The Carthage High School boys tennis team won the Republic Tournament championship on Friday.
Carthage edged Bolivar by one point (8-9) for the team title.
Rounding out the team standings were Republic (12), Forsyth (17), Neosho (20), Greenwood (24), Carl Junction (25) and Smith-Cotton (29).
The Tigers had one champion, a pair of runners-up and a third-place finisher.
Carthage’s Joshua Rivera was the champion at No. 2 singles.
Carthage’s Charlie Snow was the runner-up at No. 1 singles and the CHS tandem of Silas Laytham and Danilo Lopez took second at No. 1 doubles.
Carthage’s duo of Will Wallace and Fabian Solano placed third at No. 2 doubles.
Neosho had two entries finish fourth in their respective brackets—Reid Snyder at No. 2 singles and the duo of Breckin McAffrey and Noah Schade at No. 2 doubles.
Neosho’s Christian Williams-Peyton Williams finished fifth at No. 1 doubles and Willis Jarvis placed eighth at No. 1 singles.
Carl Junction’s top performer was Daniel Hodson, who took third place at No. 2 singles.
Bolivar’s Cy Douglas won the No. 1 singles bracket, while his teammates Kyle Pock and Seth Martin won the No. 1 doubles bracket.
Republic’s Cooper Davis-Cooper Choate were the champs at No. 2 doubles.
WEBB CITY, Mo. — A masterful pitching performance from Kaylor Darnell and some timely hitting propelled Webb City to a 6-0 victory over Carl Junction on Tuesday in a Central Ozark Conference matchup at Chuck Barnes Field.
A senior right-hander, Darnell delivered a gem on the mound.
A Missouri Southern signee, Darnell struck out 11, scattered five hits, walked two and hit one in 6 2/3 shutout innings before reaching his pitch count in the seventh inning.
“We’ll take 11 strikeouts any day,” Webb City coach Andrew Doennig said. “Kaylor definitely kept them down. He didn’t throw real well at the beginning of the game. I think he had 58 pitches through the first three innings. But then he started cruising. It was a great performance. He really settled down and found his fastball and he let his other stuff work for him, too.”
Webb City senior right-hander Kaylor Darnell struck out 11 and tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings on Tuesday. Photo by Israel Perez.
Ending a three-game skid, Webb City hiked its record to 12-9 overall and 5-1 in the COC.
Carl Junction slipped to 7-13 overall and 2-4 in conference action.
“We had 11 strikeouts and that was the name of the game,” Carl Junction coach Phil Cook said. “You can’t do that. They only out-hit us 7-5. I wonder what could have happened if we could just cut those strikeouts in half. We needed a hit in a key situation to get us going.
“Kaylor threw a really good game,” Cook added. “I think he’s one of the better pitchers around the area. I know he’s a good kid and I wish him all the luck…except when he plays us. But he threw a great game tonight.”
In a clash between district rivals, the Cardinals pushed across two runs in the bottom of the first inning against Carl Junction starter Lucas Vanlanduit.
Junior second baseman Sam Weller reached on a dropped third strike to start the frame and senior shortstop Cy Darnell was hit by a pitch before junior catcher Shaun Hunt smacked a two-run double into right-center.
“It’s always nice if you can get on the scoreboard first,” Doennig said. “It was big getting two runs in the first inning like that.”
With runners on the corners and just one out, the hosts had a golden opportunity for a big inning, but the Bulldogs used a double play and a fly out to avoid further damage in the first frame.
Webb City stranded the bases loaded in the third, as Vanlanduit induced an inning-ending pop-up off the bat of junior designated hitter Brett Korth to keep the game a two-run affair.
The Cardinals blew the game open with four runs in the fourth.
Senior left fielder William Hayes walked, went to second on a passed ball and sprinted home after a Carl Junction error after senior center fielder Gage Chapman laid down a bunt in front of the plate.
Later in the frame, Chapman charged home after a CJ error following his stolen base attempt at third base.
Webb City’s Kenley Hood stretches to secure the throw at first base against Carl Junction’s Logan Eck on Tuesday at Barnes Field. Photo by Israel Perez.
Next, Cy Darnell’s sac fly gave the Cardinals a five-run advantage. The hosts weren’t done, as junior third baseman Drew Vonder Haar tripled before senior first baseman Kenley Hood’s RBI single into left made it 6-0.
“We talk all the time about putting pressure on the other team’s defense,” Doennig said. “I thought we did a really good job of that. We ran a little bit, put pressure on them and it worked out for us.”
Carl Junction threatened with two outs in the sixth, as Vanlanduit was plunked before Logan Eck singled. But Darnell was able to retire Drew Massey on a pop fly in foul territory.
The Bulldogs put two runners on in the seventh after a Webb City error and an infield single by Wyatt McAfee. Doennig was forced to pull Darnell with two outs due to the pitch count.
Senior righty Walker Sweet took over on the hill and recorded the final out to secure the win.
Hood went 2-for-4 for the Cardinals, while Hunt drove in two runs and Weller scored twice.
Chapman had four of Webb City’s six stolen bases. The Cardinals also took advantage of three errors and several wild pitches and passed balls to take extra bags.
