The Joplin Outlaws summer collegiate baseball team will begin the 2023 season on Thursday night with a home game against Des Moines. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Joe Becker Stadium.
The team’s schedule and roster are posted below.
Month: May 2023
STRONG FINISH: Webb City records 11 all-state performances at state track meet
After securing district and sectional championships in back-to-back weeks, the Webb City High School boys track and field squad concluded its stellar 2023 season by finishing fifth in the Class 4 team standings on Saturday at the MSHSAA Track and Field Championships in Jefferson City.
Webb City compiled 40 points, just one point behind Hazelwood East for the final state plaque.
“I feel pretty good overall,” Webb City coach Dustin Miller said. “Anytime you’re fifth it’s pretty heartbreaking, especially by one point. It was kind of a mixed bag. We had some things we didn’t take care of business on and then we had some things that we did really well on. Overall, it was a good showing. We had some kids put together some heroic performances to give us a shot at a trophy.
“On paper, we were supposed to be the sixth-place team and we were supposed to score 32 points. So I’m proud we got to 40 points.”
The Cardinals were sitting in fourth place ahead of the meet’s final event. Hazelwood East came from behind to win the 4×400 relay. And those points were enough to edge past Webb City for the final team trophy.
“We knew we’d be the fourth-place team if Hazelwood East didn’t win the 4×400,” Miller said. “They were in second place before the final leg. The state champ in the 400 is their anchor, so Ladue’s three second lead wasn’t enough. That’s how it goes.”
Although a team trophy eluded them, it’s safe to say the Cardinals finished the season strong, as the boys team recorded seven all-state performances, including two state champions.
Webb City senior Grayson Smith closed out his outstanding prep career with his second state title in the pole vault, as he cleared a height of 15 feet and 5.75 inches.
“I was really proud of Grayson,” Miller said. “He didn’t have the greatest day to his standards. He looked a little flat. But for him to go out on an average day and win a state title easily speaks volumes about who he is as an athlete. And he overcame a lot of adversity just to be able to compete. I’m really proud of him.”
Smith was able to repeat as state champ after overcoming a leg injury he suffered during the football season. A Pittsburg State signee, Smith won his first Class 4 state title last year with the same 15-5.75 mark.
Smith wasn’t Webb City’s only state champ.
Junior distance runner Evan Stevens won a state title in the 3200 on Saturday and also placed fifth in the 1600 on Friday.
“Evan ran a good 1600,” Miller said. “I was proud of him for hanging in there and getting fifth. That’s where he was supposed to be. In the 3200, we knew the other guys were tired and that Evan would have a chance to win a state title if he went out and stayed aggressive. And he did. It was just a really impressive performance, not just winning, but the way he won. He led the whole way. By lap six, Evan was 11 seconds ahead. The last lap was a little nerve-racking.”
Stevens finished in 9:18, four seconds ahead of Festus’ Ian Schram, who won the 1600.
“It’s huge for Evan’s confidence,” Miller said. “He showed he can run with the best athletes in the state. Now, we just have to make sure he stays humble and keeps working hard.”
Webb City senior Trey Roets closed out his prep career on the awards podium after placing third in the javelin with a toss of 179-11.
“Trey did not look good in the prelims, but he snuck into the finals,” Miller said. “Trey relaxed and threw well in the finals. It was good to see him end his career like that.”
Roets, who will compete in football and track at William Jewell, was also third in the event last year.
The Cardinals had two medalists in the javelin, as junior Tucker Liberatore placed sixth with a toss of 171-4.
“Tucker wasn’t even supposed to get out of sectionals, but he was very consistent,” Miller noted. “He had an impressive day.”
Junior thrower Nate Miller finished third in the discus with a toss of 163-11.
“He was in sixth place and on his last throw he stepped up with a big throw to take third,” Coach Miller said. “That put us in a position to get a team plaque.”
Cardinals junior Jadon Brisco joined Smith as a medalist in the pole vault, as his clearance of 12-4 earned him eighth place.
Also gaining state experience were junior Ryan Reid (high jump) and sophomore Eric Lathan (shot put).
Also competing was Webb City’s 4×400 relay team of Gabe Johnson, Noah Moss, Joshua White and Jordan Thornburg and the 4×800 relay team of Mason Hedger, Dakota Grove, Noah Lankard and Stevens.
Ahead of their postseason success, Webb City’s boys were a close second to Neosho at the Central Ozark Conference Meet.
“It was a great season and I’m excited about the guys we’ll have back,” Miller said.
DECKER, STREET LEAD WEBB CITY GIRLS
The Webb City girls had four all-state performances, including one state champ.
Cardinals junior Dawsyn Decker won a state title in the javelin with a toss of 139-10, out-throwing Savannah’s Rhyan Schrick by nearly nine feet.
“Seeing Dawsyn win was pretty neat,” Miller commented. “She was not the top seed. Her PR was her last throw of the season. She’s worked hard all season. She was in control of the competition from the get-go. I don’t think anyone challenged her. For her to keep climbing the whole way was impressive.”
Decker, a multisport athlete who placed fourth her sophomore year, will look to repeat next spring.
Ending her prep career on a high note, senior distance runner Abi Street earned a pair of medals by finishing third in the 3200 and fourth in the 1600.
“Abi ran a good race in the 3200,” Miller said. “The 1600 is not her strength, but I think she ran the best race of her career. It was really impressive what she did. It was a great way to end her career. It was a good day for our distance squad for sure.”
Street is headed to the University of Kansas to continue her academic and track and field career.
Just a freshman, Brooke Hedger finished fourth in the 800 in 2:19.
“Brooke positioned herself pretty well,” Miller said. “The race went out really slow. She ran a really good race. I’m proud of her and that should be a big confidence boost for her going into next year.”
The Webb City girls just missed a medal in the 4×100, as Kylie Jennings, Alyssa Moreno, Chase Stilley and Essence Robinson finished ninth. Also, junior Aubree Lassiter finished 11th in the discus.
The Webb City girls finished 11th in the Class 4 team standings with 26 points.
Also of note, Jeremy Butler has officially stepped down as Webb City’s girls track and field coach. Butler spent more than two decades coaching track at Webb City.
Coach Miller will be in charge of both programs next year.
“I look forward to seeing if we can get more talented athletes to come out for the sport,” he said.
STATE TRACK & FIELD: Webb City boys finish 5th in Class 4; Cardinals win three individual state titles
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Area high school track and field athletes finished their season and some athletes wrapped up their prep careers Friday and Saturday in the 98th (boys) and 50th (girls) MSHSAA Track & Field Championships at Jefferson City High’s Adkins Stadium.
Highlighting the area teams in Class 4 and Class 5, the Webb City boys finished just outside a team trophy in Class 4 with their 40 points, one behind fourth place Hazelwood East, while the Webb City girls finished 11th with 26 points.
Webb City won three individual state championships to highlight seven medal-winning performances Saturday.
Between their boys and girls squads, the Cardinals totaled 11 all-state performances with their four on Friday.
Joplin, Neosho, Carthage and Carl Junction, as well as Nevada and Monett, all had athletes give outstanding individual performances that earned them medals on the highest stage in Missouri high school track and field.
CLASS 5
JOPLIN HIGHLIGHTS
Senior distance runner Hobbs Campbell parlayed his success in cross country and track and field into signing with the University of Kansas to continue his academic and athletic career next year at the next level.
Unfortunately, for the decorated senior, he did not earn a medal in his final high school event, finishing 11th overall Saturday in the 3200 in 9 minutes and 42.27 seconds.
Campbell finished second Friday in the 1600 in 4:13.01, .22 behind state champion Andrew Hauser from Rock Bridge, and fifth in the 800 in 1:55 to add two medals to his collection.
Hauser and Campbell also finished first and second in the 1600 last year, Hauser 4:11.72 and Campbell 4:12.19.
Campbell also placed fifth in the 800 last year. As a sophomore, Campbell finished sixth in the 1600 in 4:20.
During his prep cross country career, Campbell placed fifth in Class 5 as a senior, 14th in Class 5 as a junior and 34th in Class 5 as a sophomore.
On the girls side, Joplin’s 4×100 relay of Phia Vogel, Abigayle Lowery, Abigail Eckert, and Brylee Strickland finished eighth Saturday in 54.12 to earn a state medal.
NEOSHO HIGHLIGHTS
Senior sprinter Tyrese Hill finished sixth Saturday in the 200 in 21.89 and joined his classmate Collyn Kivett in closing it out with a state medal, as Kivett placed fifth in the javelin Friday.
The Neosho boys’ historic season included their first Central Ozark Conference team title, their first team district title since 1979, and their first team sectional title.
CARTHAGE HIGHLIGHTS
Carthage sophomore Karlie Nichols finished 16th Saturday in the shot put at 34-0.25.
CLASS 4
WEBB CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Senior pole vaulter Grayson Smith closed out his outstanding prep career Saturday with his second state title in a row as he cleared a height of 15 feet and 5.75 inches, besting runner-up Travis Greenfield (Marshfield) by more than a foot-and-a-half.
Smith won his first Class 4 state title last year with the same 15-5.75 mark, beating Kearney’s John Timchak and his 13-11 clearance.
As a sophomore, Smith finished second in Class 4 at 14-10, just a couple inches behind Helias Catholic’s Dominic Crisostom.
Smith has signed with local NCAA Division II school Pittsburg State to continue his academic and track and field career.
Junior distance runner Evan Stevens also won a state title Saturday afternoon in the 3200 with a time of 9.18, :04 faster than runner-up Ian Schram (Festus).
Stevens placed fifth Friday in the 1600 in 4:21 and he medaled in the 3200 his sophomore year with a time of 9:45 good for seventh.
Junior thrower Nate Miller finished third in the discus Saturday with a toss of 163-11, and he improved by 20 feet and eight places from his sophomore year at state.
Jadon Brisco joined Smith as a medalist in the pole vault, his clearance of 12-4 earning the junior eighth and his first state medal.
On the girls side, junior Dawsyn Decker won a state title in the javelin with a throw of 139-10, out-throwing Savannah’s Rhyan Schrick by nearly nine feet.
Decker placed fourth at 126-3 her sophomore year for her first state medal.
Senior distance runner Abi Street earned her second medal of her last state meet with a fourth Saturday in the 1600 in 5:08.
Street, who will be headed to the University of Kansas to continue her academic and track and field career, placed third Friday in the 3200 in 10:59.
Street qualified last year in the 3200 but did not medal with her 12th place time of 12:07. Thus, she improved her time at state by more than a minute from her junior to her senior year and moved up nine spots in the individual standings.
