Joplin’s doubles team of Adam Badr and Josiah Hazlewood and Neosho singles player Reid Snyder were the top local finishers at the 2023 Central Ozark Conference boys tennis tournament on Wednesday at the Joplin Athletic Complex courts.
Joplin’s Badr and Hazlewood finished second at No. 1 doubles, while Snyder was the runner-up at No. 2 singles.
NO. 1 DOUBLES
In the bracket’s championship match, Willard’s Dawson Amstutz and Seth Miller defeated Joplin’s Badr-Hazlewood 8-4.
In the quarterfinals, Badr-Hazlewood defeated Webb City’s Felipe Perez and Tristan Lynch 8-4.
“They were down 1-4 against Webb City but were able to rally back to win that round,” Joplin coach Aaron Stump said. “They followed it up with a tight match against Branson, which went into a tie-break. They played well against Willard as well but lost the championship match.”
In the semifinals, the Eagles defeated Branson’s Jack Dawson-Preston Volz 9-8 (10-9) to advance to the title match, where they settled for the silver medals.
The Branson duo defeated Republic’s Elder-Cole 8-6 in the third-place match.
Webb City’s Perez-Lynch defeated CJ’s William Russel-Blaine Wilkerson 8-2 in the play-in round before falling to the Eagles.
Neosho’s duo of Willis Jarvis and Peyton Williams and Carthage’s tandem of Silas Laytham and Danilo Lopez dropped their opening matches.
NO. 2 DOUBLES
Branson’s duo of Joshua Brown and Zachary Zander defeated Ozark’s Benjamin Romano-Nicholas Psarev 8-4 in the championship match of the No. 2 doubles bracket.
In the third-place match, Willard’s Brigham Thedell-Gabriel Hernandez defeated Nixa’s Nathan Uptown-Rowley and Tyler Neal 8-6.
Neosho’s Breckin McAffrey and Noah Schade defeated Joplin’s Michael Mancipe and Hunter Merkley 8-2 in the opening round, but lost to Ozark’s Romano-Psarvev 8-4 in the quarterfinals.
Carthage’s Will Wallace and Fabian Solano defeated Republic’s Gavin Collyott-Caleb Long 8-3, but then fell to Nixa in the quarterfinals, 8-5.
Carl Junction’s Jayden Wolf-Samuel Cory and Webb City’s Zachary Stump-Jacob Russel dropped their opening-round matches.
NO. 1 SINGLES
Willard’s Caden Lingenfelser was the champion at No. 1 singles.
In the bracket’s title match, Lingenfelser defeated Branson’s Nathan Bartram 8-1.
Nixa’s Carson Palmer defeated Ozark’s Connor Kitchin 8-3 in the third-place match.
Joplin’s Leif Garrity defeated Neosho’s Christian Williams 8-1 in the play-in round but lost to Bartram 8-3 in the quarterfinals.
Carl Junction’s Jordan Markham, Carthage’s Charles Snow and Webb City’s Jacob McDonald all went 0-1.
NO. 2 SINGLES
In the title match at No. 2 singles, Branson’s Benjamin Merrifield defeated Neosho’s Snyder 8-1.
Snyder edged Ozark’s Ethan Fast 9-8 (7-5) in the quarterfinals and got past Carthage’s Josh Rivera 9-8 (8-6) in the semifinals.
In the bracket’s third-place match, Carthage’s Rivera defeated Carl Junction’s Daniel Hodson 8-4.
Hodson defeated Webb City’s Trevor Peterson 8-5 in the quarterfinals and suffered an 8-4 loss to Merrifield in the semifinals.
Joplin’s Oscar Kienzle and Webb City’s Peterson both went 0-1.
In the regular-season finale, Branson defeated Joplin 8-1 in a boys tennis dual on Wednesday.
The match was held after the Central Ozark Conference tourney at the Joplin Athletic Complex courts.
This dual match was played after the COC tournament concluded today at the Joplin Athletic Complex. The contest was originally scheduled for Thursday, but was moved up due to the weather forecast.
“The guys had a long day of tennis, but they avoided being shut out by Branson with a strong performance at No. 3 doubles,” Joplin coach Aaron Stump said. “We had a much better showing than last year, when we only won six games.”
At No. 1 doubles, Branson’s Nathan Bartram and Jack Dawson defeated Adam Badr and Josiah Hazlewood 6-1.