“We’ve tried to encourage guys to run, and we’ve got some guys who can really move,” Doennig said. “We took some chances and it worked out.”
A Pittsburg State signee, the right-handed Vanlanduit took the loss after allowing three earned runs on seven hits, three hit batters and two walks.
“Lucas threw well,” Cook said. “We just had a couple of innings where it got away from us. We had some miscues and you can’t do that against a good team.”
Senior Gaige Carson tossed two scoreless innings in relief for the Bulldogs.
A sophomore right fielder, McAfee had two of Carl Junction’s five hits.
Both teams have COC home games on Thursday, as Carl Junction hosts Republic and Webb City entertains Ozark.
Cook noted his squad will look to bounce back on Thursday.
“We’re learning and we’re getting there,” Cook said. “With us, it’s been the same thing…we beat ourselves. We have to get away from that.”
Doennig’s Cardinals will look to continue their winning ways with Thursday’s COC home game.
“I think we’re playing pretty well right now,” Doennig said. “I feel good about where we’re at. We’ve got some tough games coming up. It doesn’t get any easier for us, but I know our guys will be ready to play.”
Carl Junction first baseman Bentley Rowden is unable to haul in the throw at first base as Webb City’s Gage Chapman reaches safely. Webb City beat Carl Junction 6-0 in COC play. Photos by Israel Perez/SoMo Sports.
Webb City’s Gage Chapman steals a base against Carl Junction on Tuesday.
Carl Junction’s Lucas Vanlanduit delivers a pitch to the plate against Webb City on Tuesday.
Webb City’s Sam Weller takes a throw at second base against Carl Junction’s Cody Hollingsworth. All photos by Israel Perez.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The host Webb City Cardinals earned second place in the team standings by virtue of winning a tiebreaker against conference and district rival Carl Junction and Joplin junior Harry Satterlee won top individual honors with his 2-under par 70 on Monday in the Bird Dog Invitational at the Briarbrook Golf Course.
Nixa claimed the top prize at 304, four strokes ahead of Webb City and Carl Junction eight days before these schools and several others will battle for the Central Ozark Conference championship at the same course with Carl Junction assuming host duties.
Nixa’s Jack Holden finished second at even-par 72 and Webb City’s Braxten Cahoon, Carl Junction’s Jack Spencer and Monett’s Jaxon Bailey each shot 2-over 74 to round out the top five individual finishers Monday.
“I am very, very happy with the outing today,” Webb City coach Jackson Boyer said. “Three guys in the 70s. That happened (April 17) at Carthage and we needed help from our four and our five. Actually, our five-hole came through (Monday) with a 77 and he’s done that in practice. He’s still fairly new to golf … Jackson Lucas made a statement. We’re still trying to find our top five for conference and district.”
“We played pretty good,” Carl Junction coach Ryan Jones said. “Any time you’re playing golf, you’re more worried about what you shoot as opposed to everybody else. I feel like our scores weren’t too bad today. Nixa is a really good golf team and you’re just going to have to catch them on the right day to be able to beat them. Today, they played good enough.”
Webb City’s Cooper Forth shot 76 to finish in the top 10, Lucas stepped up and finished in the top 10 as well behind his 77 on Monday, and Levi Lassiter and Jack Good shot 81 and 91, respectively, for the Cardinals on a day when truly every shot counted.
“Braxten Cahoon, our senior, he came out on his home course, and he had a pretty disappointing last few years at this tournament for his standards and he showed up today and helped the team,” Boyer said. “Of course, there’s Cooper Forth and Levi Lassiter. It came down to a tie with Carl Junction for second, so we took our number five score against their number five score. All five contributed today and it’s a big accomplishment.
“We had cool temperatures early. Greens are running smooth. This is the time of the year where there’s enough warm weather to let the grass catch up a little bit. I thought the wind was going to pick up (Monday), but it just never did. It was absolute perfect conditions for golf today, so guys came out and answered the call.”
Carl Junction’s Tommy Walker joined Spencer in the top 10 with his score of 77, Logan Lowry and Jacob Teeter shot 78 and 79 to finish right on the periphery of the top 10, and Zach Merwin and Jayden Wingo shot 94 and 95 to round out the Bulldogs’ scores Monday.
“We’re right there,” Jones said. “Again, it’s another runner-up. We won the (St. Mary’s) Colgan Invitational last week, but for the most part, we’ve settled in. We’re consistent in our numbers. We are who we are. We’re close enough to beat anybody, but we just need to have one of those days where putts drop, and we don’t make just one mistake here or there. We’re in the mix of being a really, really good golf team. We just need one day where we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot.”
Satterlee, who shot 1-under par 70 and beat Republic’s Cason Bekemeier in a playoff to win the previous week’s Abbiati’s BBQ Invitational at Carthage and a 4-under 68 to win the Joplin Invitational earlier this season, again showed why he’s one of the best golfers around.
“Obviously, it’s all-around the same score nowadays, definitely pretty consistent,” Satterlee said. “It was obviously 2-under, anybody will take it … it’s just one tournament.
“It (Briarbrook) was playing pretty easy, to be honest. Par-5s are gettable. I played the par-5s even, which was disappointing, but I made up for it on par-4s.”