Street began her senior year with a third place in Class 4 in cross country, as she improved from her fifth place in Class 4 her junior year and her 77th in Class 4 as a sophomore.
Freshman mid-distance runner Brooke Hedger finished fourth Saturday in the 800 in 2:19.
CARL JUNCTION HIGHLIGHTS
Sophomore sprinter Sydney Ward placed fifth in the 100 in 12.21 and the 200 in 25.15, repeating the nifty feat from her freshman year of earning medals in both sprinting events.
Last year, Ward finished sixth in the 100 in 12.32 and in the 200 in 26.01.
OTHER CLASS 4 HIGHLIGHTS
Nevada senior jumper Drew Beachler won a state title in the triple jump with a mark of 45-10, beating St. Charles Lutheran’s Keylan LaGrant by three-quarters of an inch.
Beachler finished second in the long jump on Friday.
Last year, Beachler placed fifth in the long jump and seventh in the triple jump. As a sophomore, Beachler finished eighth in the long jump.
All told, Beachler accumulated five state medals in his two events, highlighted by a state title in his final high school event.
Monett senior hurdler Konner Poynter won a state title with a time of 38.33 in the 300 hurdles.
Poynter finished seventh in Class 4 in the 400 and qualified for state in the 110 hurdles during his junior year.
RELATED STORY: STATE TRACK & FIELD: Area athletes earn medals on Day 1 – SoMo Sports (somo-sports.com)
FINAL FOUR BOUND: Webb City advances to state semifinals with nail-biting win
WEBB CITY, Mo. — The Webb City Cardinals are Final Four bound for the first time in 13 years.
Drew Vonder Haar scored the go-ahead run in dramatic fashion and Walker Sweet maneuvered out of trouble on the mound in the sixth and seventh innings, propelling Webb City to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Kearney in a Class 5 quarterfinal on Saturday in front of a large crowd at Chuck Barnes Field.
Webb City coach Andrew Doennig noted it was rewarding to watch his team get over the hump and advance to the Final Four.
“It’s been 13 years since Webb City has been in the Final Four,” Doennig said. “We’ve played in this game six times since I’ve been at Webb City and we’d never won it. We told the kids this was their chance and their opportunity and they did it. It was just a great job by these kids, up and down the lineup. And the kids in the dugout did a great job, too.”
Webb City (22-13) will meet St. Francis Borgia (24-5) in a semifinal contest of the state tourney at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 2 at Sky Bacon Stadium in Ozark.
A senior right-hander, Sweet struck out the final three batters of the game after the Bulldogs put the tying run on base in the seventh inning.
“It’s a great feeling and this is a great team win,” Sweet said. “They were a tough team, but we kept battling. We stayed composed in tough situations and that’s what led us to victory today.”
GAME RECAP: ANOTHER NAIL-BITER
Kearney (24-10) entered the game ranked fifth in Class 5 by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association. Unranked Webb City defeated Kearney 8-5 on April 29.
The rematch was a nail-biter, as the final home date was a memorable one.
The contest was scoreless until the top of the fourth.
The visitors on the scoreboard, Webb City pushed across a single tally in the top of the fourth.
A junior third baseman, Vonder Haar doubled down the left field line to get things started.
Vonder Haar went to third on junior designated hitter Christian Brock’s ground out and then charged home on senior first baseman Kenley Hood’s RBI single to right.
Kearney answered with two runs in the bottom half against Webb City senior right-hander Kaylor Darnell.
Jackson Melberg walked, stole second, went to third on Manny Lithacum’s infield hit and then came home on Chase Porter’s sac fly. Next, Kale Conway lined an RBI single into left for a 2-1 lead.
The Cardinals tied the game in the fifth.
Senior left fielder William Hayes doubled to left, senior center fielder Gage Chapman was hit by a pitch and junior second baseman Sam Weller reached on an error to load the bases with no outs.
Senior shortstop Cy Darnell grounded into a double play, with Hayes scoring the tying run on the play.
The Cardinals went ahead for good in the sixth.
Vonder Haar singled, went to second on Landon Johnson’s sac bunt and then took third on Hood’s ground out.
With Kaylor Darnell at the plate, Vonder Haar ventured off third base, drawing a throw from Kearney catcher Helberg.
Vonder Haar sprinted towards the plate and beat the throw home, allowing the Cardinals to take a 3-2 lead in exciting fashion.
“We knew their catcher kind of struggled to throw the ball back to the pitcher, so as soon as it left his hand, I was going to go,” Vonder Haar said. “I didn’t quite see the ball leave his hand, so it was a little dramatic. It worked out nonetheless.”
“That was some great advanced scouting and a little bit of luck and just a really good play for us,” Doennig said. “Drew did what he was told to do. It worked out.”
Down one, the Bulldogs threatened in both the sixth and seventh innings.
A senior right-hander, Sweet took over on the mound in the sixth. He walked the first batter he faced, induced a ground out, but then hit a batter and walked another to load the bases with one out.
But the Missouri Southern recruit regrouped and struck out both Carson Shear and Casey Rooney to end the threat in the sixth.
“I had to get back to the basics and not let the moment get too big,” Sweet said. “I just went back to the basics and that allowed me to get those big strikeouts.”
In the bottom of the seventh, Sweet walked Cameron Webster, who stole second to put the tying run in scoring position with nobody out.
But Sweet came through in the clutch. With the season on the line, Sweet struck out three straight batters to end the game, setting off a celebration for the hosts.
“If Walker’s in the strike zone, he’s got a chance to get anybody out,” Doennig said. “When I went out to the mound, I told him all the pressure was on those guys…they’re the ones that have to score. I told him all I needed him to do was put the ball in the strike zone. He’s got great stuff. It was a great job by him.”
NAMES & NUMBERS
Kaylor Darnell was the winning pitcher. He went five innings and limited the Bulldogs to two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out four.
Sweet earned the save, striking out five in two frames.
The Cardinals had five hits, two by Vonder Haar. Weller, Hood and Hayes had one hit apiece.
The Webb City defense turned a pair of key double plays.
Kearney’s Linthacum took the loss after allowing one run in three innings in relief of Elijah Helberg, who gave up two runs on four hits in four frames.
“That’s a really good baseball team that we just beat,” Doennig said of Kearney. “That’s a good win for us over a good team. I told the kids that’s why we played a touch schedule this year. Those games prepared us for today’s game.”
FINAL FOUR BOUND
Webb City last advanced to the semifinals in 2010. The Cardinals finished second that year.
Borgia beat Glendale 2-0 in the quarterfinal round to earn a date with Webb City. The other semifinal features Festus (25-8) vs. Fort Zumwalt South (27-6-1).
The Cardinals, who captured a second straight district title and the program’s seventh district crown since 2011, are now guaranteed to have two more games this season.
They’ll end the season in a state title game or in the third-place game on Saturday, June 3.
“It’s awesome,” Vonder Haar said of advancing to the semifinals. “We haven’t been there in a long time. These guys…we’re all best friends, so it’s awesome to make it this far with them. It’s great for the seniors. They’re a great group of guys. We really wanted it for them. Now we’re ready for the next step.”
FULL STATS: Webb City HS (webbcitycardinals.com)
STATE TRACK & FIELD: East Newton boys finish 2nd in Class 3
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The East Newton Patriots earned the runner-up plaque in Class 3 at the MSHSAA Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Adkins Stadium.
Bowling Green won the Class 3 team title with 74.5 points and East Newton’s boys were second with 37.
Lutheran North (30) and Herculaneum (30) tied for third place in the final team standings.
East Newton junior Chase Sorrell earned three medals over the two-day event.
On Friday, Sorrell won the 800-meter run with a time of 1 minute, 53 seconds and also finished second in the 1600 with a time of 4:17.
On Saturday, Sorrell earned his third medal of the meet by finishing third in the 3200 in 9:30.
East Newton had three other medalists, as Michael Crowe was the runner-up in the high jump (6-4), Dominic Shaw finished sixth in the discus (145-6) and Eden Enlow finished seventh in the javelin (149-10).
CLASS 3 MEDALISTS
Three individuals and two relays from the area earned all-state recognition in Class 3 with their performances on Saturday.
Seneca’s Isabella Renfro was the runner-up in the girls shot put with a toss of 39-11.5, while Aurora’s Makena Hall placed third in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.59 seconds and Lamar’s Elise Ferris finished fifth in the long jump (17-10.25).
Mount Vernon’s 4×100 relay team of Adalyn Mesicek, Camryn Cornell, Kadence Krempges and Nina Cowherd finished seventh in 50.83 seconds.
On the boys side, Lamar’s 4×400 relay team of Carson Sturgell, Blaine Breshears, Pierce Heins and Ian Ngugi finished fourth in 3:27.
On Friday, Lamar junior Trace Wooldridge won the shot put with a toss of 55-0.25.
STATE TRACK & FIELD: Area athletes earn medals on Day 1
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Joplin area fared extremely well at the MSHSAA Track and Field Championships on Friday.
Lamar and East Newton both had individual state champions, while Joplin, Neosho, Carthage, Webb City, Carl Junction and Nevada all had athletes earn all-state recognition at Adkins Stadium on the campus of Jefferson City High School.
Below is a recap of Day 1 action for local athletes competing in classes 3-5. The state track meet concludes on Saturday.
CLASS 5
JOPLIN HIGHLIGHTS
Joplin senior Hobbs Campbell was the runner-up in the Class 5 1600-meter run on Friday, finishing in 4:13.01. Rock Bridge’s Andrew Hauser won the race in 4:12.79. Campbell also finished second to Hauser at last year’s state meet.
A future Kansas Jayhawk, Campbell also finished fifth in the 800 on Friday with a time of 1:55, giving the JHS standout a pair of medals.
Campbell will finish his prep career on Saturday by running the 3200.
Joplin’s other medalist on Friday was freshman Cordell Washington, who tied Ozark’s Peyton Ligon for sixth place in the high jump by clearing 6-5.5.
In other events, Eagles senior Drew VanGilder finished 10th in the javelin (153-11) and senior Orion Norris finished 15th in the prelims of the 200 (22.59).
Joplin’s 4×100 relay team of Quinton Renfro, Tayshawn Palmer, Norris and Davin Thomas finished 11th in the prelims in 43.11 seconds and did not advance to the finals.
The top eight in each preliminary event advance to Saturday’s finals and the top eight in field events/running finals are state medalists.
