NIXA, Mo. — Athletes from McAuley Catholic, College Heights Christian and Carl Junction competed at the Riann Lubinski Invitational on Saturday at Inman Elementary School.
Competing in the small school division, which featured schools in Class 1-3, McAuley Catholic junior Michael Parrigon won the boys race with a time of 16:23.
“Michael won his third meet of the season, continuing a great string of races,” McAuley coach Andy Youngworth said.
New Covenant’s David Kendall took second in 16:57.
College Heights Christian’s Colton McMillan finished fourth in 17:44, McAuley’s Trae Veer was 13th, CHC’s Connor Jordan took 14th and McAuley’s duo of Will Mollnow and Connor Taffner placed 19th and 24th, respectively.
Springfield Catholic won the boys team title with 52 points. New Covenant (61), Reeds Spring (92) and McAuley (92) rounded out the top four teams.
In the girls small school division, McAuley’s tandem of Olivia Parrigon (20:54) and Kendall Ramsey (21:43) finished fourth and fifth.
New Covenant’s Clara Trent took first in 19:52.
College Heights’ Marla Anderegg, Jesalin Bever and Lilly Royer finished 13th, 15th and 16th, respectively. McAuley’s Marbellie Villanueva finished 29th.
The top four teams were Chadwick (25), Springfield Catholic (57), McAuley (73) and Ava (88).
“We have been hit by some illnesses as of late, but are close to being back at full strength,” Youngworth said.
Competing in the large school division (Class 4-5), Carl Junction’s Jack Lawson finished fifth in 16:37 and teammate Isaac Willoughby was 14th (17:27).
Monett’s Kash Adams placed 24th and CJ’s Luke Battagler was 25th.
Lee’s Summit West’s Jack Williams won the race in 15:37 and the top four teams were Lee’s Summit West (25), Nixa (44), Carl Junction (86) and Branson (98).
On the girls side, Monett’s Mary Jastal finished 13th and Carl Junction’s Audrey Fletcher was 14th.
Carl Junction’s Madilyn Dalton finished 16th, while teammate Delaney Harris placed 22nd and Marissa Newman was 25th.
Lee’s Summit West’s Madison Cross won the race in 20:08. The four full teams were Lee’s Summit West (20), Nixa (38), Carl Junction (86) and Branson (104).
CAMDENTON, Mo. — Webb City’s boys and girls cross country teams both captured the team championships at the Camdenton Laker Invitational on Saturday at Ha Ha Tonka State Park.
With six runners in the top 15, Webb City’s boys finished with 37 points to finish on top of the team standings. Kickapoo was second with 94.
Webb City senior Evan Stevens was the runner-up in the boys race with a time of 16:21 and teammate Mason Hedger took fourth in 16:33.
Also for the Cardinals, Andrew Dawson finished eighth, Noah Lankard was ninth, Spencer Kendall took 14th and Fenton Rice was 15th.
Capital City’s Keion Grieve won the boys race in 16:01. There were 18 full teams and 120 runners.
With five runners finishing in the top 22, Webb City’s girls also captured a team championship at the event. The Cardinals finished with 51 points and Republic was second with 89.
Webb City sophomore Brooke Hedger was the runner-up in the girls race with a time of 19:34. Republic’s Gracie Troester was first in 18:59.
Emily Countryman finished fifth in 20:15.
Also for the Cardinals, Emma McKinzie was 14th, Amelia Antillion finished 17th, Olivia Klotz was 21st and Brooke Collard took 22nd.
There were 12 full squads and 90 runners competing.
BRANSON, Mo. — Branson did not take its first lead until it mattered most.
With less than two minutes left in regulation against Neosho, Luke McCormick tossed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Gage Depee and ran in the 2-point conversion to send the game into overtime.
No, that was not the lead, of course.
It was during the overtime period when the Pirates grabbed that lead during the COC battle—when McCormick scored on a quarterback sneak on fourth and goal from the 1-yard line. It was McCormick’s third rushing touchdown on the night, securing a homecoming victory that was nearly tarnished by a strong performance by the upset-minded Wildcats.
Neosho fumbled away a chance at tying or winning the game on the second play of its lone overtime possession, sending the homecoming crowd home happy and the Wildcats to an 0-6 mark.
Indeed, the Pirates, who improved to 3-3, were forced to play from behind against a scrappy Wildcats side looking for their first win.
Neosho led 7-3 after the first quarter and held a 21-9 advantage at the three-minute mark of the second quarter, courtesy of two Denver Welch short touchdown runs and a Virgil Rosier 62-yard pitch and catch from quarterback Quenton Hughes.
After Branson’s Depee and McCormick added short rushing scores of their own, Neosho owned a 21-16 lead at halftime.
Following another kicking display from Branson kicker Dane Efird, who knocked through a 25-yard field goal for a 21-19 Neosho lead early in the third quarter—he had a 42-yarder to make it 7-3 in the first—Hudson Williams extended Neosho’s lead to 28-19 midway through the third with an 18-yard touchdown catch from Hughes, a senior who eclipsed 5,000 career passing yards last week.
That’s when the defenses had enough and Branson mounted its comeback.
The Pirates coughed up a fumble, courtesy of the Wildcats’ Kaiden Anaya forcing it and Drake Swift recovering, and Neosho turned it over on downs for the first time all night. Then, McCormick scampered from two yards out to cut the Wildcats’ lead to 28-26 with 11:12 remaining.
After a pair of defensive stands from each side, Hughes fired a 56-yard pass and catch to Cade Camerer down the sideline to hand Neosho a 34-26 lead with 5:42 left.
But Branson had its big answer—the McCormick-Depee connection and the QB’s two-point scamper to knot the score with less than two minutes remaining. The touchdown was preceded by a Depee 53-yard run.
Neosho hosts Ozark (1-5) next Friday while Branson will welcome in Republic (5-1).
Thomas Jefferson and Carl Junction had state qualifiers at Friday’s Class 2 District 7 girls tennis tournament.
The top two singles players and the top two doubles teams advanced to the individual state tournament.
Thomas Jefferson’s Allison Ding was the runner-up in the singles bracket.
After a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed, Ding defeated Carl Junction’s Isabel Read 2-6, 6-2, 10-2 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Ding defeated Barstow’s Sofia Shkuta 2-6, 6-1, 10-8.
In the championship match, Notre Dame de Sioni’s Anna McGeeney edged Ding 7-6 (7-1), 6-4.
