Joplin has seen its fair share of come-from-behind victories this season but none were bigger than what transpired Monday night against Jefferson City.
Trailing 3-2 heading into the last of the eighth inning, the Outlaws rallied for three runs to keep their season alive, defeating the Renegades 5-3 in the MINK League wild card game at Joe Becker Stadium.
“(The resilience) is always there,” first-year Joplin manager Chris Dawson said. “They don’t want to quit. At the end of the day they say, because it’s at the end of the summer, it would be nice to go home, but you walk in here at seven o’clock and you see people in the stands and it’s go time. They are going to put their best foot forward and do what they need to do to try and win a ball game.”
ON THE MOUND
Christian DeJesus earned the start for Joplin and took a no-decision after allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits, zero walks and seven significant strikeouts. Missouri Southern’s Cale McCallister didn’t allow a run in 1 2/3 relief innings, walking one. John Kea earned the win in relief after allowing one run on two walks and a strikeout. Justin Schrader earned the save with a hit and two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.
“I think I have said all of the good things I can say about this staff all summer long,” Dawson said. “Other than the one random game, everyone in our freaking bullpen steps up for us. … It just shows you the depth we’ve had.”
Austin Brewer earned the start for Jefferson City and took a no-decision after allowing two runs on three hits, a walk and seven strikeouts in six innings. Deejay Seelbach took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits and a walk in one relief inning. Kolin Demel allowed one run on one hit, two walks and three strikeouts in one relief inning.
IN THE HISTORY BOOKS
DeJesus tied the single-season strikeout record for the Outlaws in the win over Jeff City. DeJesus struck out Demel in the top of the fifth for his 53rd punch-out of the season.
“The stuff has been nails all summer long,” Dawson said. “That is huge. That is one of two records we have been able to break or tie. When it is an individual record like that, you are just happy for the kid. He works his butt off. He shows up every day and is ready to pitch for us whenever his number is called.”
GAME ACTION
Joplin got on the scoreboard quickly to take the initial advantage after crossing home twice in the bottom of the first inning. Ethan Ellis put the Outlaws on the board with an RBI single to score Drake Angeron, who singled to lead off the inning, before a double steal with runners on first and third culminated in Caleb Feuerstake swiping home to push the lead to 2-0.
After a leadoff single from Brady Voss to start the top of the fourth inning for Jeff City, Carter Mize singled through the right side. Voss attempted to take third on the single by Mize, with the throw from the outfield ending up in the Outlaws’ dugout to allow Voss to score and Mize to move to third with no outs in the frame. Jeff City tied the game up at 2-2 shortly after when Hamilton Anderson doubled down the line to right with one out to plate Mize.
The Renegades pushed across the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth when Mize, who walked with two outs, went to second on a wild pitch. He advanced to third on another wild pitch, with the throw from the plate to third heading into left field, allowing him to score and give Jeff City a 3-2 advantage.
The Outlaws roared back in the bottom of the eighth. Angeron led off the inning with a single before stealing second. Feuerstake followed with an RBI single to right-center to plate Angeron and tie the game at 3-3 and moved to second on the throw to the cutoff.
Feuerstake stole third in the next at-bat, which was followed by a Jeb Jenkins walk, who immediately stole second to put runners on second and third with no outs. Ellis followed with an RBI double to right-center to plate two runs, giving Joplin a 5-3 advantage.
“I knew he was throwing a lot of fastballs, so I went up there expecting it,” Ellis said. “It was probably going to be a little up in the zone. I got a fastball middle-away in the zone and took it the other way. It felt amazing.”
“This one meant a lot,” Ellis added about the win. “This team never quits. Whether it’s the first inning, fifth inning or ninth inning, we are always going to be there and we are always going to be competing.”
“For our offense to come back, Drake Angeron started it off, getting the base hit and stealing second. Then Caleb coming through, and Caleb has been swinging it well the last two weeks. Jeb was able to get the walk and was smart to take second base. And I don’t know if anyone has paid attention, but Ethan Ellis has been on a different planet for the last couple of weeks. It was good for him to be up in that situation and hit that line drive.”
IN THE BOX
Ellis led the Outlaws with two hits, including a double, and a team-high three RBI, while Feuerstake doubled in one of his two hits, scored twice and drove in one. Angeron had two hits and scored two runs.
Anderson led the Renegades with two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Mize doubled and scored twice.
UP NEXT
Joplin travels to Sedalia to play the South Division champion Bombers (20-17) in the MINK League divisional round of the playoffs at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
“We’ve played Sedalia well all year long,” Dawson said. “We’ve split with them four games to four games. It’s going to be a grind. They are going to have their dude on the mound and we are going to have one of our dudes on the mound. It is just going to be a fun game and a fun atmosphere. Hopefully we can be on the right side of it.”
