, McAfee had two of Carl Junction’s five hits. 

Both teams have COC home games on Thursday, as Carl Junction hosts Republic and Webb City entertains Ozark.

Cook noted his squad will look to bounce back on Thursday.

“We’re learning and we’re getting there,” Cook said. “With us, it’s been the same thing…we beat ourselves. We have to get away from that.”

Doennig’s Cardinals will look to continue their winning ways with Thursday’s COC home game. 

“I think we’re playing pretty well right now,” Doennig said. “I feel good about where we’re at. We’ve got some tough games coming up. It doesn’t get any easier for us, but I know our guys will be ready to play.”

 

Carl Junction first baseman Bentley Rowden is unable to haul in the throw at first base as Webb City’s Gage Chapman reaches safely. Webb City beat Carl Junction 6-0 in COC play. Photos by Israel Perez/SoMo Sports.

 

Webb City’s Gage Chapman steals a base against Carl Junction on Tuesday.

 

Carl Junction’s Lucas Vanlanduit delivers a pitch to the plate against Webb City on Tuesday.

 

Webb City’s Sam Weller takes a throw at second base against Carl Junction’s Cody Hollingsworth. All photos by Israel Perez.

 

FULL STATS: Webb City HS (webbcitycardinals.com)

BASEBALL ROUNDUP: Seneca beats Lamar; College Heights and McAuley take losses

Posted on by Lucas Davis

SENECA 6, LAMAR 5

SENECA, Mo. — Seneca faced a one-run deficit before plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn a walk-off win over Lamar on Tuesday.

After Conner Ackerson scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded to tie the game at 6-6, Payne Sikes promptly ended things with a sacrifice fly to center to plate Hagan Ginger as the winning run. 

Grant Houchin started and took a no-decision for Seneca, allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits, two walks and two strikeouts in five innings. Sikes earned the win in relief after pitching two scoreless innings.

TJ Ansley started and took a no-decision for the Tigers after allowing four runs on seven hits, three walks and two strikeouts in six innings. Cooper Haun took the loss in relief after allowing two unearned runs on a walk in 2/3 of an inning.

Ackerson had three hits, scored a run and drove in one for the Indians. Lincoln Renfro doubled, scored once and added an RBI. Kaden Clouse had a hit, an RBI and a run scored.

Seneca is at McDonald County on Tuesday.

 

RIVERTON 13, COLLEGE HEIGHTS 9

RIVERTON, Kan. — Riverton scored four times in the bottom of the fourth inning and four times in the sixth before holding off College Heights for a win on Tuesday. 

Zach Feldkamp earned the win in relief after allowing four runs on four hits and a walk in three innings.

Smoke Ezell took the loss after allowing nine runs on 10 hits, four walks and two strikeouts in five innings.

Austin Miller and Phillip Thompson each had two hits for CHC. Miller scored once and drove in two, while Thompson scored once. Jayce Walker had a hit, walked twice, drove in two and scored twice for the Cougars.

College Heights (5-9) hosts Wheaton on Friday.

 

EXETER 12, MCAULEY 8

EXETER, Mo. — Exeter used a nine-run fourth inning to erase a five-run deficit and added three insurance runs in the sixth on the way to a win over McAuley on Tuesday.

Wyatt Lemons earned the win after allowing five runs, two earned, on five hits, a walk and three strikeouts in four innings. 

Rocco Bazzano-Joseph took the loss after allowing nine runs on seven hits, a walk and five strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.

Bradley Wagner doubled and homered, totaling six RBI and a run scored to lead McAuley (5-9) at the plate. Bazzano-Joseph doubled and had two hits at the plate to go along with two runs scored and an RBI. Case Richards doubled, drove in one and scored a run. Joe Staton had a hit and scored twice.

McAuley is at Southwest on Wednesday.

 

BASEBALL: One bad inning costs Neosho against state-ranked Nixa

Posted on by Jason Peake

NEOSHO, Mo. — Tuesday’s home game against the Nixa Eagles, sixth-ranked in Class 6 and one of the best teams in the Central Ozark Conference and Class 6 District 6, started out promisingly for their conference and district rival Neosho Wildcats.