Satterlee did not require a playoff Monday, though, as he was the only golfer among the nearly 90 golfers to shoot under par.
“They’re fun, though,” Satterlee said. “But I was excited to win it by a couple strokes. I have to stay focused … the job’s not finished.”
Satterlee won the Bird Dog his sophomore year with a 2-under 70.
His sights are not only the more immediate future of the upcoming conference and district tournaments, but Satterlee also recently committed to play golf at the college level for NCAA Division I school Cincinnati, a member of the American Athletic Conference alongside schools like Houston, Memphis, Temple, and Wichita State.
“I took a visit in mid-February,” Satterlee said. “I got to see the facilities and they laid out the red carpet for me. I’m excited for the future. There’s a couple more schools talking with me, but at the end of the day, I decided that I wanted to pursue my academic and athletic career at Cincinnati.”
Team champion Nixa and individual champion Satterlee will look to defend their respective titles at next Tuesday’s conference tournament.
“Nixa is one of the best teams in Southwest Missouri and we get them again next week on the same course in our conference tournament,” Boyer said. “We’re looking forward to the challenge again.
“At this point, the kids know what they’re capable of physically, it’s the mental preparation. Anybody that’s ever played golf knows that it’s between the ears and having a plan and being able to bounce back from a bad shot. I tell the kids the secret to golf is to not hit two bad shots in a row. No one’s going to go out and play perfect, but if you can limit those (bad) shots and be mentally tough, especially around the green when you’re chipping and putting, that’s going to be our emphasis at practice until we enter the playoffs.”
Nixa won by 10 strokes last season with a 307 at Branson’s Pointe Royale Golf Course, while Ozark finished second at 317, Joplin third at 318, Webb City fourth at 327, Carl Junction fifth at 332, Carthage sixth at 336, Republic seventh at 343, Willard eighth at 356, Branson ninth at 363, and Neosho 10th at 370.
Nine of those 10 schools competed Monday at Briarbrook.
“That’s a good thing that we’re back here,” Jones said. “I would expect the course will play a little longer, a little different next week. We’ll play a different set of tees and it will have a little more teeth to the course. Our kids are used to that, and we’ll see if we’re good enough. This is as good as the Central Ozark Conference has been, as far as I can remember, in almost the 20 years I’ve been doing this. It’s a talented field next week, but I like our team and I like our chances if we go out and do what we’re capable of … we can make some noise next week.”
2023 Bird Dog Invitational
(at Briarbrook Golf Course)
Team scores: Nixa 304, Webb City 308, Carl Junction 308, Carthage 321, Ozark 330, Joplin 335, Branson 336, Monett 336, Frontenac 344, Republic 346, Seneca 361, Neosho 362, Mount Vernon 381, McAuley Catholic 384, Thomas Jefferson 393, Nevada 395, Diamond 423, Lamar 450.
BOLIVAR, Mo. — Webb City’s boys and girls track and field teams finished second and fourth, respectively, at the Southwest Baptist University High School Invitational on Monday.
The meet featured 22 schools who compete in Class 5 or Class 4.
Webb City’s boys finished second in the team standings with 85.5 points. Waynesville was first with 105.5. Nixa (76) and Kickapoo (58) were third and fourth.
The top four girls teams were Kickapoo (92), Republic (82), Marshfield (65) and Webb City (64).
Athletes from Carl Junction and Carthage also competed at the event.
WEBB CITY HIGHLIGHTS
The Webb City boys won three events and had 11 total top-five finishes.
Trey Roets won the javelin with a toss of 174 feet and Grayson Smith took first in the pole vault by clearing 14-7.25.
Evan Stevens crossed the line first in the 3200 with a time of 9:37 and was also second in the 1600 in 4:19.
Also for the Cardinals, Justin Allen took second in the pole vault, William Wolfe finished second in the 100, while Tucker Liberatore took third in the javelin, Nate Miller was fourth in the discus and Joseph DeGraffenreid finished fourth in the high jump.
Webb City’s Jordan Thornburg was sixth in the 100, Malique McCarter placed eighth in the javelin, Jadon Brisco took eighth in the pole vault and Julian Andrae was eighth in the triple jump.
The Cardinals finished third in the 4×100 relay and took fifth in the 4×200 relay.
Webb City’s girls won four events and finished in the top five in three others.
Webb City senior Abi Street won two events, the 1600 with a time of 5:10 and the 3200 in 11:07.
Brooke Hedger took first in the 800 in 2:22 and Dawsyn Decker won the javelin with a toss of 136-9.
Also for the Cardinals, Hedger finished third in the 1600, Chase Stilley tied for third in the high jump, Essence Robinson took sixth in the 400, Aubree Lassiter finished seventh in the discus and Lily McCaw was eighth in the pole vault.
Webb City’s girls were fourth in the 4×400 relay and seventh in the 4×100 relay.
CARL JUNCTION HIGHLIGHTS
Carl Junction sophomore Sydney Ward won two events, the 100-meter dash in 12.29 seconds and the 200 in 25.7 seconds.
Also for the Bulldogs, Acadia Badgley and Brooke Jasperson finished second and fifth, respectively, in the pole vault, and Madilyn Olds placed sixth in the javelin.
