The Carthage Tigers fell to 1-2 on the season with a 9-0 loss to the Monett Cubs on Tuesday at the Tigers’ new home stadium this season, historic Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin, former home of Mickey Mantle, the Joplin Miners, and Missouri Southern baseball.
The wheels fell off early for the Tigers on Tuesday, as Monett plated six runs on four hits, three errors, two walks, a balk and a dropped third strike in the top of the second.
The Cubs added one more run in the third and closed out the scoring with two in the sixth, while the Tigers were one-hit by Monett starter Marcus Young until seniors Clay Kinder and Drew Musche connected on back-to-back two-out singles.
“They have a really good lefty (Young) and he locates all his pitches well,” Carthage coach Luke Bordewick said. “In those early innings, our defense struggled, and we made three or four errors in the second that led to six runs. In a game like that, where they have a good arm on the mound, you know it’s going to be tough to scratch one across let alone six.
“It’s tough, it’s early season baseball, and we’re going to see good arms. We’re thankful for that and we’ll grow from it and get back at it tomorrow. We have Purdy and Strafford tomorrow, two good teams, and I am sure they have some good arms on them as well. We’re fortunate for it.”
Carthage plays Purdy at noon and defending tournament champion Strafford at 2:30 Wednesday in Roy B. Shaver Classic play at Aurora High School.
The Tigers struggled at the plate Tuesday against Young and reliever Alex Huntress, who struck out the side in the seventh after Mason Adams led off with an infield single.
Young earned the win and he allowed three hits over six innings with 10 strikeouts and one walk. He finished with 77 pitches, averaging nearly 13 pitches per inning.
Huntress picked up three strikeouts and walked none on 16 pitches in the seventh.
Carthage struck out 13 times and walked just once Tuesday, while three Carthage pitchers allowed seven hits, and both struck out and walked five.
Junior third baseman Ty Perry came through with Carthage’s first hit on a bloop single in the second, following Musche’s leadoff walk, but Adams popped out to first on a failed bunt and Young retired the side with a pair of strikeouts.
Kinder was denied a potential extra-base hit by Monett left fielder Collin Umfleet in the fourth. Carthage’s senior catcher provided one of the Tigers’ highlights Tuesday when he threw out Huntress on a steal attempt at second in the second.
Monett’s Jason Garner and Aiden Clapper sparked the Cubs’ offense — Garner finished with three hits and two runs scored, while Clapper had two hits, two runs scored, and three RBI.