On the girls side, Joplin’s 4×100 relay team of Phia Vogel, Abigayle Lowery, Abigail Eckert and Brylee Strickland finished seventh in 48.95 seconds to advance to the finals.
A freshman, Strickland had a busy day. In Friday’s prelims, Strickland finished ninth in the 400-meter run (1:00), 10th in the 100-meter dash (12.33 seconds) and 11th in the 200 (25.78).
CARTHAGE HIGHLIGHTS
Tigers senior Micah Lindsey earned a spot on the awards podium after placing fifth in the shot put (57-9).
A Pittsburg State football recruit, Lindsey is a two-time medalist, as he finished seventh in the event last year.
Carthage senior Miguel Solano placed ninth in the 800 with a time of 1:56.36, just missing a spot on the awards stand. The eighth place finisher, Grayson Tapp of Liberty North, recorded a time of 1:56.14.
Tigers junior Daryl Martin finished 12th in the 300 hurdles prelims with a time of 40.99 seconds.
For the Carthage girls, freshman Chasity Straw finished 11th in the discus (118-5).
NEOSHO HIGHLIGHTS
Neosho senior Collyn Kivett earned a medal by finishing fifth in the Class 5 javelin. Kivett recorded a heave of 169-7.
Wildcats senior Tyrese Hill advanced to the finals of the 200-meter dash by finishing fourth in Friday’s prelims in 21.73 seconds. Hill was also 10th in the prelims of the 100 (10.86).
Neosho senior Jared Siler finished 10th in both of his individual events, the long jump (21-4) and the high jump (6-3.5).
Izaiah Hill finished 16th in the prelims of the 400 (51.29).
CLASS 4
WEBB CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Webb City had four all-state performances on Friday, three on the boys side.
Webb City senior Trey Roets closed out his prep career on the awards podium after placing third in the javelin with a toss of 179-11.
Roets, who will compete in football and track at William Jewell, was also third in the event last year.
The Cardinals had two medalists in the javelin, as junior Tucker Liberatore placed sixth with a toss of 171-4.
Webb City’s third medalist of the day was junior Evan Stevens, who placed fifth in the 1600 with a time of 4:21. Stevens will run the 3200 on Saturday.
In other events, Webb City sophomore Eric Lathan finished 13th in the shot put with a toss of 48-5.5 and Cardinals junior Ryan Reid competed in the high jump, but did not clear the opening height.
Webb City’s 4×400 relay team of Gabe Johnson, Noah Moss, Joshua White and Jordan Thornburg finished 16th in the prelims.
Of note, Webb City senior Grayson Smith will attempt to repeat as Class 4 pole vault champion on Saturday.
On the girls side, senior Abi Street finished third in the 3200 with a time of 10:59 to earn all-state honors. Street will compete in the 1600 on Saturday.
Webb City’s 4×100 relay team of Kylie Jennings, Chase Stilley, Alyssa Moreno and Essence Robinson finished ninth in 50.03 seconds, just missing a spot in the finals.
Webb City junior Aubree Lassiter finished 11th in the discus (111-0).
CARL JUNCTION HIGHLIGHTS
Carl Junction junior Acadia Badgley finished sixth in the pole vault by clearing 10 feet even, earning all-state recognition.
Carl Junction sophomore Sydney Ward advanced to the finals in two events.
In Friday’s prelims, Ward finished fourth in the 100-meter dash (12.08 seconds) and fifth in the 200 (25.1). Ward will compete in the finals of both events on Saturday. She was a medalist in both events last year as a freshman.
The CJ girls finished 15th in the prelims of the 4×200 relay, as Olivia Battagler, Destiny Buerge, Dezi Williams and Ward recorded a time of 1:48.7.
Freshman Bella Montez was 12th in the prelims of the 300 hurdles with a time of 49.39 seconds.
MCDONALD COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
McDonald County’s 4×100 relay team of Sam Barton, Esteban Martinez-Olvera, Dominic Cervantes and Josh Pacheco finished 15th in the prelims.
The Mustangs finished ninth in the 4×400 prelims, with Cervantes, Hunter Leach, Dalton McClain and Pacheco competing.
The Mac County girls finished 15th in the 4×400 prelims, with Clara Horton, Corina Holland, Ireona Nirka and Anna Price competing.
NEVADA HIGHLIGHTS
Nevada senior Drew Beachler was the runner-up in the Class 4 long jump after recording a leap of 23-2.
He’ll compete in the triple jump on Saturday.
CLASS 3
COLLEGE HEIGHTS GIRLS
The College Heights girls finished ninth in the prelims of the 4×200 relay with a time of 1:48.87, with Jayli Johnson, Allie Stout, Lauren Ukena and Jesalin Bever competing.
The Cougars were nipped at the finish line for the final spot in the finals by Maryville (1:48.86).
The CHC girls were 10th in the 4×400 prelims, as Bever, Johnson, Stout and Ukena recorded a time of 4:15.
A senior, Johnson finished 11th in the prelims of the 400 with a time of 1:01.
OTHER CLASS 3 HIGHLIGHTS
Two regional athletes won state titles in Class 3.
Lamar junior Trace Wooldridge won the shot put with a toss of 55-0.25.
East Newton’s Chase Sorrell crossed the line first in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:53.
A junior, Sorrell also finished second in the 1600 with a time of 4:17 to earn two medals on the day.
East Newton had two other medalists, as Michael Crowe was the runner-up in the high jump (6-4) and Eden Enlow finished seventh in the javelin (149-10).
On the girls side in Class 3, Lamar’s Kiersten Potter finished third in the 3200 (11:18), Aurora’s Makena Hall placed fifth in the pole vault (10-3.5) and Cassville’s Jolie Evans was fifth in the 3200 (11:36).
Cassville’s 4×800 relay team of Marianne McCrackin, Tori Mitchell, Jadyn Williams-Reed and Jolie Evans finished fourth with a time of 10:03.
STATE BASEBALL: Nevada ends season with quarterfinal loss to Springfield Catholic
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A first ever appearance in the Final Four of the state baseball tournament wasn’t meant to be for the Nevada Tigers.
A two-run home run by Logan Ripper in the seventh inning lifted Springfield Catholic to a 2-0 victory over Nevada in a Class 4 quarterfinal on Thursday at Catholic High School.
The champs of District 12 who beat Monett 13-2 in the sectional round of the state tourney, Nevada ends the season with a record of 19-10.
Springfield Catholic (20-7) will take on Excelsior Springs (28-12) at 7 on Wednesday, May 31 in a semifinal contest at Sky Bacon Stadium in Ozark.
Nevada was in the quarterfinal round of the state tourney for the first time since 1995.
Both starting pitchers, Nevada’s Case Sanderson and Catholic’s Coleman Morrison, kept the opposition at bay for most of the game.
The home team on the scoreboard, the Tigers had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the second, as Riddick Shook, Hunter Seaver and Kellan Ast all walked to load the bases with no outs.
But Morrison struck out both Kennedy D’Elia and Barrett Nadurata and then induced an inning-ending fly ball off the bat of Drake Ketterman to end the threat.
With the game still scoreless, Nevada threatened again in the bottom of the sixth.
Sanderson ripped a single to center field in what was Nevada’s first hit of the game. After Cade Beshore was retired, Caden Klumpp reached on an infield single to put two runners on with one out.
But Catholic’s Morrison struck out Shook and got Seaver to pop out to get out of trouble.
In the top of the seventh, Catholic sophomore second baseman Colin Soetaert walked before Ripper, a senior catcher, connected with a fastball for a two-run home run over the fence in left field.
Nevada’s Kellan Braden drew a walk with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but he was stranded.
Despite the loss, Sanderson was stellar on the mound. A senior southpaw who is headed to play for Nebraska, Sanderson allowed two runs on five hits in 6 1/2 innings. Sanderson struck out 12 and walked three before reaching his pitch count (105) in the top of the seventh. Klumpp recorded the final two outs.
Morrison allowed just two hits, both in the sixth, and five walks and struck out 14 in the complete-game gem.
Ranked fifth in the Class 4 by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association, the Fightin’ Irish knocked off top-ranked Rogersville 2-1 in their district title game and then beat Eldon 5-1 in the sectional round to advance to the quarterfinals.
Catholic finished second in Class 3 last year before bumping up to Class 4 this season.
FROM PROS TO PREPS: Luebber helps Webb City Cardinals pitchers fly high this spring
When Webb City High School first year head baseball coach Andrew Doennig moved into his new role last summer, he quickly realized one key staffing decision that would be particularly advantageous to this program.
Coach Doennig knew the best person to work with Webb City’s hurlers would be his own uncle, who just happened to be long-time former minor league pitching coach Steve Luebber.
Luebber certainly had all the credentials, as a former Major League Baseball pitcher over parts of five seasons from 1971–81, who then served as pitching coach for several organizations (Florida Marlins, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, and Kansas City Royals) during a lengthy career.
Most recently, Luebber had worked with the Quad Cities River Bandits, which is a High ‘A’ farm team of the Kansas City Royals.
“When I took the job, I knew it would be hard for me to continue working with our pitching staff and everything else,” Coach Doennig reasoned. “I knew there would be a chance that ‘Lueb’ might not go back to pro ball.
“I met with him and asked if he’d be interested in being the pitching coach at Webb City. He and I discussed it for a little while. When he said, yes, I fired myself as the pitching coach immediately.”
Luebber rationalized that, “I knew when I accepted the job that the caliber of play was different than what I had experienced in the past and there were some side issues working with high school pitchers.
“But since I had dealt with all age groups for 55 years, I was sure it would mainly be a positive experience for the kids.”
“I think he’s fit in well with the rest of the coaches and kids,” Doennig assured. “He’s been around a lot of high school-aged kids in the wintertime when he gives lessons, but it’s different seeing them every day. The kids enjoy being around him.”
Doennig affirms that, “Coach Luebber’s experience and knowledge have been immeasurable. High school teams aren’t typically fortunate enough to have someone with 50-plus years of professional baseball experience. So, everything he tells someone carries weight.”
As for how Luebber has been most beneficial, Doennig assesses that, “His biggest influence with our kids has been the small things. He came in and took notes on everyone and watched the guys a few times. Then he started making some small changes.
“Whether it was with their grip, their arm stroke, the way they held their hands, or their pick off move. His ability to see a pitcher’s consistency has been big for our kids. He would notice in just one pitch whether a pitcher did something different and call immediate attention to it. It’s been great.”
Family ties aside, Doennig couldn’t have asked this partnership with his uncle to sparkle any brighter on the baseball diamond and he raves that, “For him to come in and take care of all the pitchers without me having to concern myself with it has been a blessing.