At No. 2 doubles, Branson’s Benjamin Merrifield and Preston Volz beat Michael Mancipe-Hunter Merkley 6-1.
At No. 3 doubles, Joplin’s Leif Garrity and Oscar Kienzle defeated Benjamin Stark-Joshua Brown 6-4.
“Leif and Oscar were able to extend points and win longer rallies, which gave them the win,” Stump said.
The Pirates swept all six singles matches.
Bartram defeated Badr 8-3, Merrifield beat Hazlewood 8-1, Dawson topped Garrity 8-4, Volz beat Merkley 8-0, Stark defeated Kienzle 8-2 and Brown beat Roman Venturella 8-1.
POSTSEASON AWAITS
Joplin will compete at the individual district tournament on Saturday at Lee’s Summit North High School.
Seventh-seeded Joplin will take on second-seeded Lee’s Summit at 4 p.m. on Monday in the quarterfinals of the Class 3 District 6 team tournament at Lee’s Summit High School.
The winner advances to the semifinals on Tuesday, May 9.
In Monday’s other quarterfinal action, fifth-seeded Carthage meets fourth-seeded Lee’s Summit North and third-seeded Lee’s Summit West takes on sixth-seeded Raymore-Peculiar.
Top-seeded Rockhurst awaits the LSN-Carthage winner in the semifinals on May 9.
Note: See a related story on Wednesday’s Central Ozark Conference Tournament.
WEBB CITY, Mo. — Tuesday’s Central Ozark Conference game between the host Webb City Cardinals and the visiting Joplin Eagles demonstrated how every little thing adds up and makes a difference.
Webb City second baseman Sam Weller and courtesy runner Andrew Elwell ran wild on the bases with a combined eight stolen bases and Weller scored two of the Cardinals’ three runs, while Joplin struggled on the bases with one runner picked off at second base by Webb City starter Kaylor Darnell and another caught in a rundown between second and third and eventually tagged out at third for the second out in the last chance seventh during a 3-0 win for Webb City at Chuck Barnes Field.
“You’re able to take advantage of some stuff on the bases to put yourself in a better scoring position,” Webb City coach Andrew Doennig said. “I was pretty happy to see our guys moving around the bases and creating some pressure on them.”
“We made too many mistakes in critical situations, most notably on the basepaths and against a good team like they are, when you have your opportunities, you can’t run yourself out of innings with mistakes on the bases,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “The frustrating part is that it’s stuff that we coach on a daily basis, and I’ve just got to be a better coach to get them to understand the importance of those things and why they matter in big situations in a game. I’m not doing a good enough job of getting them to understand that those things matter and that we have to do those little things correctly.”
Webb City senior Kaylor Darnell delivers a pitch to the plate against Joplin on Tuesday at Barnes Field. Photo by Israel Perez.
Webb City is now 16-9 overall and 7-1 in conference, while Joplin is 6-16 overall and 1-6 in conference.
Darnell and Walker Sweet combined on a four-hit shutout, besting Joplin pitchers Byler Reither and Kutler Schwarting who allowed five hits over their six innings.
“Kaylor did a great job battling through 6 1/3,” Doennig said. “He always does a great job staying in the game, so that’s what you ask for in a starter, to give you a chance and he gave up four hits, had one walk and nine strikeouts and that’s a pretty good stat line.”
Darnell finished at 86 pitches, nearly 75 percent of them for strikes, and his sharpness included nine strikeouts and one walk.
Sweet came on in relief and picked up the last two outs.
Offensively, Shaun Hunt and Gage Chapman each led Webb City with two hits and Weller had the Cardinals’ first hit of the game with a single to right.
Weller stole second, stole third, and then scored the game’s first run on a throwing error trying to get him out at third.
Cy Darnell worked one of his two walks on the day and worked his way around the bases to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead after one.
The Cardinals scored their last run in the third in a similar fashion as their first: Weller led off with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on a steal of home.
Webb City honored seniors Cy Darnell, William Hayes, Kenley Hood, Sweet, Eli Miller, Kaylor Darnell, Landon Johnson, Chapman, Tyler Marbut, and Evan Freeman between the varsity and the JV game Tuesday.
Joplin starter Reither took the loss and he allowed three runs (all earned) on four hits over five innings with two strikeouts and five walks.