McGeeney beat Thomas Jefferson’s Jeanna Jeyaraj 7-5, 6-0 in the semifinals.
In addition to Jeyaraj and Read, other local singles players unable to advance were Webb City’s Bethany Brumit and Adeline Ragsdale and Carl Junction’s Brooklin Leggett.
Of note, Jeyaraj won the bracket’s third-place match over Shkuta.
Carl Junction’s duo of Naiyah Wurdeman and Jenna Besperat won the doubles bracket.
The Bulldogs defeated Webb City’s Ally Ansley-Ayla McDaniel 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfinals and then topped Thomas Jefferson’s Kyla Yang-Esther Yang 6-1, 6-2 in the semifinals.
In the championship match, Wurdeman and Besperat defeated Willard’s Alyssa Flynn-Evelyn Sly 6-2, 6-0.
Thomas Jefferson’s Mayson Solum-Warda Morsy, Webb City’s Averey Terry-Maecy Beverlin and CJ’s Emiliy Rice-Brooke Jasperson also competed in the doubles bracket.
The team district tournament begins at 3:30 p.m. on Monday at Thomas Jefferson.
Fourth-seeded Willard meets fifth-seeded Barstow, second-seeded Carl Junction takes on seventh-seeded Webb City and third-seeded Notre Dame de Sion matches up with sixth-seeded Belton.
Top-seeded Thomas Jefferson (11-0) has a first-round bye and will meet the Willard-Barstow winner at 3:30 on Tuesday in the semifinals.
The other semifinal will also begin at 3:30 on Tuesday. The district title match is scheduled for 3:30 on Wednesday.
SENECA, Mo. — The Seneca Indians continued their torrid start to the season with Friday night’s 54-21 trouncing of the visiting Reeds Spring Wolves.
Having outscored their first five opponents by a combined 227-14, the Indians entered the contest ranked No. 2 in Class 3.
Seneca quickly set the tone with its punishing run game — capping a 9-play, 75-yard drive via Jackson Marrs’ 11-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Gavyn Hoover then connected with Morgan Vaughn on the 2-point play for a quick 8-0 lead.
Lamar had been the only team to have found paydirt against the Indians’ vaunted defense this season, but the Wolves managed to do so on their second possession of the contest.
Seneca’s Brodie Probert tackles Jace Bolin on Friday. Photo by Israel Perez.
With the Reeds Spring leaning on its ground game for the majority of the drive, Seneca’s secondary was caught off guard when Daniel Fliflet hauled in a perfectly placed pass from Blandy Burall for a 22-yard touchdown strike to punctuate the 80-yard scoring drive. A failed 2-point attempt left the Wolves trailing 8-6 midway through the opening frame.
On the ensuing possession, Marrs chewed up major yards on the ground, accentuated by a 28-yard run to the 1-yard line. Marrs then punched it in from the goal line, followed by Roman Miller’s successful run on the 2-point play, handing the Indians a 16-6 advantage.
Seneca extended its lead to 24-6 early in the second quarter. The sequence of events unfolded after the Indians converted a 4th-down conversion with a 25-yard run — as Hoover finished off the drive with a short rushing score. Hoover then called his number on the 2-point play, gliding into the end zone untouched.
Looking to avert a blowout, the Wolves turned to trickeration, faking an end-around run as Christopher Daniels scampered down the left sideline for a 67-yard touchdown romp. The Wolves also hit on the 2-point play, with Burall linking up with James Dowdy to trim the deficit to 24-14.
The Indians managed two more scoring drives over the final five minutes of the half, with Marrs finding paydirt on both — including a 6-yard rushing score with 8 seconds showing on the scoreboard, swelling Seneca’s lead to 40-14.
The Indians ran 41 plays in the first half en route to a decisive time of possession advantage. Marrs also rushed for 115 yards on 15 carries and four touchdowns, while Hoover added another 48.
The Indians tacked on two more touchdowns in the second half, coasting to victory.
Seneca is now 6-0. The loss drops the Wolves to 4-2.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Seneca hits the road for a clash with Big 8 East foe East Newton (2-4), while Reeds Spring squares off with Aurora (3-3).
Seneca’s Blake Hurn looks to evade Kaemon Hutchison on Friday night. Seneca remained undefeated by beating Reeds Spring 54-21. Photos by Israel Perez/SoMo Sports.
Seneca’s Gavyn Hoover carries the ball while Braiden Langston looks to make the tackle on Friday night at Seneca High School.
Seneca’s Ethan Altic is pictured during Friday’s game with Reeds Spring.
Seneca’s Roman Miller picks up a big gain on the ground on Friday night.
Seneca’s Jackson Marrs is brought down by Spencer Michaud and Braiden Langston on Friday night. The Indians defeated the Wolves 54-21 to remain undefeated. All photos by Israel Perez.
OZARK, Mo. — The Carthage football team took control in the second half to pull away for a 34-20 road win over Central Ozark Conference foe Ozark on Friday night.
CHS claimed a third consecutive win to move to 3-3 on the season while Ozark fell to 1-5.
A back-and-forth first half saw the two teams exchange touchdowns on six consecutive drives— all in the second quarter—to take a 20-20 tie into halftime.
It was Carthage, however, that stood tall in the final 24 minutes of the contest.
Receiving the kickoff to start the second half, Carthage methodically worked its way down the field before running back Landyn Collins dashed 22 yards for a touchdown rush that gave CHS a 27-20 lead midway through the third quarter. The scoring drive went 77 yards in nine plays and featured a fourth-down conversion on a 24-yard pass from Carlton to tight end Karson Murray.
Ozark was, yet again, seemingly poised to answer the Carthage touchdown with one of its own on its ensuing drive. But after advancing 64 yards to the Carthage 10, OHS saw an errant option pitch lead to a pivotal fumble recovery by Carthage defensive back Ryan Phillips.
Carthage, taking over at its own 11, took advantage of the takeaway with a 17-play touchdown drive that milked nearly 10 minutes of game clock and included two conversions on fourth-down attempts. After Carlton found the end zone on a short run for his third overall touchdown of the night, CHS had its first two-score lead, 34-20, with 7:15 remaining in the game.
The Carthage defense then put the final nail in the coffin by forcing a turnover on downs at its own 29-yard line with 3:50 to play. Ozark never touched the football from there.
The Carthage defense, after struggling to keep Ozark out of the end zone for the entirety of the second quarter, managed to shut out OHS in the second half thanks to a fumble recovery and one turnover via downs.