“Whenever those guys are down in the bullpen, I don’t have to worry what they are doing, or if they are getting their work done. It allowed a seamless transition between me, and him as the pitching coach.”
Luebber has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work with these young men and ascertained, “Coaching this age group keeps you in touch. You hear them talk, play, work, hear the music and help them have positive outcomes, avoid possible problems and hopefully aid them in moving on to higher baseball levels and life experiences in college or even further.”
There’s no doubt that Doennig couldn’t be more thrilled at how this has worked out and he says, “What I really appreciate is how he showed up and formed great relationships with our kids. It would have been easy for him to come in and tell everyone, ‘This is what I have done, and this is who I have coached.’ But he didn’t.
“He showed up and said, ‘I am here to make you better.’ The kids have latched onto him and what he has been saying. Every day you can see the guys improve and you can see it show up in games.”
QUARTERFINALS
After winning a district championship on Monday, Webb City (21-13) will host Kearney (24-9) in a Class 5 quarterfinal at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Chuck Barnes Field.
Saturday’s winner will advance to the semifinals on June 2 in Ozark.
STEVE LUEBBER FAST FACTS
Age: 73
Spouse: Lee Ann Luebber
High School Alma Mater & Year Graduated: Joplin High School/1967 Graduate
College Alma Mater & Year Graduated: Missouri Southern, 1967–72 (Majored in PE)
Hometown: Born in Clinton, Missouri & moved to Joplin, Missouri at 5 years old
Favorite Baseball Movie: Eight Men Out
Favorite Pitching Coach: Ray Berres, Pitching Coach for the Chicago White Sox for nearly two decades and former catcher who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Bees/Braves and New York Giants
Favorite Baseball Manager: Cal Ermer, played and managed in the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins farm system for more than five different decades.
TRACK & FIELD: Who’s going to state from the Joplin area?
The Joplin area will once again be well-represented at the MSHSAA Track and Field Championships.
The state track meet for athletes in Class 3-5 is Friday and Saturday at Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City.
Here’s a quick look at the region’s state qualifiers.
CLASS 5
JOPLIN EAGLES
The Joplin Eagles qualified for state in 11 events, with seven on the boys side and four on the girls side.
Joplin senior standout Hobbs Campbell advanced to state in three events — the 800, 1600 and 3200.
Campbell was the sectional champ in the 1600 (4:16) and finished third in both the 800 (1:54) and the 3200 (9:48).
At this weekend’s state meet, Campbell will run the 1600 and the 800 on Friday afternoon, with the 3200 to follow on Saturday.
Before he takes his talents to the University of Kansas, Campbell will look to add to his collection of state medals. At last year’s state meet, Campbell finished second in the 1600 and fifth in the 800.
Joplin’s other individual state qualifiers on the boys side are senior Drew VanGilder (javelin), senior Orion Norris (200-meter dash) and freshman Cordell Washington (high jump).
The Class 5 javelin and high jump are both slated for Friday afternoon, along with the prelims of the 200.
Joplin’s 4×100 relay team of Quinton Renfro, Tayshaun Palmer, Norris and Davin Thomas advanced by finishing third.
On the girls side, Joplin freshman Brylee Strickland advanced to state in four events.
Individually, Strickland will compete in the 100, 200 and 400. She was second in the 400 (58.94 seconds), third in the 200 (25.58) and fourth in the 100 (12.57).
Strickland also advanced as part of the JHS girls’ 4×100 relay that finished third at the sectional. Also on the relay are Phia Vogel, Abigayle Lowery and Abigail Eckert.
The prelims of all four events are on Friday, with the finals on Saturday for those who qualify.
NEOSHO WILDCATS
The Neosho Wildcats will conclude what’s been a historic season at the state meet.
After winning conference, district and sectional titles, Neosho’s boys will compete in six events at state.
The Wildcats had three sectional champs, senior Collyn Kivett (javelin), senior Jared Siler (high jump) and junior Izaiah Hill (400).
Siler also qualified in the long jump after finishing second at the sectional.
Senior Tyrese Hill advanced in two events, the 100 and the 200. He was the sectional runner-up in both events.
CARTHAGE TIGERS
Carthage advanced to state in six events, four on the boys side and two on the girls side.
Carthage senior Miguel Solano was the sectional champ in the 800.
Senior Micah Lindsey advanced in the shot put by finishing fourth. Lindsey was a state medalist in the event last year by finishing seventh.
Junior Daryl Martin will compete in the 300 hurdles and sophomore Trent Yates advanced in the triple jump.
For the Carthage girls, sophomore Karlie Nichols (shot put) and freshman Chasity Straw (discus) advanced with their top-four performances at the sectional.
CLASS 4
WEBB CITY CARDINALS
Webb City is taking a large group to the state meet.
After capturing district and sectional titles, Webb City’s boys team advanced 13 entries to state in 11 events.
Webb City’s individual qualifiers are seniors Grayson Smith (pole vault), Trey Roets (javelin) and Jordan Thornburg (100), juniors Evan Stevens (1600, 3200), Nate Miller (discus), Jadon Brisco (pole vault) and Tucker Liberatore (javelin) and sophomores Ryan Reid (high jump) and Eric Lathan (shot put).
Smith is the defending state champion in the pole vault and will look to repeat.
Roets (third) and Stevens (seventh in 3200) are returning medalists, while Miller is a returning qualifier.
The Cardinals advanced to state in three relays, the 4×200, 4×400 and 4×800. Mason Hedger, Dakota Grove, Noah Lankard and Stevens run the 4×800, while the 4×400 features Noah Moss, Gabe Johnson, Mason Hedger and Josh White and the 4×200 consists of Thornburg, Johnson, William Headrick and White.
Webb City’s girls advanced to state in six events.
Individual qualifiers are senior Abi Street (1600, 3200), juniors Dawsyn Decker (javelin) and Aubree Lassiter (discus) and freshman Brooke Hedger (800).
Decker is a returning medalist after finishing fourth last season. Street is a returning qualifier.
Webb City’s 4×100 relay team of Kylie Jennings, Chase Stilley, Alyssa Moreno and Essence Robinson also advanced.
CARL JUNCTION BULLDOGS
Carl Junction’s girls will compete in six events and the boys had one qualifier.
Carl Junction sophomore Sydney Ward was the sectional champion in two events — the 100-meter dash and the 200.
Ward is a returning state medalist, as she finished fifth in the 200 and sixth in the 100 in ’22.
Carl Junction’s other individual qualifiers on the girls side are junior Acadia Badgley (pole vault), sophomore Madilyn Olds (javelin) and freshman Bella Montez (300 hurdles).
Carl Junction’s 4×200 relay team of Olivia Battagler, Destiny Buerge, Dezi Williams and Ward advanced by finishing fourth.
For the Carl Junction boys, senior Donnie Keith advanced by finishing fourth in the discus.
MCDONALD COUNTY MUSTANGS
McDonald County’s boys advanced in three events—4×100 relay (Sam Barton, Esteban Martinez-Olvera, Dominic Cervantes and Josh Pacheco), the 4×400 relay (Cervantes, Hunter Leach, Dalton McClain and Pacheco) and the discus, where junior Toby Moore placed third at the sectional.
McDonald County’s girls team will be represented by the 4×400 relay team of Ireona Nirka, Clara Horton, Anna Price and Corina Holland.
OTHER CLASS 4 QUALIFIERS
Nevada senior Drew Beachler claimed a pair of sectional titles, winning both the long jump and triple jump. Beachler was a medalist in both events last season, finishing fifth in the long jump and seventh in the triple jump.
Monett senior Konner Poynter advanced to state in three events—the 200, 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles.
On the girls side, Monett sophomore Vayla Smith advanced in the 400.
CLASS 3
COLLEGE HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN
The College Heights Christian girls advanced to state in three events — the 4×200-meter relay (Jesalin Bever, Jayli Johnson, Allie Stout and Lauren Ukena), the 4×400 relay (Bever, Johnson, Stout, Ukena) and the 400-meter run (Johnson).
A senior, Johnson finished fourth at the sectional.
After winning the team championship in Class 1 in 2021 and finishing fifth in Class 2 last year, the CHC girls were bumped up to Class 3 this season.
SENECA INDIANS
Seneca’s lone qualifier is junior Isabella Renfro, who won a sectional title in the shot put.
Renfro is a returning qualifier, as she finished 11th in the shot put last year.
OTHER REGIONAL CLASS 3 QUALIFIERS
East Newton junior Chase Sorrell advanced to state in the 800, 1600 and 3200. At last year’s state meet, Sorrell finished sixth in the 1600 and seventh in the 3200.
Other individual qualifiers for East Newton are Michael Crowe (high jump), Eden Enlow (javelin) and Dominic Shaw (shot put, discus).
For the East Newton girls, freshman Brooke White advanced in the shot put.
Lamar’s Ian Ngugi (100, 200), Pierce Heins (400), Blaine Breshears (400), Jase Dillon (high jump), Terrill Davis (long jump), Carson Sturgell (pole vault), Tyson Williams (discus, shot), Cameron Sturgell (javelin) and Trace Wooldridge (shot) all qualified individually.
Other regional qualifiers are Cassville’s Matteo Lumetta (3200), Caleb Leach (800), Ashton Wheeler (long jump) and Charles Elliott (300 hurdles), Mount Vernon’s Jacob Erpelding (110 hurdles) and Aurora’s Daunte Floyd (triple jump).
On the girls side, regional individual qualifiers are Lamar’s Kiersten Potter (1600, 3200), Elise Ferris (long jump) and Audra Lloyd (discus), Mount Vernon’s Camryn Cornell (high jump), Nina Cowherd (100) and Kadence Krempges (pole vault), Cassville’s Jolie Evans (800, 3200) and Aaliyah Franklin (discus) and Aurora’s Makena Hall (100 hurdles, pole vault, long jump) and Maisie Phillips (100 hurdles).
STATE TRACK MEET SCHEDULE
Friday’s schedule: https://www.mshsaa.org/resources/Activities/TrackandField/W2D1%20Time%20Schedule.pdf
Saturday’s schedule: https://www.mshsaa.org/resources/Activities/TrackandField/W2D2%20Time%20Schedule.pdf
STATE BASEBALL: Liberal falls short against defending champion St. Elizabeth
LIBERAL, Mo. — The Liberal Bulldogs, who averaged 10.2 runs scored their first 30 games this season, jumped out to an early 4-2 lead Wednesday against the defending state champion St. Elizabeth Hornets in a Class 1 state quarterfinal at Brown Percy Memorial Ball Park.