Schwarting pitched a strong sixth inning and he worked through one Webb City hit with two strikeouts during his 12-pitch outing.
Joplin’s Byler Reither fields a ground ball during Tuesday’s game against Webb City.
Caden Shoemaker led Joplin with two hits, including a perfect bunt single in the third, and Brady Mails and Cole Lawrence each had one.
“I thought we had a good offensive approach,” Wolf said. “We didn’t chase a lot and found a way. We had baserunners throughout the course of the game with opportunities to try and score. Maybe one inning where it was a pretty quiet inning.
“Byler didn’t have his best stuff by any means today, but I thought he competed, settled in, and to get him into the fifth inning for us was huge. It was a credit to him for competing and keeping us in a situation where if we don’t have some baserunning miscues, a base hit puts us right in the midst of the game to have an opportunity to win it.
“It’s just disappointing because those are little things that really take no talent, they just take focus to understand that we have to do it better.”
The Cardinals have one conference game remaining and it’s a big one Thursday with a share of the COC at stake between a pair of 7-1 teams in conference play in Willard.
“I told the kids after our game in Nixa (8-7 loss on April 20) that if we want a chance to play for the conference championship, you’ve got to win the rest of ’em,” Doennig said. “They’ve done a great job since then, won some close ones, and gave us a chance to play for one, so we’ll go to Willard on Thursday. They’re a good team, so we’ll be ready to play.”
The Cardinals take a five-game winning streak into a critical game, while the Tigers, 21-8 overall, are on a 10-game winning streak with a 7-6 win Tuesday over Branson on a walk-off from Cooper Hampton setting themselves up for Thursday.
Willard also moved into the second spot in the latest Class 5 state rankings released Tuesday by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association.
Meanwhile, Republic improved to 16-9 overall and 7-1 COC with a huge 7-2 win Tuesday over eighth-ranked in Class 6 Nixa, and the Tigers have their chance to clinch their share of the COC when they host Neosho (14-12, 2-6 COC) on Thursday.
Joplin returns to action Wednesday and Thursday on the road against conference foes Ozark and Branson.
Webb City first baseman Kenley Hood attempts to haul in a pick-off throw against Joplin’s Caden Shoemaker on Tuesday afternoon at Barnes Field. Photos by Israel Perez.Joplin’s Byler Reither delivers a pitch to the plate against Webb City on Tuesday.
Joplin’s Landon Maples is pictured during Tuesday’s game against Webb City.
MONETT, Mo. — Lamar’s boys and Marshfield’s girls captured the team championships at the Big 8 Conference Track Meet on Tuesday at Monett High School.
The top five boys teams were Lamar (133), Marshfield (111), East Newton (79), Monett (71.5) and Cassville (58.5).
The top five girls teams were Marshfield (153.5), Cassville (71), Lamar (66), Rogersville (64) and Aurora (60).
BOYS HIGHLIGHTS
Monett’s Konner Poynter won three events — the 110 hurdles, the 300 hurdles and the 400. Poynter took second in the 200.
East Newton’s Chase Sorrell took first in three events — the 800, the 1600 and the 3200.
Lamar’s Ian Ngugi crossed the line first in both the 100 and 200.
Other individual event winners were East Newton’s Dominic Shaw (discus) and Michael Crowe (high jump), Monett’s Joshua Harvey (shot put), Nevada’s Drew Beachler (long jump) and Marshfield’s Bryant Bull (triple jump, javelin) and Travis Greenfield (pole vault).
For McDonald County, Hunter Leach took third in the 800, Andrew Moritz placed third in the javelin, Josh Pacheco finished third in the 200 and Toby Moore was fourth in the discus.
Also for Lamar, Pierce Heins took second in the 400, Jase Dillon was the runner-up in the high jump, Tyson Williams was second in the discus, Trace Wooldridge took second in the shot put, Terrill Davis took third in the triple jump, Carson Sturgell placed third in the pole vault and fourth in the javelin, Cameron Bailey was fourth in the 800 and Orry Jones took fourth in the 300 hurdles.
GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS
Aurora’s Makena Hall won three events — the 100 hurdles, the long jump and the pole vault.