The CJ girls were eighth in two relays, the 4×100 and the 4×200.
Carl Junction’s Braxton Dodds finished seventh in the boys javelin and Ryder Pyles took seventh in the long jump.
Carl Junction’s girls were ninth in the team standings and the CJHS boys were 20th.
CARTHAGE HIGHLIGHTS
Carthage’s Miguel Solano took first in the boys 800 in 1:56.
Also for the Tigers, Daryl Martin finished third in the 110 hurdles and was fourth in the 300 hurdles, Micah Lindsey placed fourth in the shot put and seventh in the discus and Michael Lanyon took fifth in the 2000 steeplechase.
The Tigers were third in the 4×400 relay and eighth in the 4×800 relay.
For the Carthage girls, Lexa Youngblood placed fourth in the 400 and fifth in the 200, Chasity Straw finished fifth in the discus and Ada Roughton finished sixth in the triple jump.
The CHS girls finished seventh in the 4×400 relay and eighth in the 4×800 relay.
Carthage’s boys finished ninth in the standings, while the CHS girls were 16th.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — It’s no secret, the key to winning baseball games is a combination of timely hitting, strong pitching and taking advantage of the other team’s mistakes.
Carl Junction did just that in a 5-0 win over Neosho in Central Ozark Conference action on a windy Tuesday.
“Early in the year, we were pitching pretty well and playing pretty good defense, but we weren’t hitting,” Carl Junction coach Phil Cook said. “We started hitting a couple of weeks ago, and I am really pleased with that, but haven’t been pitching as well and we had some messy play defensively. I told them when they can put a complete game together … you’ll win, and that’s what they did.”
ON THE MOUND
Lucas Vanlanduit, who also doubled at the plate, was nails on the mound for the Bulldogs, earning the win after pitching a complete-game shutout on just two hits, two walks and 11 strikeouts in seven innings.
“He was awesome,” Cook said. “He has had some really good outings this year and not won. … He has been really sharp all year long. Until that last inning, he was in the zone and doing everything we asked. If you can throw a complete-game, seven-inning shutout at this level with only 105 pitches to work with, you’re doing something right. I told him it was a gem.”
Vanlanduit’s only real trouble in the game came in the top of the seventh inning when the Wildcats loaded the bases with one out. However, Vanlanduit escaped the jam after inducing a grounder to third, where Gabe Sitton fielded the ball cleanly moving towards the bag, stepped on third and fired to first for a game-ending 5-3 double play.
“I called a timeout there in the last inning (and went to the mound) to tell everybody two things,” Cook said. “First, I wanted to make sure everybody took a deep breath and made sure we were focusing on just getting the out. Second, I asked them if they knew what happened if [Neosho] hit a grand slam right here? We still have a one-run lead. We just needed to throw strikes and make them hit it. Lucas got the ground ball. Gabe made a great play at third base and made a great throw across the infield.”
Kael Smith took the complete-game loss for Neosho after allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits, two walks and 11 strikeouts in six innings of work.
BETWEEN THE LINES
After two scoreless innings, Carl Junction took the momentum with a three-run third inning. The Bulldogs opened the scoring with an RBI double from Wyatt McAfee before he ultimately came around to score on a first-and-third pickoff-rundown play for a 2-0 advantage. The final run came home to score on a Neosho error.
“What I am most happy about is we contributed all throughout the lineup,” Cook said of his offense’s day at the plate. “It seemed like every inning—no matter who was coming up—we were putting pressure on them with everybody contributing. That’s what we want.”
Carl Junction added insurance in the fourth with a run coming home on a dropped third strike before scoring a single tally in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly from Bentley Rowden to extend the lead to 5-0.
“We didn’t come to play today,” Neosho coach Bo Helsel said after the loss. “Wind blowing in … we got beat in all three aspects today[—pitching, fielding and defense]. You can’t win in this conference playing like that.”
AT THE PLATE
McAfee had a double on the way to two hits, an RBI and a run scored, while Brody Pant and Cody Hollingsworth each had a pair of hits for Carl Junction. Pant scored twice and Hollingsworth drove in one. Arlen Wakefield had a hit and scored a run.
Wyatt Shadwick and Austin Rodriguez each had hits for Neosho.
UP NEXT
Carl Junction (7-10, 2-2 COC) is at Branson on Wednesday.
For years, Brad Shorter has preached a simple, yet meaningful philosophy to his prep basketball players — family comes first.
Now, after a successful run on the sidelines, Shorter is practicing what he preaches.
After guiding the Carl Junction girls basketball program to new heights, Shorter told SoMo Sports that he has relinquished his coaching duties in order to spend more time with his family.
“I think the time is right,” Shorter said on Tuesday morning. “My daughter Hali is a senior and she’s finishing high school. My son Maddox is getting ready to go into high school. I haven’t been able to spend the time with Maddox like I was able to do with Hali. That plays a big part in this.
“I preach every day to the kids that faith and family come first and then school and basketball,” Shorter added. “I want to be able to spend more time with my little guy. I want to watch him grow up.”
Shorter added the decision to step down was not an easy one. He informed his players of his decision this past Friday.
“I hate to leave the kids because you make great connections with them,” Shorter said. “It was a very tough decision…I went back and forth on it.”