Liberal, officially the visiting team and batting first, scored two runs in the first and two in the second and drove St. Elizabeth senior pitcher Caleb Oligschlaeger’s pitch count up to 50 after two innings.
However, four Liberal pitchers combined to walk 10 St. Elizabeth batters and Oligschlaeger settled down and retired 10 straight Liberal batters to cap off a complete game performance, and the Hornets erased their two-run deficit with one run in the fifth and three in the sixth to earn a 6-4 win and their fifth straight appearance in the Class 1 Final Four.
“I’ve said all year that we don’t really have a true No. 1,” Liberal coach Travis Walton said. “Justin Payne would be called our No. 1, but after that, you never know what you’re going to get with each one. They’re all just as equally talented, and I know some guys struggled (Wednesday) but I hope they don’t shoulder that loss.
“I was so proud of Kole Wiles coming in, he’s a 15-year-old sophomore, I know he doesn’t look like a sophomore, he’s huge, but he struggled spotting up a lot this season. Today, he went out there and commanded against a state-caliber team and kept us right there in the ballgame and gave us a chance. Honestly, he probably could have got us out of that sixth inning, but a few plays didn’t go our way. I thought he pitched phenomenal, and I hope that he carries that confidence level over into next year because I think he’s going to be a stud.”
The Bulldogs scored all four of their runs with two outs — senior Payton Morrow opened the scoring with a solo home run to right and they scored their next three runs with the help of two St. Elizabeth errors, one fielding and one throwing.
Liberal collected eight hits through four innings against Oligschlaeger and the Hornets, but their defense improved and Oligschlaeger strengthened over the last three innings.
“I feel like all game we hit the ball,” Walton said. “We just barreled it up right to them and they made plays. That’s what I told the kids. I think it might have been the fourth inning, but we got out on three barrels. We barreled up three times and they just made the play. We told them to keep finding barrels and you’re going to score.
“That’s been our strength all year, barreling up the ball. We took the small ball game out of our lineup because we hit it so well. Before this game, I think we had a .379 batting average. We play a tough schedule. We don’t play a bunch of Class 1 schools. We play Class 2, Class 3, and a couple Class 4 schools. We hit it well, our on-base percentage is over .500, and they do a good job with their approaches and their at-bats.”
St. Elizabeth junior third baseman Isaac Green made a couple stellar defensive plays in the fourth, catching a Chase Ray line drive for one out and stopping a hard-hit Nathan Smith grounder and throwing him out from the knees to end the inning and preserve the 4-2 score.
Liberal starter Ray struggled to find the zone and walked all three batters he faced without throwing a strike.
Wiles came on for Ray and walked the first two batters he faced, but the sophomore southpaw settled in and found a groove with four scoreless innings of work.
St. Elizabeth cut the deficit to 4-3 after plating one in the fifth: Wiles walked Oligschlaeger and Green and surrendered a single to Jace Kesel to load the bases with Hornets. Gavin Williams scored Oligschlaeger with a single to left, but Wiles worked his way out with the bases loaded and retired the Hornets with two straight balls caught by shortstop Payne.
Levi Holtmeyer reached on an error and worked his way around for a tie score, beating a throw home on a fielder’s choice, and the Hornets scored for the third time on a walk with the bases loaded and Williams’ second RBI single closed out the scoring.
Wiles, Brodie Wilson, and Matt Boehne pitched for the Bulldogs in the sixth.
Liberal, who scored 28 runs in games against Osceola (March 28) and Midway (April 24) and scored 144 runs over a 10-game stretch in late April and early May, finished with a 19-12 overall record and the Bulldogs repeated as district champions and won their third district title in their last four seasons.
The Bulldogs were attempting to make their first Final Four since their 2011 team finished second place in Class 1.
“This was a fun group,” Walton said. “I knew early in the year that it was going to be fun, whenever we had a couple of our top seniors that were hurt, and we went into Butler (March 31) and lost a tough game. They’re a Class 3 school, we’re a Class 1 school, and we lost 7-6 on a walk-off.
“We expected to win, and I feel like that’s the way we stepped on the field every night. Their fight, their resilience, I mean it would be easy, St. Elizabeth’s played in the state championship four years in a row, and these kids knew that. It would have been easy to be intimidated, and we weren’t intimidated at all. I think we showed that early.”
Liberal seniors Boehne, Morrow, Ray, and Smith played their final HS game Wednesday.
“A lot of it is just leadership,” Walton said. “Last year, we had 10 kids go out for baseball. It would have been easy for them to get complacent, and they came out here and work hard every day. They do all the little things we always preach, and they believe in what we’re trying to do. When the top half believes and does all those little things that you expect from them, I feel like that filters down and I hope that carries on through our program.
“They’re good kids. They’re good baseball players. Two of them are going on to play college baseball and they’re going to do great things. The other two are great kids. Chase, Matt, Nate, and Payton, I just talked with them out there in the huddle. I had them in not only baseball but basketball, so we spent the last six months together. I’m going to miss those four. They’re a big reason why we got to where we are, and I hope our younger guys carry what they started on this foundation, and we make our program get to a consistent level.”
STATE BASEBALL: Nevada advances to Class 4 quarterfinals by beating Monett
MONETT, Mo. — Nevada rode a pair of big innings to a 13-2 win in six innings over Monett on Tuesday in a Class 4 sectional contest at North Park.
The game was deadlocked at two after four innings, but the Tigers scored four runs in the fifth and seven more in the sixth to earn a run-rule victory.
Nevada scored its 13 runs on 11 hits.
Drake Ketterman went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Case Sanderson, Cade Beshore and Riddick Shook all had two hits apiece.
Kellan Ast drove in three runs, while Shook and Beshore added two RBI apiece. Sanderson scored three runs and Kasen Ast scored twice.
Caden Klumpp went 3 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits.
Sanderson earned the win after tossing 1 2/3 innings, striking out four. Kennedy D’Elia pitched a scoreless inning.
Monett’s Marcus Young took the loss after allowing six earned runs on 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Aiden Clapper had two hits for the Cubs, while Evan Witt and Josh Wallace had RBI.
In the game-changing fifth, Ketterman doubled, Sanderson walked and Beshore reached on an error, with a run scoring on the play.
Later in the frame, Shook hit an RBI single and Kellan Ast contributed a two-run single for a 6-2 lead.
In the sixth, a run scored on an error and Beshore hit an RBI single before three walks with the bases loaded made it 11-2.
Ketterman contributed an RBI single before Sanderson drew a bases-loaded walk.
The Cubs end the season with a 16-9 record.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Nevada (19-9) is at Springfield Catholic (19-7) at 5 on Thursday in a quarterfinal contest of the Class 4 state tournament.
The Nevada-Catholic winner advances to the Class 4 semifinals on May 31 in Ozark.
STATE BASEBALL: Stockton ends Lamar’s season in Class 3 sectionals
LAMAR, Mo. — The Lamar Tigers fell behind 4-0 after two and 6-0 after four innings during their season-ending 9-3 loss Tuesday against Stockton in a Class 3 Sectional 6 contest at Shoff Field inside the Lamar City Park.
Stockton, ranked fourth in Class 3 in the final regular season poll of the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association, improved to 22-4 overall and the visiting Tigers won their 11th straight game by pushing across one run in the first, three in the second, two in the fourth, and three in the seventh while their pitchers Easton Hubbard and Sayge Painter limited the host Tigers to a three-spot in the sixth.
Down 4-0 in the third, Lamar started a two-out rally as senior Ty Willhite reached on an error, sophomore Alex Wilkerson singled to left, and sophomore Cooper Haun worked a walk to load the bases.
Hubbard worked his way out of the jam though when he induced Tyler Ansley into a fielder’s choice to end the inning and preserve the 4-0 lead.
In the next half-inning, Stockton pushed across two more for a six-run advantage.
“I always said the greatest thing about baseball is that we go into every game with one goal: Hit the ball hard when you’re up to bat,” Lamar coach Thad Lundine said. “I can go back and tell you we probably had 15 hard-hit balls that were right at people, and that’s why I say it’s the best sport in the world because you throw everything you’ve got in one basket and guess what … sometimes you’re not going to be successful.
“It teaches you to be a man, it teaches you to grow up, and that’s what I was impressed with, we never quit. There was no quit to these kids, even when things looked gloom, they just kept playing and hoping and that’s what I love about this senior group. They just kept firing.”
Wilkerson led off the home sixth with a double to left, as Stockton’s Jack Rickman struggled with the little hill out in left at Shoff Field.
Haun and Ansley worked a walk and were hit by pitch, respectively, to load the bases with no outs and Lamar pushed across three with a Ryan Davis RBI fielder’s choice and a Jaxon Hearod RBI groundout, as well as the second run from a Stockton throwing error.
Rickman worked a walk to lead off the seventh and Stockton added three runs on two hits and three Lamar errors.
Hubbard and Wyatt Downs played fundamentally sound, team baseball, sacrificing an out for a run to push Stockton’s lead back to six entering the bottom of the seventh.
Wilkerson reached on an error and stole second, but Hubbard and Painter struck out the side to advance Stockton into the state quarterfinals Thursday against either Licking or Forsyth and end Lamar’s season at 14-14.
“They hit some balls hard, but most of the balls that caused us problems, it wasn’t a whole hell of a lot we could do with it,” Lundine said. “I mean, it was in the gap, it was overhead, nothing was really tagged hard. We had more hard-hit balls than they did.
“You live on an island in baseball. Sometimes, that’s a fun island to be on. Sometimes, that’s not a fun island to be on. … It ain’t always paradise.”
Lamar seniors Tate Ansley, Tyler Ansley (who provided a defensive highlight Tuesday by throwing out a runner at home from left), Ethan Ball, Davis, Hearod, Hunter Lundine, and Willhite each played their final games Tuesday — Lamar won a district title in baseball for the first time since 2019 and the Tigers vied for their first sectional win since 2002.
“We were talking about that before I came over here,” Coach Lundine said. “My son was actually in Nevada up until his freshman year, so I was coaching his teams and whatnot. I asked them, ‘When’s the first time we ever met?’ They were like, ‘Oh, 14, 15.’ No, when’s the first time we met. Then, they started thinking. We played against each other on that little bitty field down there all those years ago.
“For this group, that’s very special to me. I’ve seen them when their extra small baseball pants were too dang big for them, and they’ve grown into great young men. It’s a battle … with them graduating and me retiring, it’s a bad deal but at the same time, you’ve got to be proud of where you came from and how far you’ve gone.