Other individual event winners were Lamar’s Kiersten Potter (3200), Monett’s Vayla Smith (400), Cassville’s Aaliyah Franklin (discus), Hollister’s Katherine Schaefer (800, 1600), Rogersville’s Grace Johnson (300 hurdles) and Marshfield’s Emma Dinkins (100), Cassie Fishel (200), Adyson Clark (shot put), Grace Kimrey (high jump), Abigail McBride (triple jump) and Lauren Luebbert (javelin).
McDonald County’s Anissa Ramirez was the runner-up in the javelin and Corina Holland finished second in the 400. Also for the Mustangs, Carlie Martin took fourth in the triple jump and Lacey Nix tied for fourth in the pole vault.
Seneca’s Isabella Renfro placed third in the shot put and Cambry Long finished third in the 400 and fourth in the 200.
Big 8 Track Meet
Boys team scores: Lamar 133, Marshfield 111, East Newton 79, Monett 71.5, Cassville 58.5, McDonald County 56.5, Rogersville 54, Hollister 37, Aurora 36, Reeds Spring 34, Nevada 31.5, Mount Vernon 18, Springfield Catholic 14, Seneca 7.
Girls team scores: Marshfield 153.5, Cassville 71, Lamar 66, Rogersville 64, Aurora 60, Monett 57, Reeds Spring 53.5, Mount Vernon 51, McDonald County 51, Seneca 32, Hollister 28, Nevada 26, East Newton 15, Springfield Catholic 13.
Neosho rallied big in the middle innings en route to a Central Ozark Conference win over Carthage on Tuesday at Joe Becker Stadium.
The Wildcats trailed 3-1 before tying the game at 4s by the end of three frames. Neosho added three runs in the fourth and six runs in the fifth to build a nine-run cushion. Carthage used a grand slam in the sixth to get back into striking distance.
Kael Smith earned the win after allowing eight runs, five earned, on seven hits, two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings.
Brodie Cole took the loss after allowing seven runs on nine hits, two walks and five strikeouts in four innings.
Neosho started the game’s scoring when Eli Zar deposited the third pitch of the game over the wall for a leadoff home run in top of the first inning.
Carthage responded with a three-run third inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Ethan Stark to give the Tigers a 3-1 lead.
Brody Crane singled through the left side in the top of the second inning to trim Neosho’s deficit to 3-2 before the Tigers added insurance in the bottom of the second inning when Ty Perry singled home a run to push the lead back to two, 4-2.
Neosho plated two runs in the third inning to tie the game at 4-all after Zar tripled and came home on a groundout by Wyatt Shadwick before Carter Fenske tied the game with a run-scoring single later in the frame.
Neosho took the lead for good with a three-run fourth inning, fueled by an RBI single from Zar as well as a two-run single from Austin Rodriguez.
After batting around the order in the top of the fifth inning, the Wildcats put the game out of reach after touching home six more times. Zar had his fourth hit of the game, an RBI single, and Quenton Hughes added a two-run single to highlight the scoring.
Carthage refused to go away, with Clay Kinder belting a grand slam as part of a five-run sixth inning to trim the Tigers’ deficit to 13-9.
Zar was a double shy of the cycle, with a homer, triple and two singles as well as four runs scored and three RBI to lead Neosho at the plate. Shadwick, who doubled, had two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Hughes finished with two hits, two RBI and scored twice, while Fenske doubled on the way to two hits, a run scored and an RBI.
Drew Musche had two hits and scored a run, while Kinder hit a grand slam and led the team with four RBI and scored a run. Bradyn Tate doubled and scored three runs.
Neosho (14-12, 2-6 COC) travels to Republic on Wednesday.
Carthage (3-24, 0-8 COC) is at Ozark on Thursday.
SENECA 9, EAST NEWTON 2
GRANBY, Mo. — Seneca scored twice in the second inning, three times in the third and four times in the sixth to earn a convincing Big 8 West Conference win on Tuesday.
Grant Houchin earned the win after allowing one run on six hits and six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
Mason Hailey took the loss after allowing five runs on two hits, two walks and three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings.
Houchin had three hits, three RBI and scored a run for Seneca. Colton Curtis had two hits and drove in a pair.
Braiden VanLue had three hits and scored a run for East Newton.
Seneca (13-10) hosts Aurora and Parkview on Saturday.
OZARK 5, CARL JUNCTION 4
OZARK, Mo. — Ozark built an early lead and held off Carl Junction’s late rally for a Central Ozark Conference win on Tuesday.