Shorter said he’s confident he’s leaving the CJ girls basketball program in a good spot for whoever takes over as the next head coach.
“I think the program is in a great position,” Shorter said. “The program has a returning all-stater in Kylie Scott and also has Dezi Williams, who I think will be an all-stater soon. The team has a lot of other kids with experience like Jadyn Howard, Anna Burch and Shay Buerge. That’s a solid five returning. I feel good about that. I didn’t want to leave it to someone in a rough spot. I think the program is in a great spot.”
Carl Junction coach Brad Shorter talks to his team during a timeout this past season during a game at McDonald County. File photo.
It’s the end of an era for one of the Joplin area’s top prep basketball coaches.
Shorter owns a coaching record of 485-134 on the hardwood, with an impressive 275-72 record at Carl Junction.
Shorter coached at his alma mater, Lockwood, before his first stint at Carl Junction, which lasted from 2005-08. A successful run at Webb City followed from 2008-14.
He returned to Carl Junction in ’14.
During Shorter’s second stint at Carl Junction, the Bulldogs ascended to new heights by becoming arguably one of the state’s top girls basketball programs.
“A lot of good memories for sure,” Shorter said. “Even the three years I was here before I went to Webb were great. I felt like we turned things around pretty quick then. We won a district championship that first year. And the second stint here has been outstanding…eight district championships in-a-row. I’m really proud of the three conference titles, especially as the smallest school in the conference. We also won the Big 8 twice before we went to the COC. I feel like we did some good things as a coaching staff. I had a number of assistants over the years and all of them did an outstanding job. I was very fortunate to have great assistants.”
Under Shorter, Webb City’s girls basketball program went 149-33 and made four trips to the final four, with a state championship (2010), two runners-up (’09, ’13) and one third-place finish (’11).
Carl Junction coach Brad Shorter and the Bulldogs’ bench celebrate a hoop during Wednesday’s Lady Mustang Classic title game. SoMo Sports file photo.
Shorter noted there are still misconceptions about why he resigned at Webb City.
“I was going to go work with Lane Lord at Pittsburg State as his assistant,” Shorter said. “I resigned at Webb and thought it was all good to go at Pitt State. I thought I had an opportunity there, but that fell through. I was miserable for a few weeks. I still wanted to coach obviously.”
That led Shorter to his second stint at Carl Junction.
Under Shorter’s direction, the Carl Junction girls captured eight straight district championships (beginning in ’16), three conference titles and advanced to the state semifinals four times.
Carl Junction was fourth in the state in 2017 and second in 2018 before the program put together an undefeated 2020 season (28-0). Of course, that year the Bulldogs didn’t get to compete at the Final Four because the state tourney was canceled due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2022-23 season was another memorable and historic one for the CJ girls program.
Carl Junction went 30-2, a school record for wins, and advanced to the Class 5 state championship game, falling to Lutheran St. Charles 44-39.
During Shorter’s second stint at CJ, he coached a number of standout players, including Brenlee McPherson, Alex Vogt, Megan, Katie and Kylie Scott, and Destiny Buerge.
Katie Scott was the Gatorade Missouri Girls Basketball Player of the Year in ’20 and Buerge was the Class 5 Co-Player of the Year this past season.
“I’m proud of the success obviously,” Shorter said. “But more than that, I’m proud of how so many kids progressed from their freshman year to their senior year. And our kids always have had one of the top GPAs of all the sports at CJ. It was always nice to see the kids grow up and to see them come back.”
One former player who is obviously very special to Coach Shorter is his daughter, Hali.
When he returned to Carl Junction, Hali was in the fourth grade. Hali was the team’s ‘water girl’ for several years before her four-year prep career in a Bulldogs uniform.
“Coaching Hali was unbelievable,” Coach Shorter said. “Most parents would love the opportunity to spend a couple of extra hours each day with their kid and just be a fly on the wall. Coaching her was fun. She worked hard and was super coachable. She was like a coach on the floor. But just being in the same room with her was great. I’m very proud of her and the person she has become. I’d like to think Alicia and I have something to do with that.”
Shorter isn’t entirely finished with coaching. Shorter noted he plans on becoming an assistant coach with Carl Junction’s baseball program next spring, just in time for Maddox’s freshman year.
“I’m going to coach baseball next year with Dr. (Phil) Cook (as his assistant),” said Shorter, who was an all-American baseball player at Pittsburg State. “It will be an opportunity for me to coach my son. I’m excited to coach baseball. It’s a sport I really enjoy.”
Shorter added he wouldn’t rule out coaching basketball in the future if the right opportunity presented itself.
But for now, coaching high school basketball is in the past.
Shorter couldn’t help but reflect a bit on the years and years of developing players.
And as you’d expect, all of those players became like family.
“The success of the program says a lot about the kids and the culture we built,” Shorter said. “I think they know I care about them. We get into education and coaching because we love kids and we want to give them opportunities. To see the growth makes you feel good as a coach. You know you made a difference.
“The thing I’ll miss the most is all the time with the players in practice after school and all the road trips,” he continued. “There’s a lot of bonding. I’ll miss the feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself. We always had great team chemistry…like a big family.”