“Throw records out, throw everything else out, at the end of it, I always tell myself that on the last day there’s nothing that’s going to make me love them more and nothing that’s going to make me love them less. Just go out there and battle, and we’ll let the chips fall.”
STATE CHAMPS: Mount Vernon captures Class 2 title with 29th straight win
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Mount Vernon’s 29th straight victory of the 2023 season was similar to many of the wins that preceded it — one-sided and emphatic.
Top-ranked Mount Vernon earned a convincing 6-0 win over second-ranked West County in the championship game of the Class 2 spring softball state tournament on Tuesday at the Killian Softball Complex.
Dominant on the diamond all season, Mount Vernon ends the season with a record of 37-1.
It’s safe to say the Mountaineers left no doubt as to who was the best spring softball team in the state of Missouri.
“I feel like we left no doubt,” Mount Vernon coach Matt Schubert said. “I knew if we played our best, we were going to be able to win the game. I don’t want to take anything away from West County. They were great. That was a tough game.
“The girls have put in the work. Looking back on the season, it’s just been an unbelievable performance all the way through. It’s been fun. As a coach, you work in practice to get them prepared. When it comes to the games, it’s all up to them. They’ve done a great job of executing the things we wanted to do. We’ve had some great performances.”
Moments after the awards ceremony concluded, Mount Vernon senior standout pitcher Harley Daniels came to the realization that her squad had accomplished its goal of winning a state title.
“I’m sad that it’s ended, but I’m very happy it ended this way,” an emotional Daniels said. “It’s been the best three years…to end it this way is the best. We’ve all had a love of the game. I think that’s what really drives us to do well.”
After run-rule wins in both the quarterfinals and semifinals, the Mountaineers concluded the season with another decisive victory.
Mount Vernon pushed across four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take control early.
With two outs, senior first baseman Allie Schubert walked before Daniels smacked an RBI double to right field.
After sophomore catcher Rae Downing was hit by a pitch, sophomore center fielder Cheyenne Bieber delivered a two-run triple to left.
Freshman third baseman Hali Stokes followed with a run-scoring single through the left side for a four-run cushion.
Mount Vernon added a single tally in the second, as junior second baseman Payge Evans singled and stole second. Evans charged home when sophomore shortstop Molly Daniels lined an RBI single up the middle, making it 5-0.
The Bulldogs (24-4) stranded two on-base in the fourth and sixth innings, as Harley Daniels maneuvered out of trouble on both occasions, ending each frame with a strikeout.
Mount Vernon added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Stokes was hit by a pitch and sophomore designated player Ava Bellis singled before the speedy Evans drove in the final run with an infield single.
Evans’ late hit was significant. Coach Schubert said Evans, the team’s leadoff batter, broke the state record for hits in a season with 76.
In yet another stellar performance in the circle, Harley Daniels tossed a complete-game shutout, limiting the Bulldogs to five hits and one walk. She struck out nine in her final prep outing.
“She’s been a steady force in the circle,” Coach Schubert said. “She gives us the opportunity to win each time out. We knew she would keep things close. I liked the offensive opportunities that we got. And we were able to cash in on them.”
Daniels noted the early run support was key.
“It was relieving,” she said. “I just could go out there and do what I know how to do. If they hit the ball, I know my defense is there.”
Speaking of defense, the Mountaineers were flawless in the field with no errors.
All season long the Mountaineers have received nice contributions from everyone in their lineup. This was the case again on Tuesday, as six different players recorded hits and five different players drove in a run.
Mount Vernon graduates two standout seniors, Harley Daniels and Allie Schubert.
West County senior Gracie Wright took the loss. She surrendered six earned runs on seven hits in six innings. Wright hit four batters and walked one.
Mount Vernon also won a state championship in spring softball in 2016. The Mountaineers were fourth in both 2019 and ’14.
“I’ve been able to enjoy this trip a little more,” Coach Schubert said. “This is our fourth trip to the Final Four. For me, having the experience of being here before was big. I knew what to expect. I was able to relax. And with the way our girls have played, I had the utmost confidence in them.”
In one of the final acts of the season, Coach Schubert was able to hand out championship medals to each and every one of his players.
“They’re all kind of like my kids because I’ve been around them for so long … starting in second grade and some before that in tee ball,” Coach Schubert said. “So this means a lot.”
BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS: Webb City tops McDonald County for 2nd straight district title
NEOSHO, Mo. — History repeated itself on Monday night at Roy B. Shaver Field.
For the second straight year, the Webb City Cardinals captured a district title inside the Neosho School District’s Marion Sports Complex.
A stellar pitching performance, flawless defense and timely hitting led second-seeded Webb City past top-seeded McDonald County 2-0 in the championship game of the Class 5 District 7 baseball tournament.
“Winning a district championship two years in-a-row was one of our goals at the beginning of the year,” Webb City coach Aaron Snow said. “The kids on both sides executed all game long. It was a great baseball game. I knew whoever scored first was probably going to win the game. I’m just really proud of the kids.”
Webb City defeated Carl Junction in last year’s district title game at the same location.
“It feels great to come out on top,” Webb City senior Kaylor Darnell said after the nail-biter. “I have a bunch of great players to play with. I can’t stress enough how much fun it’s been to play with all these guys over the years. Winning a district championship is a lot of fun. And winning a district championship back-to-back is really great.”
Webb City (21-13) will host Kearney (24-9) at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon in a Class 5 quarterfinal at Chuck Barnes Field.
McDonald County was looking to win its first district title since 2001. The Mustangs end the season with a record of 20-9.
“You always want to win a district championship, that’s always the No. 1 goal when you start the season,” McDonald County coach Heath Alumbaugh said. “In the end, it’s all about the relationships you build with the kids. We have a great group of seven seniors. I’ve had them for six years myself. It’s a great group of kids.”
GAME RECAP: A PITCHER’S DUEL
Simply put, the district title game was a well-played pitcher’s duel between Webb City’s Kaylor Darnell and Mac County’s Weston Gordon.
In the end, Webb City was the team that was able to manufacture a couple of runs.
Webb City had their first real scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth. Christian Brock walked and Kenley Hood singled to left before Kaylor Darnell’s sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with two outs.
But the runners were stranded in scoring position, as Gordon induced William Hayes into an inning-ending chopper back to the mound.
The Mustangs had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the fourth. Destyn Dowd reached on an infield single, took second on Cross Dowd’s sac bunt and went to third on a wild pitch.
Next, Isaac Behm flew out to shallow right field. On the play, Dowd tagged up and tried to score, but Webb City right fielder Eli Miller threw a perfect strike to catcher Shaun Hunt, who applied the tag at the plate for a key double play.
In the fifth, Webb City’s Sam Weller singled, went to second on a botched pickoff attempt and took third on Cy Darnell’s fly out. But Gordon was able to strike out Hunt to end the threat.
The Cardinals finally broke through in the sixth.
Junior third baseman Drew Vonder Haar led off the inning with a double to deep center field. Vonder Haar advanced to third base on Brock’s fly out to right before Hood drew a walk to put runners on the corners with just one out.
Next, in a game-changing play, Kaylor Darnell laid down the squeeze bunt towards first base, Vonder Haar charged home and Darnell was safe at first for the clutch infield single.
“Going into that at-bat, I knew I was going to bunt down the first base line,” Darnell said. “I knew what I had to do and I was able to lay it down.”
“Kaylor is a great bunter, so I knew instantly to go with the safety squeeze,” Snow said. “He executed it perfectly.”
The Cardinals could do no further damage, as the Mustangs turned a nifty 6-3 double play to end the inning.
Darnell struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth before Webb City added a key insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Senior center fielder Gage Chapman walked and later scored on Hunt’s clutch RBI double to right field.
Kaylor Darnell retired the first two batters of the bottom of the seventh before allowing a single to Behm. With that, Coach Snow called on senior right-hander Walker Sweet to close out the win.
Sweet walked Tucker Walters to give the Mustangs two runners on base, but he struck out Gordon to end the game.
NAMES & NUMBERS
A senior right-hander, Kaylor Darnell was the winning pitcher. In a masterful performance, Darnell allowed just two hits and one walk in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out eight.
“My fastball was working for me today and it’s easy to throw fastballs when your team plays great defense behind you,” Darnell said.
Sweet earned the save after recording the final out.
“Kaylor did a great job of filling it up,” Snow said. “He had all of his pitches working. And Walker came in and shut the door.”
The Cardinals did not commit an error.
“Our defense was huge,” Snow said. “In a game like this, you know both teams are going to put the ball in play. We had a couple of great turns up the middle. Eli’s throw from right field to get the runner out at home was a huge play. It was just a well-executed baseball game.”
A senior right-hander, Gordon took the loss, but threw well in defeat.
“Weston is our ace,” Alumbaugh said. “I think those are the first runs he’s allowed in like 42 innings. He pitched his butt off tonight. He’s been our guy all season. Arkansas State-Three Rivers is getting a fierce competitor.”
Gordon allowed two runs on six hits and four walks and struck out four in seven innings.
“Weston is a great pitcher and he had a great outing,” Snow said. “He was in the zone. We knew it was going to be a battle.”
The Cardinals had a little extra motivation, as the Mustangs beat the Cardinals 6-3 in the regular season meeting back in April.
“Our kids were pretty hungry after losing to them 6-3 (earlier in the season),” Snow noted.
“Last time, he struggled to throw strikes,” Alumbaugh said of Darnell’s early-season outing. “But we knew he’d be much better tonight. We knew he was their No. 1. He came out, threw strikes and they made routine plays behind him.”
Alumbaugh noted it was a fun game to be a part of, regardless of the final outcome.
“Great pitching and great defense…that’s what you want in a district championship game,” he said. “That’s what makes it fun.”
As far as Saturday’s opponent, Webb City defeated Kearney 8-5 earlier this season. The rematch will determine who advances to the semifinals.
As far as Snow, he was thrust into a head coaching role for the district title game, as Andrew Doennig was absent after being ejected from the district semifinal.
“Coach Doennig had a great game plan coming in and he’s involved all of us assistant coaches all year, so that really played a huge role in my confidence today,” Snow said.
VENUE CHANGE EQUALS LARGE CROWD
The district title game was originally scheduled to be played in Warrensburg.
The game’s location was changed to Neosho. And with that, fans of both schools were able to come out and cheer on their favorite team.
There were more than 500 fans in attendance at Roy B. Shaver Field, which created a great atmosphere for the district title game.
