Class 6 eighth-ranked Kickapoo broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the fourth inning and held off Joplin late for a 2-1 win in non-conference, district action on Monday at the JHS Athletic Complex.
The Chiefs (18-4) and Eagles (9-10) took a scoreless game into the fourth inning when the first three batters reached base that ultimately led to two runs touching home. Joplin rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning with a run to trim the lead in half, but the Eagles left the bases loaded before knotting things up. Joplin had the tying run on base in the seventh but was unable to get it into scoring position before the final out was made.
“It was frustrating because we felt like we were in a position to sneak one away from a really good team,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said after the loss. “I am frustrated with myself because I thought I overmanaged the game early and didn’t have enough patience for some things late in the game. The kids fought and competed. … We played pretty well defensively, we just needed to be more consistent with our approach at the plate. Overall, it was a tough one.”
ON THE MOUND
Cross Kubik earned the win after allowing one run on four hits, two walks and six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings for the Chiefs. Evan Veinhage pitched 2/3 of an inning and Brian Wamsher earned the save after allowing one hit and striking out one in one relief inning.
Byler Reither took the tough-luck complete-game loss for the Eagles after allowing two runs on four hits, three walks and five strikeouts in seven innings.
“Byler threw really, really well and gave us a chance to win that game,” Wolf said. “When he competes in the zone, he is really effective. He can give people problems. His last three outings, he has thrown really well. … Coming out of this, that is something to feel good about—Byler finding his stride on the mound a little bit. That is going to help down the road as we continue to progress through the season.”
GAME ACTION
Kickapoo got the leadoff man on base in the top of the fourth inning via a walk before Cael McCarville singled up the middle. Both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch before a single to right field from Wamsher plated a run for a 1-0 lead. Reed Jensen followed with a sacrifice safety squeeze bunt to score another run.
After the leadoff man was retired to start the last of the sixth inning, the Eagles loaded the bases with a single from Kyler Stokes and back to back walks. Jackson Queen followed with a single to right field to plate a run and cut the lead to 2-1. Kickapoo’s Veinhage followed with a strikeout and induced a groundout to get out of the inning with the bases loaded.
“Jackson came up with the big hit to get a run across and it felt like we had a little bit of momentum coming,” Wolf said. “I have seen us do it all year, but credit to their kid for making pitches to get out of it.”
IN THE BOX
Kickapoo’s Cole Murrell and McCarville each had a hit and scored a run, while Wamsher and Jensen each had a hit and drove in one.
Stokes had a hit and scored once, while Queen had a hit and an RBI.
ON DECK
Joplin has a busy week of baseball ahead. The Eagles are back in action with a Central Ozark Conference matchup against Ozark on Tuesday at the JHS Athletic Complex before hitting the road for a conference game at Republic on Wednesday.
The Eagles wrap the week with games against Class 4 fourth-ranked Smithville (10 a.m.) and Carthage (3 p.m.) on Saturday at the JHS Athletic Complex.