Neosho senior pitcher Kael Smith retired Nixa in order in the top of the first and senior right fielder Eli Zar started the bottom half with a single to center for the game’s first hit.

Senior center fielder Wyatt Shadwick reached on a hit-by-pitch, but fellow senior Austin Rodriguez lined into a double play to Nixa second baseman Collin Ussery to end the inning and Nixa junior catcher Jack Edwards slugged a leadoff double to start a four-run second for the Eagles on their way to a 6-1 win over the Wildcats at Roy B. Shaver Field within the Marion Sports Complex.

“They can hit,” Neosho coach Bo Helsel said. “We just saw them this past weekend and they hit us around quite a bit. We knew they were going to hit, and one thing we didn’t do on the mound was … we had too many walks today. When you have a team that can hit that well, you give them too many walks, a couple here and there, they drive those runs in. That was what doomed us today.

“We had our chances. In the first inning, we got doubled up. That happens, especially when the second baseman is coming to the bag. You’re probably getting doubled up even if you go straight back, but that’s the game sometimes. I thought the bats were much better today than they’ve been in other conference games, so that’s something to build on that’s for sure.”

The Eagles scored their four in the second behind a Broden Mabe RBI single, a Wyatt Vincent sacrifice fly, and bases loaded walks by Ussery and Rylan Michel. Smith gave three of the Wildcats’ seven walks in that second that saw Nixa produce four runs on four hits and no errors with three runners left behind.

Nixa added on two in the fourth with a Michel RBI double and a Edwards RBI single. Ussery sparked the rally and scored the first run of the fourth after his leadoff double.

Tanner Grant started the Nixa third with a triple, but he got caught and captured in a rundown between third and home. Reese Dirnberger reached second on a fielder’s choice and by taking advantage of Grant’s pickle on the bases, but Smith induced a fly ball for the second out and struck out Mabe to retire the side and preserve the 4-0 deficit.

Neosho relievers Colton Southern and Bostyn Patterson pitched three scoreless innings of relief, with the junior Southern working through four walks in his two innings and the sophomore Patterson striking out Gehrig Eoff, Mabe, and Ussery in order and down swinging.

“Colton came in and threw really well,” Helsel said. “I knew the change of speeds between Kael and Colton was hopefully going to mess with them and it did. He threw strikes and Bostyn came in and struck out the side in the seventh. That’s nice to have, because both those kids will be back next year so hopefully, they can get a little confidence in their pitching abilities playing against a really good team. They shut (Nixa) down for three innings, kept us in the game, and gave us a shot to get back in it. We just couldn’t quite it done with the bats.”

Southern and especially Patterson stepped up for the Wildcats during their first game following a week where they played six games in five days.

“I think it was his second varsity outing,” Helsel said of Patterson. “It’s been a week or so. He’s been one of our JV starters, and sometimes when you have a lot of games over the weekend, you end up running a lot of guys that typically would throw varsity out there on the weekend, so we didn’t have a lot of guys available with pitch counts.

“I knew that with our young guys, they’re solid. We’re going to be fine next year with pitching, because we’ve got guys who can throw it. I knew this would be a good opportunity for them, they kept us in the game, and they did their jobs.”

The Wildcats scored their only run in the fifth when River Brill reached on a single, stole second and scored on Southern’s single to center.

Zar led the Wildcats with a pair of hits against Nixa starter Jackson Gamble, who struck out Neosho hitters to end five of the seven innings Tuesday.

Neosho dropped to 13-10 overall and 1-5 COC, and the Wildcats return home Thursday for a conference game against Branson.

“Definitely a winnable game, but we’ve learned this year and we learned it last year that when you play in the COC, you have to come in and compete every day that you play a COC team,” Helsel said. “Nothing’s handed to you, they don’t make a lot of errors behind them, their pitchers are solid, and so we’re going to have to come and play well to get a win. I think it is a game we can get, I think the kids feel that, and hopefully we can use the good things that we did today and build on that for Thursday.”