“Warrensburg has a great facility and they’re a great host, but not having to drive three hours one way was huge for us,” Alumbaugh said. “We were able to stay in our normal routine. And that type of crowd is what you want in a championship game.”
Snow had a similar view.
“It was a no-brainer to move the game here,” Snow said. “Having the big crowd here today was fantastic. Our crowd was awesome…their crowd was awesome. The atmosphere was great. I hope the atmosphere is even better at Chuck Barnes Field on Saturday.”
FULL STATS: Webb City HS (webbcitycardinals.com)
STATE SOFTBALL: Mount Vernon rolls past Fair Grove, to play for state title; Jasper falls in semis, finishes fourth
CLASS 2 SEMIFINALS
MOUNT VERNON 13, FAIR GROVE 2 (5 INNINGS)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Mount Vernon is one win away from clinching its first state softball title since the 2016 season after a dominant performance on Monday in the Class 2 semifinals against Fair Grove.
The Mountaineers (36-1) trailed 2-0 to the Eagles (19-5) before using a 13-run third inning to not only rally for the lead, but also put the Mountaineers in prime position for a chance to win a state title on Tuesday. Mount Vernon went on to finish off the win via run-rule in five innings.
The Mountaineers will play West County (24-3) for the Class 2 state title at 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday at the Killian Sports Complex.
Harley Daniels earned the complete-game win in the circle for the Mountaineers, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits, two walks and a strikeout in five innings.
Jaelah Mcdannald took the loss after allowing 13 runs on 15 hits and a walk in four innings.
Highlighting the 13-run third inning on offense—Rae Downing had an RBI triple, Hali Stokes, Ally Burk and Payge Evans each had RBI doubles and Cheyenne Bieber, Ava Bellis, Allie Schubert and Stokes had run-scoring singles.
Molly Daniels had three hits and scored twice, while Evans had two hits, including a double, scored twice and drove in one. Stokes doubled on the way to two hits, three RBI and a run score. Downing had two hits, including a triple, scored a run and drove in one. Burk had two hits, including a double, scored twice and drove in a run. Schubert had a hit, three RBI and a run scored, while Beiber had a hit, scored twice and drove in one.
CLASS 1 SEMIFINALS
CONCORDIA 10, JASPER 0 (6 INNINGS)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Concordia took an early lead before using a big fourth inning to pull away from Jasper in the semifinals of the Class 1 state softball tournament on Monday at the Killian Sports Complex.
The Orioles (27-1) pushed across two runs in the first inning before a third run scored in the bottom of the third. Concordia put the game out of reach with a six-run fourth inning before ending the contest early with a single tally in the sixth frame.
Olivia Hemme pitched a no-hitter in six innings to earn the win, striking out 14 and walking one.
Grace Osborne took the loss after allowing 10 runs, one earned, on 11 hits, a walk and two strikeouts in five innings for Jasper (22-13).
Hemme had three hits and scored a run, while Kirsten Streeter had two hits, three RBI and scored three times. Kiya Inman had two hits, an RBI and scored a run.
CLASS 1 THIRD-PLACE
ELLINGTON 13, JASPER 4
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Ellington scored three runs in each of the first three innings to build a 9-1 advantage on the way to the win over Jasper in the Class 1 third-place game on Monday.
The Eagles added a single tally in the fourth and traded two runs with the Whippets in the fifth frame before Ellington added two more runs in the seventh en route to the win.
Briley Bouma earned the win after allowing four runs on eight hits, eight strikeouts and two walks in seven innings.
Jasper finishes the season with a 22-14 record, graduating just one senior—Mercadez Scott.
Osborne took the loss after allowing 13 runs, four earned, on 11 hits, seven walks and six strikeouts in seven innings.
Livia Dumm had two hits, including a double, and scored a run, while Emersyn Bass had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Brie Haddock tripled and drove in a run. Alivea Roberts had a hit and an RBI.
SECTIONAL TRACK & FIELD: College Heights girls advance to state in Class 3; Lamar boys win team title
WEST PLAINS, Mo. — The College Heights Christian girls track team advanced to state in three events at Saturday’s Class 3 Sectional 3 meet at West Plains High School.
The top four finishers in each event advanced to next weekend’s state meet in Jefferson City.
College Heights Christian’s 4×400-meter relay team of Jesalin Bever, Jayli Johnson, Allie Stout and Lauren Ukena finished third in 4:15.
The CHC 4×200 relay team of Johnson, Stout, Ukena and Bever finished fourth with a time of 1:48.
A senior, Johnson finished fourth in the 400 with a time of 1:01.
In other events, Bever finished seventh in the 100 hurdles and Ukena was eighth in the 200.
The CHC girls finished eighth in the 4×100 relay, with Johnson, Stout, Ukena and Addison Lawrence competing.
LAMAR BOYS WIN TEAM TITLE
Lamar’s boys won the team title with 109 points. East Newton was second with 72.5, while Fair Grove was third with 69 and Owensville was fourth with 67.
Lamar’s boys won the 4×100, took second in the 4×800 and finished third in both the 4×200 and 4×400 relays.
Lamar’s Tyson Williams won the discus (149-9) and took second in the shot put (48-4.25).
Pierce Heins was the runner-up in the 400 and Jase Dillon was second in the high jump.
Also for the Tigers, Trace Wooldridge was third in the shot put, Ian Ngugi finished third in both the 100 and 200, Carson Sturgell took third in the pole vault, Cameron Sturgell was third in the javelin, Terrill Davis finished third in the long jump and Blaine Breshears was fourth in the 400.
OTHER CLASS 3 HIGHLIGHTS
East Newton’s Chase Sorrell won the 800 in 1:58 and took first in the 1600 with a time of 4:31. A junior, Sorrell was fourth in the 3200.
East Newton’s Michael Crowe won the high jump (6-1.25), Eden Enlow took first in the javelin (153-3) and Dominic Shaw won the shot put (48-9.75) and took second in the discus (148-11).
For the Cassville boys, Matteo Lumetta took third in the 3200, Caleb Leach finished fourth in the 800, Ashton Wheeler was fourth in the long jump and Charles Elliott took fourth in the 300 hurdles. Cassville won the boys 4×800 relay.
Mount Vernon’s Jacob Erpelding was fourth in the 110 hurdles and Aurora’s Daunte Floyd finished third in the triple jump.
On the girls side, Seneca’s Isabella Renfro won the shot put with a toss of 39-2.75.
Lamar’s Kiersten Potter won the 3200 in 11:33 and took second in the 1600 in 5:20, while Elise Ferris won the long jump (16-10) and Audra Lloyd finished third in the discus.
Mount Vernon’s Camryn Cornell was third in the high jump, Nina Cowherd placed fourth in the 100 and Kadence Krempges took fourth in the pole vault. Mount Vernon’s girls finished third in two relays, the 4×100 and the 4×200.
Cassville’s Jolie Evans finished third in the 800 and fourth in the 3200, while teammate Aaliyah Franklin took fourth in the discus.
Aurora’s Makena Hall won the 100 hurdles and the pole vault and took third in the long jump, while teammate Maisie Phillips was fourth in the 100 hurdles.
East Newton’s Brooke White finished third in the shot put.
Seneca’s Cambry Long just missed qualifying in the 400 after finishing fifth.
SECTIONAL TRACK & FIELD: Webb City, Carl Junction, McDonald County athletes advance to state
WEST PLAINS, Mo. — Webb City, Carl Junction and McDonald County all had multiple state qualifiers at Saturday’s Class 4 sectional 3 meet at West Plains High School.
The top four in each event advanced to next weekend’s state meet in Jefferson City.
One week after capturing a district championship, Webb City’s boys topped the final team standings at the sectional meet with 111 points. Marshfield was second with 95, while West Plains (94) and Rolla (74) were third and fourth.
Webb City’s girls were fifth in the team standings with 64 points.
The top four teams were Marshfield (108), Rockwood Summit (92), West Plains (78) and Washington (69).
WEBB CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Webb City’s boys advanced 13 entries to state in 11 events. The team had two qualifiers in two events, the pole vault and javelin.
The Cardinals won five events and finished second in two others to go along with four third-place finishes and two fourth-place showings.
Junior distance runner Evan Stevens was the sectional champion in two events. Stevens took first in the 1600 with a time of 4:25 and also won the 3200 in 9:47.
Cardinals senior Grayson Smith won the pole vault by clearing 15-11.75. Of course, Smith is the defending state champ in the event.
Webb City junior Nate Miller won the discus with a toss of 157-4 and junior Tucker Liberatore won the javelin with a toss of 171-7.
Sophomore Ryan Reid took second in the high jump (6-0), while junior Jadon Brisco was the runner-up to his teammate in the pole vault after clearing 14 feet.
Senior Trey Roets was third in the javelin (162-3), sophomore Eric Lathan took third in the shot put (50-10.75) and senior Jordan Thornburg finished fourth in the 100-meter dash (11.26).
The Cardinals advanced to state in three relays, as the 4×200 and 4×800 were third and the 4×400 finished fourth.
Mason Hedger, Dakota Grove, Noah Lankard and Stevens ran the 4×800.
The 4×400 featured Noah Moss, Gabe Johnson, Mason Hedger and Josh White.
Webb City’s 4×200 consisted of Thornburg, Gabe Johnson, William Headrick and White.
Webb City’s girls advanced to state in six events.
The Cardinals had two sectional champs, as junior Dawsyn Decker won the javelin with a toss of 139-3 and freshman Brooke Hedger won the 800 in 2:18.
Cardinals senior Abi Street was the runner-up in two events — the 1600 in 5:19 and the 3200 in 11:22.
Junior Aubree Lassiter finished fourth in the discus with a toss of 107-1.
Webb City’s girls finished third in the 4×100 relay in 50.34 seconds, with Kylie Jennings, Chase Stilley, Alyssa Moreno and Essence Robinson competing.
CARL JUNCTION HIGHLIGHTS
Carl Junction sophomore Sydney Ward was the sectional champion in two events — the 100-meter dash (12.31 seconds) and the 200-meter dash (24.92 seconds).
Carl Junction’s girls had three other individual qualifiers, as junior Acadia Badgley was the runner-up in the pole vault (10-0.5), sophomore Madilyn Olds finished third in the javelin (121-0) and freshman Bella Montez took fourth in the 300 hurdles (49.1).
Carl Junction’s 4×200 relay team of Olivia Battagler, Destiny Buerge, Dezi Williams and Ward advanced by finishing fourth.