A scoreless opening quarter was followed by a second quarter filled with offensive fireworks. Carthage drew first blood with 10:24 showing the second when Carlton reached paydirt on a 6-yard run to take a 7-0 lead. CHS benefitted from a short field on the scoring drive after forcing Ozark to punt from its own 2-yard line.
It took Ozark less than three minutes to respond when a 13-yard score pass from Sam Clark to Peyton Russell punctuated a 70-yard drive and tied the game at 7-7.
The visitors reclaimed the lead with 4:33 remaining in the opening half on a six-play, 67-yard drive that was capped by a 36-yard touchdown pass from Carlton to Langston Morgan. A failed PAT attempt left Carthage with a 13-7 advantage.
OHS again responded swiftly to tie the game, needing just three plays before scoring a touchdown on another Russell-to-Clark connection through the air, this time for 43 yards. Ozark, too, missed its PAT to preserve a 13-13 tie with 3:56 left in the second quarter.
The Carthage offense proceeded to keep the fireworks going as it marched 78 yards in eight plays and scored a touchdown on a 1-yard plunge by Collins, giving his team a 20-13 lead.
It appeared Carthage would keep its seven-point lead heading into halftime, but with the Ozark offense facing a third-and-long with just a few seconds left in the second quarter, Jack Bowers broke free for an electric 54-yard touchdown run that saw the athletic senior avoid a near tackle by CHS defensive back Joey Czahor.
On the play, Czahor appeared to trip up Bowers for a tackle near the OHS 10-yard line, but officials ruled that Bowers had landed on top of Czahor and was able to get back to his feet without being downed. Ozark’s ensuing PAT drew the game to a 20-20 tie heading into intermission.
Carthage will play host to Webb City next Friday while Ozark travels to Neosho.
REPUBLIC, Mo. — Turnovers plagued Joplin for the second straight week in the Eagles’ 38-15 road loss to Republic on Friday.
After losing the turnover battle 3-1 in a loss to Nixa a week ago, the turnover bug bit Joplin (3-3) hard again after the Eagles’ offense turned the ball over four times and took a safety against the Tigers in the team’s third straight loss. With the extra possessions on offense, Republic (5-1), which didn’t punt until late in the fourth quarter but did have a pair of turnover-on-downs, gained 432 yards of offense on 74 plays on the way to the Central Ozark Conference win.
Republic QB Wyatt Woods carried the ball 25 times for 206 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while RB Kanon Krol finished with 151 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries.
Joplin’s offense gained 334 yards on plays.
After a three-and-out by Joplin to open the game, Republic marched down the field on its first possession and capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run from Woods, who kept the ball left and bounced off a tackle near the 7-yard line before finding the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 6:16 left in the opening quarter.
Joplin answered back on its second time on offense after getting the ball inside the red zone before QB Hobbs Gooch—who threw for 202 yards, two touchdowns and three picks—found WR Cordell Washington (two catches, 32 yards) up the seam for a 23-yard touchdown on fourth down to tie the game at 7-7 with 4:45 left in the first quarter.
Republic again marched down into the red zone before Joplin’s defense forced an incomplete pass on fourth-and-goal from the 5-yard.
On the first play of the ensuing Joplin possession, the shotgun snap went through Gooch’s hands and into the end zone where Joplin recovered and was downed for a safety to give Republic a 9-7 advantage early in the second quarter.
The Eagles’ defense picked up the offense, once again forcing the Tigers into a turnover-on-downs after stuffing a fourth-down-and-4 run at the JHS 23.
Joplin went three-and-out and Republic responded by returning to the red zone for a third time in the first half with less than three minutes to play. Krol eventually crossed the goal line from a yard out to put Republic on top 16-7 with 1:43 left in the first half.
Joplin moved down the field quickly to get into position for points before the expiration of the first half before Gooch was picked off in the end zone with 14 seconds left on the clock to send the game into the intermission with the Tigers leading by nine.
Republic struck first in the second half, taking the opening possession down the field with Krol scoring from 3 yards out to make the score, converting the 2-point try on a pass from Woods to James Rexroat, to push the lead to 24-7 with 7:20 left in the third quarter.
Joplin turned it over on the next drive when RB Quin Renfro (12 carries, 69 yards; three catches, 43 yards) had the ball punched out from behind by Cam Allen for a fumble, giving Republic the ball near midfield with five and a half minutes left in the third quarter.
The Tigers turned the extra possession into a 43-yard touchdown run from Woods on a keeper with 3:46 on the clock to make the score 31-7.
Joplin got into the end zone for the first time in the second half when Gooch found WR Davin Thomas (three catches, 54 yards and a touchdown) in the flat on a screen, with Thomas evading tackles on the way to a 31-yard touchdown to make the score 31-15 after the Gooch-to-Thomas 2-point try with 2:30 left in the third quarter.
Republic answered back with Krol finding the end zone for the third time on a 2-yard carry with less than nine minutes left in regulation to make the score 38-15.
Joplin marched down the field in less than 90 seconds of game clock to get back into the red zone before Gooch was intercepted in the end zone by CB Garrett Lester for the Eagles’ third giveaway of the game.
Joplin is back on the road with a matchup at Carl Junction (1-5).
NIXA, Mo. — Nixa held Carl Junction out of the end zone early and built a three-score lead by halftime on the way to a 47-0 win over the Bulldogs on Friday at Eagle Stadium.
Carl Junction (1-5) got into the red zone three times in the first half against the Nixa (6-0) with nothing to show for it. In turn, the Eagles reached paydirt three times in the first half and pulled away in the second half on the way to the shutout win.
Carl Junction drove the opening possession down inside the red zone before a series of penalties forced the Bulldogs into a turnover on downs after facing a fourth-down-and-20.
Nixa responded with a couple of big plays through the air from QB Nate Uber to WR Rylan Michel led to a 1-yard touchdown run from RB Dylan Rebura on a fourth-and-goal carry to make the score 7-0 with 1:17 left in the first quarter.
Nixa went up 14-0 in the second quarter with 6:03 on the clock when RB Malachi Rider found paydirt from a yard out.
The Eagles forced the Bulldogs into a fumble to kill a CJ drive on its ensuing possession and made the most of the extra possession when WR Wyatt Vincent broke off a 75-yard touchdown run on the jet sweep with 49 seconds left in the first half for a 21-0 advantage.
Uber used play action for a big gain to Michel on the first possession of the first half that built to a 4-yard score from Rebura to push the lead to 28-0 with 10:15 left in the third quarter.