BASEBALL: Two-out runs lead Joplin past Carthage in COC pitcher’s duel

Posted on by Lucas Davis

Joplin’s Byler Reither and Carthage’s Nolan Brown battled in a pitcher’s duel on the bump with a pair of two-out RBI knocks by the Eagles’ offense being the difference in a 3-1 win in Central Ozark Conference action on Tuesday.

“At the end of the day, it was good pitching and timely hits,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “Those things are usually a good recipe to have success in a baseball game.”

Reither earned the win on the mound after allowing one run over 6 2/3 innings, scattering four hits, walking one and striking out 10. Brecken Green made his varsity debut by finishing off the save opportunity in the top of the seventh with a one-pitch popup to finish the win.

“Byler has been what Byler has been for a handful of games now,” Wolf said. “He is competing in the zone and using good stuff. He’s getting weak contact when they do make contact. He is hard to barrel up and I think you saw that today. … Brecken Green comes in there as a freshman in his first varsity experience and throws one pitch to get the save. You have to be excited about that as well.”

Brown took the tough-luck loss after allowing three runs on six hits and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

“Nolan has been a little inconsistent with his stuff (this season) but today in the bullpen he said, ‘Coach, I feel good.’ He just attacked the zone,” Carthage coach Luke Bordewick said. “We told him we wanted to get him through three (innings) in 60 pitches because we have a tournament this weekend and he got through 5 2/3 in 60 pitches. Joplin is an aggressive bunch, we knew that coming in, and he kept them off balanced with early (offspeed pitches for strikes). I can’t say enough good things. He just needs to continue to fill up the zone.”

Joplin (6-12, 2-3 COC) got on the board with a pair of extra-base hits in the second inning to take the initial lead. Layten Copher started the inning with an opposite field double over the head of the left fielder before Eli Sotlar delivered a two-out, go-ahead RBI double down the third-base line for a 1-0 advantage.

Carthage (3-18, 0-5 COC) rallied to tie the game in the top of the fourth inning when Clay Kinder led off with a double past first base before ultimately coming around to score on an RBI groundout from Brady Carlton with one out to tie the game at 1s.

“He had a good day in batting practice yesterday and really focused on hitting the ball to the opposite field,” Bordewick said of Kinder’s day at the plate. “It was nice to see his first AB staying through a ball to the opposite-field gap. He has been stroking it for us and is coming around. Hopefully, he can continue to carry that on because he is a catalyst for our offense.”

The Eagles’ offense again went to work with two outs in the last of the fifth. Jackson Queen started things with a leadoff single before a one-out single from Brock Waghorn. With two outs and runners on second and third, Brady Mails put Joplin back in front for good with a two-run single to left field for a 3-1 lead.

“Brady came up huge right there, being able to get a ball into left field,” Wolf said. “(Pinch runner) AJ (Alejandro De La Torre) did a great job coming from second base and keeping his eyes on me to be able to get in there and score, too. That third run was pretty big.”

“I think the more times that you do it, you get more confidence to think that you can,” Wolf added about Joplin’s late game heroics this season. “We have done it in different ways …Our thing is, we’ve needed to be better in the early innings to put ourselves in a situation to win a game late.” 

Mails finished with a hit and two RBI for Joplin, while Sotlar doubled and drove in one. Copher doubled and scored a run, while Queen added a hit and a run scored as well.

Kinder doubled twice and scored a run for Carthage, while Drew Musche had a 2-for-2 game at the plate.

Carthage hosts Nixa in COC action on Thursday before taking part in the Lawrence River City Festival over the weekend.

Joplin closes a busy week hosting a COC matchup against Willard on Thursday before hosting Smithville and Nevada on Senior Day on Saturday at the JHS Athletic Complex.

“I just want to see us play hard and compete,” Wolf said. “Put ourselves in games late and have an opportunity to win. Pitching is always interesting during weeks like this because you have a plan, but you take it day by day. Then you reevaluate. Our next three are going to be tough games. … Hopefully, this is a little bit of a jumping board. You have a good feeling coming out of this one and stack some good days on good days.”

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