For the Carl Junction boys, senior Donnie Keith advanced by finishing fourth in the discus (137-4).
MCDONALD COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
McDonald County’s boys advanced in three events.
The Mustangs finished second in the 4×400 relay in 3:29, with Dominic Cervantes, Hunter Leach, Dalton McClain and Josh Pacheco running.
The team of Sam Barton, Esteban Martinez-Olvera, Cervantes and Pacheco finished third in the 4×100 relay in 43.69 seconds.
Mac County’s Toby Moore placed third in the discus (141-8) to give the Mustangs an individual qualifier.
McDonald County’s girls 4×400 relay team of Ireona Nirka, Clara Horton, Anna Price and Corina Holland finished fourth in 4:13.
MONETT HIGHLIGHTS
Monett’s Konner Poynter won the 300 hurdles in 39.98 seconds. A senior, Poynter was the runner-up in two events, the 200 and the 110 hurdles.
Monett’s Vayla Smith took second in the girls 400.
BEACHLER WINS TWO EVENTS FOR NEVADA
WARRENSBURG, Mo. — Nevada senior Drew Beachler claimed a pair of sectional titles at the Class 4 Sectional 4 meet.
Beachler won the long jump with a leap of 22-0.25. He also won the triple jump with a mark of 44-1.25.
Beachler was Nevada’s lone state qualifier.
SECTIONAL TRACK & FIELD: Neosho boys continue historic season, win first sectional title
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Neosho Wildcats boys track and field squad made history for the third meet in a row, winning their first sectional title Saturday with 73 points in Class 5 Sectional 3 competition at Parkview High School’s JFK Stadium.
The Wildcats’ first sectional title follows their first district title since 1979 and their first Central Ozark Conference title, both of which Neosho earned in the final event, the 4×400 relay.
On Saturday, Neosho overtook the lead earlier on and held off second place Lafayette (Wildwood) and Waynesville, who each compiled 70 points.
Nixa placed fourth with 67 points, followed by Camdenton (59), Capital City (57), Joplin (57), Eureka (54), Kickapoo (48), Carthage (34), Republic (32), Willard (28), Ozark (25), Branson (22), Parkview (13), Lebanon (11), Glendale (4), and Springfield Central (4).
On the girls side, meanwhile, Lafayette tallied 92 points to earn the sectional crown, followed by Republic (82), Capital City (71), Kickapoo (69), Glendale (55), Ozark (54), Nixa (47), Eureka (41), Joplin (37), Willard (35), Lebanon (33), Camdenton (29), Northwest (21), Carthage (19), Branson (15), Waynesville (14), Parkview (11), and Springfield Central (7).
The top four finishers in each event Saturday qualified for the state track and field championships May 26-27 in Jefferson City.
NEOSHO HIGHLIGHTS
The Wildcats have already earned the right to call their season historic, but they have one more chapter to write next week in Jefferson City with their six state qualifiers.
Izaiah Hill and Collyn Kivett not only won sectional titles Saturday, but they also established school records in their respective events (Isaiah Hill 400-meter dash and Kivett javelin).
Hill won the 400 in 49.41 seconds and Kivett won the javelin with a toss of 173 feet, 5 inches.
Tyrese Hill finished second in both the 100 in 11.04 and the 200 in 21.84, and his time in the 200 established a school record.
The Hills combined for 26 points in three sprinting events.
Jared Siler claimed a sectional title with a clearance of 6-5 in the high jump and he earned a second qualification for state with a second in the long jump at 22-6.
Isaiah Green and Carter Baslee finished just short of state in three events (Green fifth in triple jump and sixth in long jump; Baslee fifth in discus), but their points in their respective events helped Neosho stay atop the team standings Saturday.
JOPLIN HIGHLIGHTS
The Eagles qualified for state in 11 events Saturday with senior distance runner Hobbs Campbell leading the boys in three events and freshman sprinter Brylee Strickland sparking the girls in four events.
Campbell won the 1600 in 4:16 and finished third in the 3200 in 9:48 and the 800 in 1:54, while Strickland placed second in the 400 in 58.94, third in the 200 in 25.58, fourth in the 100 in 12.57, and she ran the anchor leg for the 4×100 that finished third in 49.14.
Strickland was the lone freshman runner among those who qualified in the 100, 200, and 400 on the girls side.
Back on the boys side, senior Orion Norris placed fourth in the 200 in 22.53, the 4×100 finished third in 42.85, freshman Cordell Washington finished third in the high jump at 6-4 and senior Drew VanGilder finished third in the javelin at 167-7.
CARTHAGE HIGHLIGHTS
The Tigers qualified for state in six events, four on the boys and two on the girls side.
On the boys side, Carthage senior Miguel Solano won a sectional title in the 800, leading a field where the top four finishers were separated by a mere .58.
Solano won with a time of 1:54.49, besting Waynesville’s Tyrell Phinn (1:54.73), Campbell (1:54.78), and Capital City’s Keion Grieve (1:55.07).
Trent Yates placed fourth in the triple jump with a personal record of 43-9 getting the sophomore to state as the youngest qualifier from Class 5 Sectional 3.
Solano’s fellow senior Micah Lindsey placed fourth in the shot put with a throw of 57-6.
Junior hurdler Daryl Martin placed fourth in the 300 hurdles in 41.00 and just missed on another state qualification with a fifth in the 110 hurdles in 15.65.
On the girls side, freshman Chasity Straw earned her first state qualification with a third in the discus at 114-6.
Sophomore thrower Karlie Nichols placed fourth in the shot put at 34-7.
Senior Joey Hettinger just missed qualifying after finishing fifth in the high jump.
STATE TRACK: TJ’s Atteberry, McAuley’s Ramsey earn all-state honors
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Thomas Jefferson senior Kip Atteberry concluded his stellar prep career by making one final trip to the awards podium at the MSHSAA Track and Field Championships.
Competing in Class 1 on Saturday at Adkins Stadium, Atteberry finished fourth in the 3200-meter run with a time of 10:15.
Atteberry earned a pair of medals on Friday after finishing fourth in the 1600 and fifth in the 800. With that, Atteberry earned all-state honors in three events.
At last year’s state meet, Atteberry took third in the 3200, fourth in the 1600 and seventh in the 800.
Atteberry wasn’t the only local state medalist.
McAuley Catholic junior Kendall Ramsey finished sixth in the girls 1600 with a time of 5:39 to earn a spot on the podium.
On Friday, Ramsey finished ninth in the 3200. The top eight in each event are medalists.
It was Ramsey’s second straight year competing at state, as she finished 10th in the 3200 in ’22.
In other boys events, McAuley Catholic senior Joe Staton finished 14th in the pole vault (9-5.25) and McAuley sophomore Tripp Miller finished 16th in the javelin (115-4).
In other girls action, Thomas Jefferson’s Lannah Grigg was 13th in the discus (98-7) and teammate Avery Hocker finished 16th in the triple jump (29-6).
On Friday, Thomas Jefferson’s Macie Shifferd took 13th in the 3200 (13:13) and Nico Carlson placed 13th in the high jump (4-9). TJ’s Gabriella Hiebert finished 14th in two events, the long jump (15-2.75) and the high jump (4-7).
LIBERAL FARES WELL IN CLASS 1
Liberal’s Wyatt Pryor finished third in the discus and teammate Kale Marti was fifth in the high jump.
On the girls side, Liberal’s Taylor Swarnes was sixth in the girls 400, Abby Barton was sixth in the 800 and Kylee Melton finished seventh in the pole vault. Liberal’s girls were fifth in the 4×400.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS COMPETES IN CLASS 2
College Heights Christian junior Caleb Quade just missed a spot on the podium after finishing ninth in the triple jump (40-7.75).
On Friday, Quade finished 10th in the long jump (19-8.25).
The Cougars finished 12th in the prelims of the 4×200 relay on Friday, with Logan Decker, Levi Durling, Quade and Colsen Dickens competing.
JASPER’S SMITH CAPTURES GOLD, FOUR MEDALS
Jasper sophomore Crystal Smith won the girls 100-meter hurdles in 15.27 seconds.
Smith earned a medal in four events in Class 2. In addition to capturing gold in the 100 hurdles, Smith finished fourth in the high jump (5-2.5), seventh in the 200 (26.98) and eighth in the 300 hurdles (49.16).
OTHER CLASS 2 HIGHLIGHTS
Sarcoxie’s 4×200 relay team of Jocelyn Benito, Madison Chrisman, Jordyn Misner and Abbey Lawyer finished fifth.
Pierce City’s Hayden Kramer was third in the discus and teammate Emma Hunt finished fifth in the 3200 and sixth in the 1600.
On the boys side, Sarcoxie’s Jaron Malotte placed third in the 110 hurdles and Diamond’s Zachary Roughton placed fourth in the 300 hurdles.
STATE TRACK & FIELD: TJ’s Atteberry earns pair of medals on Day 1
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Thomas Jefferson senior Kip Atteberry earned medalist honors in two events at the 2023 MSHSAA Track and Field Championships on Friday at Adkins Stadium.
Competing in Class 1, Atteberry finished fourth in the 1600 with a time of 4 minutes, 33 seconds to earn medalist honors.
Atteberry also finished fifth in the 800 in 2:02 to earn a second trip to the podium.
Atteberry will compete in the 3200 on Saturday, where he’ll look to earn a third medal.
Thomas Jefferson senior Tyler Brouhard finished 13th in the prelims of the 200-meter dash (24.57) and 15th in the prelims of the 100-meter dash (11.93). The top eight moved on to the finals.
For the Thomas Jefferson girls, Macie Shifferd took 13th in the 3200 (13:13) and Nico Carlson placed 13th in the high jump (4-9). Gabriella Hiebert finished 14th in two events, the long jump (15-2.75) and the high jump (4-7).
McAuley Catholic’s Kendall Ramsey finished ninth in the 3200 with a time of 12:23, just missing medalist honors.
A junior, Ramsey will compete in the 1600 on Saturday.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS COMPETES IN CLASS 2
The College Heights boys are competing in Class 2.
The Cougars finished 12th in the prelims of the 4×200 relay in 1:35, with Logan Decker, Levi Durling, Caleb Quade and Colsen Dickens competing.
Quade finished 10th in the long jump (19-8.25).
Also in Class 2, Sarcoxie’s Jaron Malotte finished fifth in the boys pole vault (13-0.25).
Pierce City’s Hayden Kramer finished third in the girls discus (122-5) and teammate Emma Hunt was fifth in the girls 3200 (11:45).
The state meet will conclude on Saturday.