Uber hooked up with TE Lane Meltabarger for the first time all game on a third-down pass up the seam for a 23-yard touchdown to push the Nixa lead to 34-0 with 7:03 left in the third quarter.
The Eagles extended their cushion to 40-0 when Rebura capped a drive with a short-yardage score with 2:53 left in the third quarter.
Nixa added another score on a 30-yard McCoy Sullivan pick-6 touchdown to make the score 47-0 near the end of the third quarter.
Carl Junction is back at home next week, hosting Joplin (3-3).
WILLARD, Mo. — Overcoming an early 13-point deficit, and riding a dominant second half, Webb City extended its winning streak to five by beating Willard 43-16 on Friday night in Central Ozark Conference action.
Taking the field in front of a large homecoming crowd, Willard scored the game’s first 13 points and took a two-point lead into intermission, 16-14.
But the visiting Cardinals controlled the second half, outscoring the Tigers 29-0 after the break.
Ranked second in Class 5, Webb City is now 5-1 on the season. Despite missing several key performers due to injuries, the Cardinals have won five straight games after dropping the 2023 opener at Nixa.
The Week 6 clash didn’t start out particularly well for Webb City.
The Cardinals turned the ball over on the second play of the night, as Willard’s Omero Inda converted a fumble recovery into the game’s first touchdown.
Willard went up 13-0 at the end of the first quarter on Russell Roweton’s 56-yard QB keeper.
Webb City got on the board with 5:06 remaining in the second quarter on junior running back Noah Durman’s 1-yard touchdown plunge.
After forcing the Tigers to punt, the Cardinals took a 14-13 lead with 1:05 left in the first half after Durman’s 4-yard touchdown run. The Cardinals went 67 yards on the go-ahead drive and were aided by two Willard penalties and a key pass from senior Braden McKee to classmate Payton Marshall.
The Tigers were able to answer just before the break, as Willard’s Jonathan Lupescu connected on a 35-yard field goal with two seconds left in the first half, giving the Tigers a 16-14 halftime advantage.
The second half was all Webb City.
One play after sophomore defensive back Mason Williams grabbed an interception, Webb City’s Durman sprinted to a 32-yard touchdown run, his third score of the night.
Junior wide receiver Joseph DeGraffenreid hauled in the 2-point conversion, giving the Cardinals a 22-16 lead with 7:37 remaining in the third period.
The visitors extended their lead with a little trickery. Senior tight end Jonah Spieker’s 33-yard touchdown reception from McKee on a flea flicker gave Webb City a 29-16 lead with just over 10 minutes left.
Three plays after Willard turned the ball over after failing to secure a punt, Webb City went up 36-16 with 6:21 remaining on McKee’s 10-yard QB keeper.
Junior Kyler Wood’s 2-yard touchdown plunge with just over two minutes showing on the clock accounted for the final margin.
The Tigers fell to 3-3.
Webb City is now 23-0 all-time against Willard.
The Cardinals once again played without several key performers due to injuries, including sophomore QB/RB Gabe Johnson.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Webb City (5-1) is at rival Carthage (3-3) in Week 7.
WILLARD, Mo. — The Neosho High School softball team locked up at least a share of the Central Ozark Conference title by beating Willard 6-2 on Thursday.
Now 7-1 in COC action, the Wildcats scored twice in the third on Kynden Smith’s two-run double.
Neosho added an insurance run in the sixth, as Beclynn Garrett doubled and later scored Addysan Hart’s RBI single.
Willard cut its deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth on Reece Anderson’s run-scoring double.
But Neosho added three runs in the top of the seventh.
Smith delivered a two-run single, with Olivia Emery and Ashlyn Stevens scoring. Garrett’s RBI double to left allowed Smith to score and made it 6-2.
Smith drove in four runs on two hits, while Garrett and Hart contributed two hits apiece.
Neosho’s Carleigh Kinnaird earned the complete-game pitching victory, allowing just one earned run on four hits while striking out 10.
Hannah Burks took the loss after surrendering four earned runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. DeLaney Dixon allowed one run in 2/3 of an inning for the Tigers, who fell to 6-2 in the COC.
Neosho (22-5) hosts McDonald County on Friday.
WEBB CITY 5, BRANSON 2
BRANSON, Mo. — A three-run second inning gave the visiting Webb City Cardinals the lead for good in a Central Ozark Conference contest with the Branson Pirates on Thursday.
With the win, Webb City improved to 18-8 overall and 4-4 in the COC.
Webb City scored once in the first inning, as leadoff batter Abby Sargent singled, stole second, took third on a passed ball and came home when the Pirates threw to first after a dropped third strike.
Jerzi Yacko’s RBI double to left tied the game in the bottom of the first, but Webb City pushed across three runs in the second on Sargent’s two-run single and a Branson error.
The Cardinals added a single tally in the third on Rilley Hanes’ sacrifice fly, with Jensyn Pickett scoring for a 5-1 lead.
The Pirates got a run back in the bottom of the third, and neither team scored the rest of the way.
A freshman shortstop, Sargent had three hits and two RBI for the Cardinals.
Webb City freshman right-hander Addie Burns earned the complete game victory. She gave up just two runs on four hits and struck out four.
Branson sophomore southpaw Kaleah Morrison took the loss after allowing five runs on six hits.
The Pirates fell to 10-12 and 2-5 in the conference.
Webb City will compete at the Springfield Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
OZARK 10, CARL JUNCTION 0
OZARK, Mo. — Carl Junction stayed within striking distance for the most of the game, as the visitors only trailed 2-0 after five innings.
But Ozark erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game early.
Ozark’s Kendall McCoy earned the pitching victory, limiting the Bulldogs to one hit while striking out nine.
Kiley Spencer took the loss after allowing nine earned runs on 10 hits.
Madi Olds had Carl Junction’s lone hit.
Audrey Carlton hit a grand slam for the Tigers (17-10, 4-4 COC).
Carl Junction (7-13, 1-7 COC) is at this weekend’s Springfield Tournament.
REPUBLIC 8, CARTHAGE 7
REPUBLIC, Mo. — Republic broke a 2-2 tie with a five-run third inning and held off Carthage for a Central Ozark Conference win on Thursday.
Republic jumped in front 7-2 after the third inning before Carthage scored twice in the fourth inning and three more times in the fifth to tie the game at 7-all. Republic answered in the bottom of the fifth with a run crossing on a sacrifice fly from Alison Poulson to push the go-ahead run across.