Carl Junction head coach Brad Shorter gives instructions during the Class 5 Show-Me Showdown state championship game against Lutheran St. Charles, on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield. File photo by Michael Gulledge/SoMo Sports.
The talent and depth of the Joplin High School boys track and field squad was on full-display on Wednesday night.
The Eagles won 10 events and finished second in six others en route to capturing the team championship at their own Joplin Invitational at JHS.
With a top-three finish in all but one event, Joplin’s boys won the team title with 251.5 points. Webb City took second with 193.5 points. There were eight full squads competing.
The top four girls teams were Carthage (163), Webb City (134.5), Joplin (132.66) and Carl Junction (113.33).
Joplin’s Quin Renfro is pictured during the 4×100 relay on Wednesday night. Photo by Sloan Uebinger.
JOPLIN HIGHLIGHTS
In an impressive showing, the Joplin boys had 24 top-three performances.
The Eagles won two relays — the 4×100 and the 4×200. The team of Quin Renfro, Davin Thomas, Orion Norris and Noah Soriano won the 4×100 in 43.25 seconds, while Tayshaun Palmer, Norris, Fredy Cerrato-Martinez and Thomas won the 4×200 in 1:33.
The Eagles were third in the 4×400, with Cerrato-Martinez, Jamohn Smith, Logan Bever and Palmer competing.
Joplin sophomore Chance Tindall won two events— the 1600 in 4:42 and the 3200 in 10:48.
Eagles senior standout Hobbs Campbell won the 800-meter run in 1:56.65, just short of the school record time of 1:56.04.
Next, Joplin had the top three finishers in the 200-meter dash—Soriano (21.84), Norris (23.23) and Thomas (23.76).
The Eagles also took first and second in the 110 hurdles, with Cordell Washington first and Avarus Kuhn-Wofford second.
Kuhn-Wofford also won the 300 hurdles, with Ben Sotlar third.
A freshman, Washington won the high jump by clearing 1.82 meters. He also took third in the triple jump.
Dontrell Holt won the shot put (15.33m), while Neil Barstow was the runner-up in the discus and fourth in the shot put.
Soriano and Bever placed second and fourth, respectively, in the pole vault, while Soriano was second in the long jump, with Aidan Sampson fourth.
Aiden Scourten took second in the 400, while Thomas, Palmer and Renfro finished third, fourth and fifth in the 100, again showing off the team’s depth.
Joplin senior Hobbs Campbell won the 800-meter run at Wednesday’s Joplin Invitational. Photo by Jason Peake.
Ian Horton and Grey Edwards finished third and fourth in the 800, while Parker Durham took third in the 3200.
Drew VanGilder and Draven VanGilder finished third and fourth, respectively, in the javelin and Cerrato-Martinez was fifth in the triple jump.
Next, Joplin’s girls won three events.
The Eagles won the 4×100 relay in 50.83 seconds, with Phia Vogel, Abigayle Lowery, Abigail Eckert and Brylee Strickland competing.
The team of Micah Holden, Aubrey Strickland, Kendall Nyarango and Allie Keizer took second in the 4×400.
Also for the JHS girls, Aubrey Strickland won the 100-meter hurdles in 16.8 seconds and teammate Maria Loum was the runner-up.
Kirsten Thom (49.96) and Aubrey Strickland (51.46) were first and second in the 300 hurdles.
Brylee Strickland was the runner-up in both the 100 and 200, with teammate Lowery fourth in both events. Ava Werberger-Doll and Annabelle Rutledge finished second and third in the 1600, while Rutlege was also fifth in the 3200.
Also for the JHS girls, Vogel and Nyarango placed fourth and fifth in the long jump, Aubrey Strickland finished fifth in the triple jump, Holden was fifth in the pole vault and Claire Jasper placed fifth in the shot put.
Carthage’s Jaidyn Brunnert competes in the hurdles at the Joplin Invitational. Photo by Sloan Uebinger.
CARTHAGE HIGHLIGHTS
Carthage’s Joey Hettinger is pictured during Wednesday’s Joplin Invitational. At right is Webb City’s Kylie Jennings. Photo by Sloan Uebinger.
Also possessing plenty of depth, the Carthage girls won six events en route to capturing the team title.
Carthage’s 4×400 relay team of Ashleigh Rowden, Evelyn Carrol, Maggie Boyd and Lexa Youngblood took first with a time of 4:27.
Carthage was second in the other relays. Competing in the 4×100 were Ashlyn Brust, Youngblood, Ada Roughton and Joey Hettinger. The 4×200 featured Brust, Rowden, Trisha Kanas and Roughton, while Boyd, Carrol, Lauren Choate and Grace Brown competed in the 4×800.
A senior, Hettinger took first in two individual events—the high jump and the long jump.
Boyd won the 800 in 2:34 and Youngblood took first in the 400 in 1:03 and was also third in the 200 in 26.79.
Chasity Straw won the discus (29.33m), while Karlie Nichols, Shaw and Lilly Holmes finished 2-3-4 in the shot put.
Roughton took second in the triple jump and third in the long jump, while Carrol placed third in the high jump and Katy Witherspoon took third in the 3200 and fifth in the 1600. Jaidyn Brunnert finished sixth in both hurdle races.