Ozark scored three runs in the first behind a two-run double from B Sundie and twice more in the third inning on back-to-back bases-loaded walks for a 5-1 advantage.
Bentley Rowden doubled home a run for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to three runs and Wyatt McAfee added a two-run single with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the deficit to 5-4. CJ had the tying run on third when the game ended on a strikeout.
Alex Nimmo earned the win after allowing four runs, one earned, on seven hits, a walk and four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Lucas Vanlanduit took the loss after allowing five runs, one earned, on three hits, six walks and six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
Rowden had two hits, including a double, and an RBI, while McAfee had two hits and two RBI. Brody Pant had a triple on the way to two hits and an RBI.
Carl Junction (8-15, 2-6 COC) is at Nixa on Thursday.
JASPER 7, COLLEGE HEIGHTS 3 (8 INNINGS)
Jasper scored four times in the eighth inning and limited College Heights to one run in the extra frame on the way to a win on Tuesday.
Gage Hall highlighted the eighth inning for Jasper with the go-ahead double to right field.
Treyton Richardt earned the win after allowing three runs, one earned, on give hits and nine strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.
Josh Anderson took the loss in relief after allowing four unearned runs on two hits, three walks and four strikeouts in two innings. Smoke Ezell started for CHC and allowed three runs on six hits, a walk and six strikeouts in six innings.
Quentin Winans had four hits, three RBI and scored a run for Jasper.
Ben Thomas had two hits for CHC, while Philip Thompson had a hit and scored a run and Bo Sitton had a hit and drove in a run.
College Heights (6-11) hosts Marionville on Wednesday.
The Joplin High School boys tennis team defeated Carl Junction 8-1 on Tuesday night.
“We had a great dual tonight,” Joplin coach Aaron Stump said. “The guys had solid matches, only losing at No. 2 doubles.”
At No. 1 doubles, Joplin’s Adam Badr and Josiah Hazlewood defeated Jordan Markham and Daniel Hodson 8-3.
Carl Junction’s William Russel and Jayden Wolf edged Michael Mancipe-Hunter Merkley 8-6 at No. 2 doubles.
At No. 3 doubles, Joplin’s Leif Garrity and Oscar Kienzle beat Hayden Wilkerson-Samuel Cory 8-4.
The Eagles won all six singles matches.
Badr defeated Markham 8-1, Hazlewood edged Hodson 8-6, Garrity handled Russel 8-1, Merkley beat Wolf 8-1, Kienzle got past Wilkerson 9-8 (7-2) and Roman Venturella defeated Cory 8-5.
All of the close singles matches went Joplin’s way.
“Josiah fought hard for his singles win and played out a lot of longer points,” Stump said. “Oscar was down a game for most of the match but was able to get back and win in a tie-breaker. Roman came back from 1-4 to win his match. He adjusted his swing and got back into his rhythm to turn things around tonight.”
WEBB CITY 7, NEOSHO 2
Webb City won two of three doubles matches and five of the six singles matches to earn a COC win over the Wildcats.
At No. 1 doubles, Webb City’s Jacob McDonald and Tristan Lynch beat Christian Williams-Willis Jarvis 8-4, while Felipe Perez-Zach Stump defeated Neosho’s Reid Snyder-Peyton Williams 8-4 at No. 2.
At No. 3 doubles, Neosho’s Breckin McAffrey-Noah Schade defeated Jacob Russell-Kaden Cox 8-4.
Webb City’s McDonald defeated Christian Williams 8-3, Perez edged Jarvis 9-7, Lynch beat Snyder 8-3, Stump topped Peyton Williams 8-4 and Cox nipped Schade 9-8 (7-5).
Neosho’s McAffrey defeated Russell 8-5.
Note: Joplin, Carl Junction, Webb City and Neosho will be among the teams competing at the Central Ozark Conference Tournament on Wednesday.
THOMAS JEFFERSON 9, AURORA 0
Thomas Jefferson’s boys tennis team improved to 10-0 this season by beating Aurora on Tuesday.
In doubles matches, Thomas Jefferson’s Prithvi Nagarajan and Devan Murali beat Landon Boatwright-Braxton Jackson 8-0, while Chengle Qian and Jack Goodhue defeated Greysen Boettler-Adam Bland 8-0 and Sam Li and Nathaniel Curtis topped Mario Jimenez-Wyatt Lawson 8-4.