Kara Goeke earned the win in relief after pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings on two hits and two strikeouts. Piper Dishman started and allowed seven runs, one earned, on six hits, two walks and four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
Addie Wallace took the loss after allowing eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits, two walks and two strikeouts in four innings.
Lilli Richerson homered on the way to two hits, two RBI and a run scored for Republic, while Gracie Woods doubled and drove in three with a run scored.
Shelby Hegwer doubled, drove in one and scored a run for Carthage. Emmy Stark doubled and picked up an RBI.
Carthage (14-12, 5-3 COC) hosts Neosho on Tuesday.
NIXA 11, JOPLIN 1 (5 INNINGS)
NIXA, Mo. — Nixa built an early lead and never looked back in a Central Ozark Conference win over Joplin on Thursday.
Nixa tallied three runs in the first and second innings to jump in front before both teams traded single tallies in the third frame. Nixa put the finishing touches on the five-inning win with a four-run fourth inning to push the lead to 10.
Paige Garetson earned the win after allowing one run on five hits and two strikeouts in five innings of work.
Ava Wolf took the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, on four hits, two walks and two strikeouts in two innings.
Rylee Harper had three hits, four RBI and scored a run, while Brienne Chilton homered, drove in to and scored a run for Nixa.
Abby Lowery homered to finish with one RBI and a run scored, while Wolf had two hits at the plate to lead Joplin.
NIXA, Mo. — In a back and forth five-set thriller, Nixa finished strong to knock off Webb City 3-2 on Thursday night in Central Ozark Conference volleyball action.
The Eagles defeated the Cardinals 25-11, 24-26, 21-25, 25-22, 15-11.
Webb City fell to 15-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play, while Nixa improved to 18-3 and 4-1 in the COC.
The Cardinals hung tough in the early stages of the opening set, trailing 7-5. But Nixa got on a roll, using an 18-6 surge to take the first set in convincing fashion.
But the visitors would take the next two sets.
Webb City trailed 23-19 in the second set before rallying. The set was deadlocked at 24 when the Cardinals scored two straight points, a kill from Savannah Crane and an ace from Mia Lenker, to even the match at one set apiece.
The third set was tied at 15 when the Cardinals used a 7-2 spurt to pull ahead for good. A block at the net by Aubree Lassiter finished off the set, giving the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.
Webb City kept the momentum early in the fourth set, taking leads of 10-5 and 15-10. But Nixa battled back and forced a deciding fifth set.
The fifth set was tied at 10 when Nixa ended the match on a 5-1 burst.
Jaeli Rutledge led the Cardinals with 15 kills and Lassiter added 13 kills and 14 digs. Makayla Mayes had seven kills and Kirra Long added six kills.
Savannah Crane handed out 37 assists and recorded 10 digs from the setter position, while Sophia Crane had a team-high 23 digs at libero.
Also for the Cardinals, Lenker had 11 digs and Jadyn Catterson contributed 10 digs.
Webb City is hosting a quadrangular with Carl Junction, St. Mary’s Colgan and Grain Valley on Saturday.
REPUBLIC 3, CARL JUNCTION 2
REPUBLIC, Mo. — In another key COC clash that went five sets, Republic defeated Carl Junction 25-11, 25-27, 25-21, 17-25, 15-10.
Karissa Chase led the Bulldogs with 18 kills and three blocks, while Kylie Scott added 17 kills.
Also for the Bulldogs, Miya Carnes compiled 42 assists and 11 digs, while Abigail Wilson had 29 digs and Sara Buchele and Jadyn Howard each contributed three aces.
Carl Junction fell to 16-5 on the season and 4-2 in the COC.
Republic is now 18-4 and 4-1 in the COC.
OZARK 3, JOPLIN 0
OZARK, Mo. — The Joplin Eagles gave a solid effort, but it wasn’t enough against a talented Ozark squad.
Ozark topped Joplin 25-8, 25-18, 25-18 on Thursday.
The Tigers are now 16-2 overall and 5-0 in the COC.
Senior outside hitter Bailey Owens led Joplin with eight kills, six digs and two blocks, while junior setter Adalynn Noirfalise had 13 assists, eight digs and two aces.
Joplin (4-14) hosts Carl Junction on Tuesday.
CARTHAGE 3, WILLARD 1
WILLARD, Mo. — Carthage defeated Willard 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21 on Thursday in COC action.
Carthage’s Peyton Ray had a team-high 12 kills, while Jaidyn Brunnert compiled 25 assists, eight kills, seven digs and two aces.
Ava Bourgault had 11 digs, 10 kills, three assists, two blocks and two aces and Sadie Comer compiled 16 assists, 15 digs, six kills and four aces.
Also for the Tigers, Riann Schwartz had 21 digs, Ella Schwartz recorded nine digs, Millie Templeman contributed eight kills, three digs and two aces, while London Shepherd chipped in four kills.
Carthage (12-13, 3-2 COC) will host Branson on Tuesday.
What better way to prepare for a postseason that is less than a month away than by testing yourself on the road against one of your area rivals, who is also a district and conference foe as well?
Thomas Jefferson’s Macie Shifferd passes the ball during the Cavaliers’ conference and district win over College Heights on Thursday. Photo by Israel Perez.
After already boasting an impressive start to the season, Thomas Jefferson faced that adversity head on in the form of rival College Heights and the Cavaliers came out with a scrappy win in five thrilling sets—18-25, 25-23, 18-25, 25-22 and 15-12—over the Cougars on Thursday at the CHC Athletic Facility.
“The girls wanted this so badly,” Thomas Jefferson coach Emily Burdick said. “They haven’t beaten (College Heights) in years. It was quite an emotional win. They wanted it more than anything and they dug deep to give me 100 percent. That is all I can ask for in matches like this.”
The win gives Thomas Jefferson a 16-3 record on the season and puts the Cavaliers in the driver’s seat of the Ozark 7 Conference with a 4-0 record. The loss drops the Cougars to 9-9-3, 2-1 in conference play.
“We have two more conference games and we want the first seed in district,” Burdick continued about her team’s goals the rest of the way. “I think that is where we’re headed right now, but this win completely changes the momentum of our season. I think we are only going to go up from here.”
BUMP, SET, HISTORY
College Heights senior Maddy Colin earns an assist in the second set of the Cougars’ matchup with Thomas Jefferson. Colin became the only CHC player in program history to surpass 2,000 career assists during the set. Photo by Israel Perez.