For the Carthage boys, Caleb Fewin placed second in the 3200 and was also third in the 1600.
The Tigers were third in the 4×800 relay, with Fewin, Skuylor Honeycutt, Xander Vazquez and Michael Lanyon competing, while the 4×400 finished fourth and featured Indiana Gray, Vazquez, Welle Welle and Lanyon.
WEBB CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Webb City’s boys won six events and finished second in five others on their way to the runner-up team finish.
The Cardinals won two relays and finished second in two others.
Webb City’s 4×400 relay featuring Jadon Brisco, Noah Moss, Mason Hedger and Gabe Johnson won in 3:37. The team of Hedger, Dakota Grove, Atticus Luzander and Evan Stevens won the 4×800 in 8:32.
The 4×100 and 4×200 relays both took second and featured Jordan Thornburg, William Headrick, Johnson and William Wolfe.
Wolfe and Thornburg took first and second, respectively, in the 100-meter dash. Wolfe crossed the line at 10.86 seconds, with Thornburg recording a time of 11.06.
Justin Allen won the pole vault, with Brisco third and Carson Farmer fifth in the same event. Nathaniel Miller won the discus (40.5m) and Trey Roets won the javelin (51.65m).
Pictured is Webb City’s Atticus Luzadder.
Tucker Liberatore was second in the javelin, Hedger was the runner-up in the 800, with Grove fifth in the same event. Joseph DeGraffenreid was the runner-up in the high jump.
Moss, Jace Jones and Dalton Riggs were third, fourth and fifth in the 100 hurdles, with Moss taking fourth in the 300 hurdles.
Grayson Smith finished third in the long jump, Julian Andrae took fourth in the triple jump and Ryan Reid was fourth in the high jump.
Dalton Thurlo was third in the shot put, with Eric Lathan fifth. Devin Turner was fourth in the discus and Malique McCarter took fifth in the javelin.
Webb City’s girls won four events.
Winning individual events for the Webb City girls were Brooke Hedger (1600), Emily Countryman (3200) and Dawsyn Decker (shot put).
Hedger recorded a time of 5:48 in the 1600, while Countryman crossed the line at 12:46 in the 3200. Miller was the runner-up to her teammate in the 3200. Decker’s toss went 10.28 meters.
Webb City’s girls won the 4×800 relay in 10:35 and featured Rachel Miller, Hedger, Countryman and Abi Street.
The Cardinals were third in the 4×200 and fourth in the 4×100. Sydney Brisco, Khloe Rhuems, Hannah Frazier and Alyssa Morena ran the 4×200, with Kylie Jennings, Chase Stilley, Moreno and Frazier running the 4×100.
Also for the Webb City girls, Stilley took second in the high jump, Essence Robinson was second in the long jump, Alix Davis was third in the pole vault and Aspen White took third in the 800.
Robinson and Jennings finished third and fourth, respectively, in the 400, Kristina Bundy placed fourth in the 1600, Aubree Lassiter took fifth in the discus and Bryleigh Webb and Riley Hanes were fourth and fifth in the javelin.
CARL JUNCTION HIGHLIGHTS
Carl Junction sophomore sprinter Sydney Ward won two events — the 100-meter dash in 12.23 seconds and the 200 in 25.01.
CJ’s Acadia Badgley and Brooke Jasperson took first and second in the pole vault, while Bella Montez and Madilyn Olds were the top two finishers in the javelin.
Also for the CJ girls, Abigail Wilson was third in the triple jump, Sloan Uebinger took fourth in the 100 hurdles and Montez was fourth in the 300 hurdles.
Fifth-place finishers were Olivia Battagler (100), Zoie Weibel (400), Delaney Harris (800) and Montez (100 H).
The Carl Junction girls won the 4×200 (names unavailable) and were fifth in the 4×100.
Carl Junction’s boys 4×100 relay team of Dexter Merrell, Colton Talken, Ryder Pyles and Jaxton Wobken took fourth.
Talken took fourth in the 200, Tony Stewart was fourth in the 400, Jonah Younge placed fifth in the high jump and Donnie Keith took fifth in the discus.
Carl Junction’s Sydney Ward and Joplin’s Brylee Strickland are pictured during the 100-meter dash on Wednesday at the Joplin Invitational. Photo by Sloan Uebinger.
THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGHLIGHTS
Thomas Jefferson’s Kip Atteberry was the runner-up in the 1600, while Braden Honeywell-Lynch took fifth in both the 1600 and 3200.
Tyler Brouhard finished sixth in the 100 and seventh in the 200, while Sheraz Anis was seventh in the 300 hurdles.
Lannah Grigg had the top performance for the Thomas Jefferson girls by finishing second in the discus.
Thomas Jefferson’s girls finished fourth in the 4×800 relay, with Macie Shifferd, Nico Carlson, Samantha Seto and Sarah Mueller competing.
Carlson and Gabriella Hiebert placed fourth and fifth in the high jump, while Shifferd took fourth in the 3200.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Nevada’s Drew Beachler won the long jump (6.5m) and teammate Jack Cheaney won the triple jump (12.66m).
The only girls event that wasn’t won by an athlete from Carthage, Webb City, Carl Junction or Joplin was the triple jump, which was won by Pittsburg’s Dessie Gorley.