In singles matches, Nagarajan beat Boatwright 8-0, Murali topped Jackson 8-2, Qian handled Boettler 8-0, Goodhue defeated Bland 8-1, Li edged Jimenez 8-6 and Curtis beat Lawson 8-0.
The College Heights Christian (with McAuley Catholic) softball team swept a doubleheader on Tuesday at the College Heights Athletic Complex.
The Cougars defeated Greenfield 18-0 in three innings in the opener and East Newton 7-0 in the nightcap.
College Heights is now 18-5 on the season.
In Game 1, College Heights erupted for 11 runs in the bottom of the first inning.
The Cougars plated seven more runs in the second inning, and the game ended after the top of the third due to the run rule.
Kloee Williamson and Jayli Johnson both went 3-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored, while Lauren Ukena homered and drove in four runs. Johnson had two doubles.
Maddy Colin had two RBI, while Addison Lawrence, Allie Stout, Aaliyah Perez, Avery Shumaker and Emma Angel all contributed one RBI apiece.
Johnson was the winning pitcher. She allowed one hit and struck out two in three innings.
Colin was stellar in the circle in Game 2.
Colin struck out 14 and allowed just three hits in seven innings to earn the pitching victory.
The Cougars out-hit the Patriots 10-3.
Colin had three hits at the plate, while Williamson and Johnson contributed two hits apiece. Williamson homered, while Colin and Johnson tripled. Lawrence and Colin recorded doubles.
The Cougars scored twice in the third, four times in the fifth and once in the sixth.
College Heights will conclude the regular season on Thursday with a home game against Diamond. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Carthage’s Owen Derryberry and Carl Junction’s Jack Spencer were the top two finishers at the COC Boys Golf Tournament. Derryberry won a second playoff hole after the two were tied after 18 holes.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — With the pressure on, and with an individual conference championship on the line, Carthage’s Owen Derryberry sank a dramatic 30-foot putt to put a final exclamation point on a long day of golf.
Derryberry’s impressive putt concluded a second playoff hole against Carl Junction’s Jack Spencer and gave the CHS junior medalist honors at the 2023 Central Ozark Conference Boys Golf Tournament on Tuesday at Briarbrook Golf Course.
That’s not all. Derryberry’s performance led the way as Carthage captured the COC’s team championship.
“I feel really good right now,” Derryberry said. “I started out rough today, but I pulled it together and played pretty well. It was like a sigh of relief to see that last putt go in. I’m just proud of our whole team for being COC champs. We want to win districts next. That’s the next goal.”
On a near perfect day to play, Derryberry and Spencer both fired 1-under-par 71 at the conclusion of 18 holes.
The first playoff hole, No. 10, ended with the pair still deadlocked.
After two swings on No. 18, Derryberry ended the tourney in dramatic fashion, converting from 30 feet out.
“He got really hot today,” Carthage coach James Newman said of Derryberry. “He had five birdies in six holes and that gave him a lot of confidence. He’s a gritty player. And on that last putt, you could see the confidence…he knew he made a good putt.”
The Tigers turned in a four-person score of 308, three strokes better than Carl Junction, to capture the team championship.
“I’m really proud of them,” Newman said moments after his team posed for photos with the conference championship plaque. “I feel excellent about how they played today. They were struggling the last few weeks to their standards. They were playing really well at the beginning of the year and they’re playing really well right now. It feels good to watch them succeed out there and to see their hard work come to fruition.”
Carthage senior Max Templeman tied for fifth place with a 76 and classmate Britt Coy tied for seventh with a 77.
Also for the Tigers, senior Ben Nicholas shot an 84 and sophomore Luke Lewis carded 103.
Of note, Carthage finished sixth at last year’s COC tourney in Branson.
This year, the Tigers have won four tourney championships (Joplin, Horton Smith, Pittsburg, COC) ahead of postseason play.
Carthage’s Owen Derryberry putts during Tuesday’s Central Ozark Conference Boys Golf Tournament at Briarbrook Golf Course.
SPENCER, BULLDOGS SETTLE FOR SECOND
Carl Junction finished second in the team standings.
That’s been a common theme of the ’23 season, Bulldogs coach Ryan Jones noted.