During the second set, College Heights senior setter Maddy Colin entered the school’s history books after surpassing the 2,000-career assists mark. Colin is the only Cougar to accomplish that feat in school history and is currently the all-time career assists leader with 2,026.
“She has been really blessed to have amazing teammates over her career,” College Heights coach Mary Colin, also Maddy’s mother, said. “It is really, really fun to watch her play because she is a very unselfish player. She gives the ball a lot. Even this year—she is an offensive threat, but she will still give the ball and give the ball.
“She has a lot of range and you will see her throw the ball 30 feet across the net or backset it 25 feet across the net. A lot of people have told me they like watching her play, and I have to agree. She is calm, cool and collected. She never gets too high or too low and is pretty content. That is pretty important as a setter to be able to stay calm and run the offense whether we are up or down.”
FIFTH AND FINAL SET
The fifth set was a microcosm of the heated conference and district matchup—playing out to a 4-4 tie early before TJ jumped in front with two points.
Colin earned a block to cut CHC’s deficit to 6-5 before Cavaliers’ sideout led to a three-point service run from Lannah Grigg, which included a kill from Alexis Stamps and two more from Gabbi Hiebert, to put TJ in front 10-5.
“They are my leaders on the court,” Burdick said of Hiebert and Griggs’ play. “We are a hitting, blocking team. That is what we are super strong in. Whenever they step up, it changes the momentum of the game. They are great leaders. We needed that and they did it for us.”
CHC’s Bailey Peeples earned a sideout kill and the Cougars made the score 10-8 on a kill by Toryn Fink. After trading sideouts, the Cougars used two attack errors on TJ to tie the set at 11-all.
Thomas Jefferson rebounded with a kill from Macie Shifferd to force a sideout before Hiebert earned back to back kills with Leah Studer in service to give the Cavaliers the momentum with a 14-11 advantage.
Fink earned a sideout kill for CHC, but Thomas Jefferson returned the favor on the next point to clinch the set and the match.
HOW THEY GOT THERE
College Heights gained the advantage in the opening set after a pair of early five-point service runs by Colin and Allie Stout staked the Cougars to a 14-4 lead with all of the momentum.
Thomas Jefferson’s Gabbi Hiebert returns a serve during the Cavaliers’ win over College Heights on Thursday. Photo by Israel Perez.
Colin had an ace, while Katie Moss and Peeples each had kills in the run. Stout also had an ace in her run, while Karly Dorris had a block and Fink added a kill.
From there, both teams traded back and forth, with the Cougars never relinquishing the lead en route to the opening-set victory.
“These girls, we have talked all year about how they are not 6-foot-4,” Coach Colin said of her team’s start in the opening set. “We are just a regular group of girls. So, they have to do a lot of little things well to make up for not being super tall. You are going to see a lot of well-placed balls, a lot of teamwork and communication and then just fight, fight, fight.”
Down 3-1 early in the second set, Thomas Jefferson rallied by scoring 12 of the next 16 points to take a 13-8 advantage. Grigg had three kills during that span, with Hiebert garnering two kills and a block.
“We came out a little nervous and were not ready to compete,” Burdick said of the Cavs’ start. “We came out ready to compete in the second set … We came out and were more aggressive at the net, which is where we were lacking in the first set.”
Thomas Jefferson built the lead to as much as seven late on a block from Hiebert to make the score 20-13, and eventually 24-18 before CHC rallied late with a sideout kill from Peeples before and a four-point run in service from Lilly Plassman to trim the Cougars’ deficit to one, 24-23.
The Cavaliers ended the rally with a kill from Grigg to even the match at 1-1.
The Cougars took the momentum back in a third set that was again back and forth, with TJ taking the initial lead before CHC rallied back midway through to lead 16-14 before a kill from Fink pushed the lead to three, 17-14. Fink had back to back kills later in the set to put CHC in front 21-16.
CHC took a 23-18 lead on a sideout kill from Carolynn Satterlee before a kill from Colin and a kill from Peeples ended the game in the Cougars’ favor.
College Height libero Lilly Plassman passes the ball during the Cougars’ matchup with Thomas Jefferson on Thursday. Photo by Israel Perez.
Thomas Jefferson did just as it did earlier in the even when trailing, taking control of the fourth set midway through before holding off College Heights late to force the fifth set.
With TJ up one, the Cavaliers scored 11 of the next 16 points to build a 17-11 advantage. Shifferd had two kills in the spurt, while Maggie Sutton had a kill and an ace.
CHC rallied to cut the lead to 19-15 on a kill from Peeples before TJ answered with five of the next six points, including kills from Sutton and Mary Nguyen, a block-kill from Hiebert and an ace from Shifferd, to lead 24-16.
The Cougars refused to go away, however, with a sideout kill from Satterlee leading to a five-point service run from Christa Miller to cut the TJ advantage to 24-22 before the Cavaliers put the game away on a kill from Nguyen.
STATS
Hiebert finished with 17 kills, 13 blocks and nine digs, while Grigg closed with 14 kills, seven digs, five blocks and two aces. Nguyen added 23 assists, 13 digs, three kills and an ace, while Nayab Rehman had 20 digs. Shifferd contributed 14 digs, seven kills and an ace, while Sutton had 29 digs and two kills. Studer had 13 assists and 10 digs for Thomas Jefferson.
Colin finished with 40 assists, 27 digs and five kills. Fink had 18 kills, while Plassman totaled 51 digs. Stout had 21 digs and three aces, with Moss finishing with 18 digs.
UP NEXT
Thomas Jefferson takes part in the Southwest Volleyfest over the weekend in Washburn.
REPUBLIC, Mo. — Republic defeated Joplin 25-11, 25-17, 25-19 on Tuesday night in Central Ozark Conference volleyball action.
Senior outside hitter Bailey Owens led the Eagles with 11 kills, six digs, four aces and two blocks.
Joplin junior setter Adalynn Noirfalise handed out 20 assists.
Joplin (4-13) is at Ozark on Thursday for another COC matchup.
CARL JUNCTION 3, NEOSHO 0
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Carl Junction continued its conference success with a 25-16, 25-21 and 25-8 sweep over Neosho on Tuesday.
The win improves the Bulldogs’ record to 16-4, 4-1 in the Central Ozark Conference.
Kylie Scott led the way for CJ with 13 kills, while Karissa Chase added 11. Abigail Wilson closed with 17 digs, while Miya Carnes had 37 assists. Aubreigh Fowler had six aces in service, while DeShaye Buerge had a pair of blocks.
No stats were made available by Neosho.
Carl Junction is at Republic on Thursday.
Neosho (7-13, 0-4 COC) is at Branson on Thursday.
EAST NEWTON 3, COLLEGE HEIGHTS 0
GRANBY, Mo. — College Heights went on the road and fell 25-20, 25-19 and 25-22 to East Newton on Tuesday.
The loss drops the Cougars’ record to 9-8-3.
Maddy Colin finished with 18 assists, 11 digs, nine kills and four blocks. Bailey Peeples had 10 kills, while Toryn Fink finished with six kills. Lilly Plassman had 28 digs and Christa Miller finished with 11 digs. Katie Moss added five aces and 11 digs.
College Heights hosts Thomas Jefferson on Thursday.
CASSVILLE 3, SENECA 2
SENECA, Mo. — Seneca (2-9) hosted Cassville and fell to the Wildcats 25-16, 19-25, 22-25, 25-23 and 15-11 in a five-set thriller on Tuesday.
Anna Adkins finished with 42 assists, while Ella Graham had 35 digs and five aces for the Indians. Jera Jameson finished with 17 kills, 27 digs, four aces in service and two blocks. Olivia Leonard had 10 kills and a block, while Maddy Hembree had nine kills and two blocks. Danessa Macy finished with five aces.
Seneca is at Nevada on Thursday.
THOMAS JEFFERSON 3, EVERTON 1
EVERTON, Mo. — Thomas Jefferson defeated Everton 26-24, 23-25, 25-23 and 25-12 on Tuesday.
The win puts the Cavaliers at 15-3.
No other information was made available.
Thomas Jefferson is at College Heights on Thursday.
The Joplin High School boys swim team defeated Nevada 100-47 on Tuesday night at Missouri Southern State University.
Winning individual events for Joplin were Nathan Wardlow (200 freestyle, 400 free), Parker Hinman (200 IM), Ian Vermillion (50 free, 100 fly), Jordan Goins (100 free) and Owen Mordica (100 backstroke).
The Eagles won two of the three relays.
Joplin’s 200 medley relay team of Owen Mordica, Jackson Mordica, Connor Intessimone and Goins took first in 2:24, while the Eagles won the 400 freestyle relay in 4:17, with Hinman, Isaiah Thom, Wardlow and Vermillion competing.
The JHS team of Koel Haury, Matthew Goins, Vermillion and Gideon Speer finished second in the 200 freestyle relay.
Nevada’s Trace Gould won the 100 breaststroke and finished second in the 200 free. Kolton Evans was second in the 400 free.
The Tigers won the 200 freestyle relay in 2:37, with Matt Eaton, Peyton Weber, Michael Earnest and Jayden Thankamani competing.
NEOSHO, Mo. — There have been a plethora of Central Ozark Conference softball games this season that featured a bevy of runs crossing the plate, but Tuesday’s matchup with Neosho hosting Joplin was not one of them.
The Eagles and Wildcats found themselves in a pitcher’s duel, with Joplin taking the initial advantage before Neosho scraped back to take the lead and held onto it the rest of the way en route to a 4-3 win that had conference and district implications.
“I thought we could have been a little cleaner on defense, but I was really, really proud of how we just gritted our teeth and made some plays in the field,” Neosho coach Catie Cummins said. “Carleigh (Kinnaird) threw great and worked out a couple of jams. We did just enough to squeak by with those four runs. … At the end of the day, having these tough wins that make you kind of bow your neck at the end are what takes teams through the postseason. I would have loved to score more runs, but I am just pleased with how we finished the game. That puts us in a good spot to know that we have been in tough situations against one of the best lineups in Missouri.”
IN THE CIRCLE
Neosho pitcher Carleigh Kinnaird delivers to home during the Wildcats’ win over Joplin on Tuesday. Photo by Jessica Geninger.
Carleigh Kinnaird earned the complete-game win in the circle for the Wildcats after allowing three runs, one earned, on seven hits, a walk and nine strikeouts in seven innings.
Caelyn Bobski started and took the loss for Joplin after allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits, a walk and two strikeouts in four innings. Ava Wolf allowed one run on three hits in two relief innings.
“I was very pleased with the pitching today from our sophomores,” Joplin coach Brenden Schneider said. “Bob did a great job. When you only give up two hard hits all game, that is credit to what our girls have done. The experience they have from pitching so many innings this year will put us in a great spot later on. They have done everything asked of them and I’ve been very pleased.”
GAME ACTION
The Eagles started the scoring in the top of the first when Jadyn Pankow picked up an RBI on a groundout with runners on second and third and no outs for a 1-0 lead.
Neosho tied the game up in the bottom of the second inning when Olivia Emery grounded out with runners on the corners to force home a run and make the score 1-1.
The Wildcats jumped in front in the third inning when Autumn Kinnaird led off the inning with a double to right field before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Beclynn Garrett.
“I will brag and brag and brag about the bottom of our lineup because 7, 8 and 9 were so clutch for us,” Cummins said. “We got bunts down and had some great at-bats. … When you look at the difference in the game, that was a huge part of it.”
Joplin pitcher Caelyn Bobski delivers to the plate during the Eagles’ loss to Neosho on Tuesday. Photo by Jessica Greninger.
In the next at-bat, Carleigh Kinnaird gave herself some insurance when she smacked a ball to the opposite field over the wall in right-center for a solo homer and a 3-1 advantage.
The Eagles cut the lead to one in the top of the fifth after Maria Loum, who reached on an error, came around to score on a wild pitch with two outs in the inning to make the score 3-2. Joplin had the tying run on third but failed to push it across.
“We missed some opportunities on offense and kind of shot ourselves in the foot on defense,: Schneider said. “Which has kind of been something that we have done this year. And in close games, you can’t do that if you want to win.”
Joplin’s Libby Munn led off the sixth inning with a sharp double to left field to get the tying run in scoring position but Kinnaird struck out the next three Eagles to end the threat.
“She did a great job,” Cummins said. “Since they have such a good lineup, we tweaked the game plan a little bit and I am really pleased with how she adjusted. She is gritty and tough as nails and wants to win so badly. … Overall, I am very pleased with her and the maturity she has shown on the mound.”
Neosho’s Autumn Kinnaird earns a base hit during the Wildcats’ win over Joplin on Tuesday. Photo by Jessica Greninger.