“We’re a good golf team and we continue to finish second,” Jones said. “It can be frustrating, but we are a very good golf team. Maybe our time is coming. The COC is a really tough conference. This might be the most-talented field that I can remember in 20 years. For us to be second and in the mix, I won’t lose sight of that. If it was easy to win, everyone would do it. We’re waiting for our moment. We’ll get there.”
Just a sophomore, Spencer had an impressive showing, but could only watch as Derryberry sank the winning putt.
“Owen made a great putt,” Spencer said. “I don’t feel like I lost the playoff hole…he just made a really good putt. Owen’s a good friend and he’s a great player.
“I thought I played really solid today,” Spencer added. “I bogeyed the first and third holes, but didn’t have any bogeys after that. I played pretty steady. When you shoot 1-under with three birdies that means you’re playing pretty consistently. I had a lot of stress-free pars. I putted better today and that’s something I’ve been struggling with. Of course, more than anything, I wanted to win.”
Coach Jones noted he was proud of Spencer’s performance.
“Jack is a competitor and a bulldog,” Jones said. “I appreciate the way he plays the game. He’s going to attack and he competes his tail off. Jack’s a talented kid and he had a good day.”
In addition to Spencer’s runner-up finish, Carl Junction senior Jacob Teeter was one of five players who tied for seventh place with a 77.
Just outside of the top 10 was junior Tommy Walker, who carded 78. Also competing for the Bulldogs were freshmen Austin Baker (85) and Logan Lowry (86).
SATTERLEE LEADS JOPLIN
Joplin sophomore Harry Satterlee tied for third place, as he and Nixa’s Noah Naugle both shot 74.
Satterlee was the medalist at last year’s COC tourney in Branson, but his repeat bid fell just a few strokes short.
“I thought Harry played pretty consistently,” Joplin coach Jack Pace said.
Joplin finished seventh in the team standings with a 332.
Also competing for the Eagles were Ian Surbrugg (80), Dylan Bozarth (88), Hobbs Campbell (90) and Cash Tyson (101).
“330 or so isn’t bad,” Pace said of the team finish. “A couple of years ago, 330 probably would have won some tournaments. But golf in this area has gotten a lot better.”
THIS ‘N THAT
Defending champion Nixa finished third in the team standings behind Carthage and Carl Junction with a 312.
Ozark finished fourth in the team standings with a 321 and Webb City finished fifth with a 329.
Rounding out the team standings were Willard (330), Joplin (332), Branson (338), Republic (343) and Neosho (380).
Cooper Forth (79) and Braxten Cahoon (80) led the way for Webb City, while Levi Lassiter (85), Braden McKee (85) and Jackson Lucas (94) also competed.
The Neosho Wildcats were led by Colby Shadwick (89) and Collier Hendricks (93).
The top 10 finishers were recognized as all-conference performers. There were actually 11 golfers who garnered all-COC recognition this year due to ties.
Carthage’s Templeman tied with Republic’s Jace Henry for fifth, as both carded 76.
In addition to Carthage’s Coy and CJ’s Teeter, tying for seventh place with 77s were Ozark’s Boston Huddleston, Willard’s Cole McMillan and Republic’s Cason Bekemeier.
DISTRICT TOURNEYS AWAIT
Area squads head to their respective district tournaments on Thursday.
Carl Junction and Webb City will compete at the Class 4 District 3 tournament at Whispering Oaks Golf Course in Marshfield.
“I want to have a solid day for my team, so maybe our whole team can go to state,” Spencer said.
Joplin, Carthage and Neosho are among the schools competing at the Class 5 District 3 tournament on Thursday at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield.
“I feel good about districts,” Newman said. “We’re going to leave tomorrow and play a practice round and just hang out together. I just hope they leave Rivercut feeling like they did their best.”
The Carthage High School boys golf team poses with the COC championship plaque on Tuesday at Briarbrook Golf Course. Photo by Jason Peake.
2023 CENTRAL OZARK CONFERENCE BOYS GOLF TOURNAMENT
(At Briarbrook Golf Course)
TEAM BY TEAM RESULTS
CARTHAGE (308): Owen Derryberry 71, Max Templeman 76, Britt Coy 77, Ben Nicholas 84, Luke Lewis 103.
CARL JUNCTION (311): Jack Spencer 71, Jacob Teeter 77, Tommy Walker 78, Austin Baker 85, Logan Lowry 86.