Avyn Blair singled in front of a double by Emery before Ashlyn Stevens reached on a bunt to load the bases with no outs for Neosho in the bottom of the sixth. Kynden Smith gave the Wildcats insurance with a one-out sacrifice fly to left field to plate a run and push the lead to 4-2.
Joplin refused to go away quietly, as Bailey Ledford reached with two outs in the seventh on a single to left before taking second on a heads-up play on the throw back in. Abby Lowery beat out an infield hit in the next at-bat, with Ledford coming all the way around from second to slide in safe at the plate and cut the deficit to 4-3.
Kinnaird induced a groundout with runners on first and second to end the threat and the game.
“I was really pleased with how we gutted it out,” Cummins said. “ I was talking to my family after the game and I told them I feel like I’ve been hit by a train, and I am sure the girls feel that way, too. It was just gutsy. I am proud of our fight.”
AT THE PLATE
Autumn Kinnaird and Emery each doubled on the way to two hits and a run scored apiece. Emery added an RBI. Carleigh Kinnaird homered, drove in one and scored once. Garrett had a hit and drove in one for Neosho.
Ledford had three hits and scored twice for Joplin. Munn doubled and had two hits, while Lowery and Pankow each had a hit and an RBI.
LAMAR, Mo. — Local cross country squads competed at the Lamar Invitational on Tuesday at Jeremy’s Creek.
East Newton’s Chase Sorrell won the boys race with a time of 16 minutes, 37 seconds.
El Dorado Springs’ Wyatt Klaiber was the runner-up in 17:20.
College Heights Christian’s Colton McMillan finished 12th in 18:26 and McAuley Catholic’s Michael Parrigon was 13th in 18:30.
Lamar’s Cameron Bailey was 14th, while Jasper’s Leland Harris took 15th and Carl Junction’s Jack Lawson was 16th.
Also, Carl Junction’s Isaac Willoughby finished 24th, Thomas Jefferson’s Braden Honeywell-Lynch was 27th and CJ’s Luke Battagler was 29th.
McAuley’s Trae Veer finished 25th and CHC’s Connor Jordan finished 40th.
Carl Junction’s Chance Golden took 48th and teammates Nikash Yeary and Jacob Garrett were 56th and 59th. McDonald County’s Lane Pratt was 58th and McAuley’s Connor Taffner was 62nd.
The top four boys teams were St. Michael the Archangel (29), El Dorado Springs (88), Carl Junction (159) and Lamar (191). There were 23 full teams competing.
St. Michael the Archangel’s Elsa Henry won the girls race in 19:54.
Liberal’s Ally Barton finished fourth in 21:52, while East Newton’s Brooklyn Blanchard was eighth in 22:47. Cassville’s Jadyn Williams-Reed was ninth in 22:53 and Mount Vernon’s Rylee Simons took 10th in 23:10.
Carl Junction’s trio of Audrey Fletcher, Delaney Harris and Madilyn Dalton finished 11th, 15th and 19th, respectively.
McDonald County’s Kate Cheney was 22nd, Thomas Jefferson’s Sarah Mueller finished 24th, Carl Junction’s Marissa Newman was 26th, Lamar’s duo of Abigail Diggs and Carly Dunham were 27th and 28th and McDonald County’s Kenzie Horton was 29th.
College Heights Christian’s Marla Anderegg finished 34th, while teammates Jesalin Bever and Lilly Royer were 39th and 41st, respectively.
CHC’s Madi Carson finished 55th and McAuley’s Marbellie Villanueva was 67th.
The top four girls teams were Liberal (71), Chadwick (89), St. Michael’s (91) and Carl Junction (108).
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Carl Junction rallied from an early 2-0 deficit after a five-run first inning ultimately led to a 9-2 lead after three innings to fuel a Central Ozark Conference win over Carthage on Tuesday.
Kiley Spencer earned the complete-game win after allowing four runs on nine hits, three walks and strikeout in seven innings.
Addie Wallace took the loss after allowing five runs on four hits, a walk and a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning.
A double from Ashlyn Brust and a single from Aven Willis to lead off the game turned into a sacrifice fly from Lottie Youngblood and an RBI groundout from Alexis Smith to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
The Bulldogs countered with five runs crossing the plate in the bottom half of the inning. After a one-out walk and consecutive singles from Madi Olds and Kadence Hunt loaded the basse, Spencer singled to left to bring home the first run. Two batters later, with the bases still loaded, Kinley Spindler put Carl Junction in front with a grand slam to center field for a 5-2 lead.
Ryleigh Palmer gave Carl Junction a 6-2 lead an inning later with an RBI single up the middle.
Elsa Dogotch tripled to right field in the the third inning to plate a pair of runs before Hannah Cole wrapped the early scoring with an RBI on a sacrifice bunt to push the margin to 9-2.
Carthage scored twice in the sixth on a CJ error and an RBI groundout from Brooklynn Dolon-Main to cut the deficit to 9-4.
CJ answered once again, scoring three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double from Hunt and an RBI single by Spencer to push the lead to 12-4.
Carl Junction (7-12, 1-6 COC) is at Ozark on Thursday.
Carthage (14-11, 5-2 COC) is at Republic on Thursday.
OZARK 13, WEBB CITY 6
WEBB CITY, Mo. — Ozark rode three big innings to a Central Ozark Conference victory over Webb City.
The Tigers plated four runs in the top of the first inning, as Audrey Carlton recorded an RBI double and Kaylee Linnebur hit a three-run double.
In a three-run fourth, Natalie Morgan’s two-run double and Carlton’s RBI double gave Ozark a 7-0 lead.
Webb City got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, as Abby Sargent doubled and Kylee Sargent singled before Karsyn Cahoon’s fielder’s choice allowed Abby Sargent to score.
Ozark added five runs in the fifth to blow the game open, with a grand slam off the bat of Carlton the main highlight of the big inning for the visitors.
The Cardinals scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth on Sydney Strickland’s RBI single and Alex Maturino’s three-run home run.
The Tigers added a run in the seventh on Carlton’s second homer of the game. The Cardinals scored once in the bottom of the seventh for the final margin.
Ozark’s Carlton drove in seven runs on four hits.
Kendall McCoy was the winning pitcher. She went five innings and gave up five runs on six hits and struck out seven.
Webb City used four pitchers, and freshman Addie Burns took the loss after allowing four runs on four hits and a walk in the first inning.
Webb City fell to 17-8 overall and 3-4 in the COC, while Ozark improved to 16-10 and 3-4 in conference play.