JOPLIN INVITATIONAL
Boys team standings: Joplin 251.5, Webb City 193.5, Nevada 95, Pittsburg 59, Carl Junction 31, Carthage 28, Thomas Jefferson 24, Exeter 10.
Girls team standings: Carthage 163, Webb City 134.5, Joplin 132.66, Carl Junction 113.33, Pittsburg 79, Nevada 36.5, Thomas Jefferson 33, Exeter 5.
Webb City’s Aspen White and Carl Junction’s Delaney Harris compete in the 800 on Wednesday at Joplin High School. Photo by Jason Peake.
Joplin High School hosted a track and field invite on Wednesday. Pictured above is the boys 400-meter dash.
Webb City’s Mason Hedger and Joplin’s Ian Horton compete in the 800 on Wednesday. Photo by Jason Peake.
Runners, including Joplin’s Hobbs Campbell (center), compete in the 800-meter run.
When navigating through a rough stretch of play, teams often turn to its ace on the mound to right the ship.
Joplin did just that on Thursday at the JHS Athletic Complex, as the Eagles (4-7, 1-0 COC) rode a strong start from their ace, Justin McReynolds, to snap a four-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over Carl Junction (2-6, 0-1 COC) in both team’s Central Ozark Conference opener.
Joplin pitcher Justin McReynolds delivers a pitch to home while leading the Eagles to a win over Carl Junction in the Central Ozark Conference opener on Thursday. Photo by Jamie Beck.
“Anytime you can roll a guy out there who has been as consistent and effective as he has all year, you feel like you are going to have a chance,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “He is going to give you a chance to be in the game and hopefully have a lead late to win it, and he did that for us again today. It was huge and we needed it. He gave us another great outing opening up conference play.”
McReynolds earned the complete-game win after allowing one run on three hits, four walks and eight strikeouts, while stranding five runners on base.
“He never panicked,” Wolf said of his ace. “He had a little traffic, and some of it was his own doing with a couple of walks, but he executed some pitches in big situations. I thought we played pretty well defensively behind him when we had opportunities to do so.”
On the other side, Carl Junction starter Lucas Vanlanduit was saddled with the tough-luck loss in the pitcher’s duel. Vanlanduit allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits, a walk and seven strikeouts in six innings.
“I was really pleased with how Lucas pitched,” Carl Junction coach Phil Cook said. “He was really filling the zone up. He threw 95 pitches in six innings, and that is a good outing for him. We just need to get some run production for him. … He kept the ball down and kept them off stride with his offspeed. This is his second really good outing in a row. He is pitching really well.”
Joplin got on the scoreboard early to give its starter a lead to work with. Brady Mails started things off with a leadoff single up the middle before stealing second to get into scoring position. Two batters later, Byler Reither doubled to the gap in right-center field with one out to score Mails for a 1-0 lead.
“Anytime you can get a lead early, it helps everyone relax a little bit,” Wolf said about the early lead. “Especially with Justin on the mound. It makes the game play a little easier.”
Carl Junction’s Lucas Vanlanduit delivers a pitch to home plate during the Bulldogs’ loss to Joplin on Thursady. Photo by Jamie Beck.
McReynolds helped his own cause on the mound with a clutch at-bat at the plate in the bottom of the third inning, lining a two-out single to right field with a runner on third base to push the lead to 2-0.
Carl Junction got on the scoreboard and cut the lead in half in the process during the top of the fourth inning. Logan Eck drew a one-out walk before ending up on third on a two-base throwing error by Joplin on a pickoff attempt. Wyatt McAfee brought home the Bulldogs’ run with a two-out double in a two-strike count to left-center field, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
“Our approach at the plate is getting better every game,” Cook said. “We are right there. … Wyatt is one of those guys who is learning at the plate. He battled, didn’t give in and did a good job of hitting it hard.”
Joplin came back to add insurance in the bottom of the fifth, pushing the lead back to two runs when Reither brought the runner from third home with a groundout to make the score 3-1.
“We talked about it in the dugout,” Wolf said of the late insurance. “We scored first, and to answer their run after they scored was huge. You get that run back and get to keep the momentum.”
Mails had two hits and scored a run for Joplin. Reither doubled and drove in two, while McReynolds had a hit and an RBI.
McAfee doubled and drove in a run, while Bentley Rowden and Drew Massey each collected hits for the Bulldogs.
Joplin plays Hickman at US Ballpark in Ozark on Saturday.
Joplin’s Harry Satterlee carded a 4-under-par 68 to capture medalist honors at Thursday’s Joplin Invitational at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club.
A junior, Satterlee shot an even-par 36 on the front nine and fired an impressive 32 (4-under) on the back nine to finish in first place individually.
Carthage senior Max Templeman was the runner-up with a 1-over-par 73 (35-38).
Carl Junction sophomore Jack Spencer finished third with a 75 (39-36) and Carthage senior Britt Coy took fourth with a 77 (38-39).
Recording identical scores of 79 were Neosho’s Collier Hendricks and Webb City’s Braxten Cahoon and Cooper Forth.
Tying for eighth place were Carl Junction’s Tommy Walker (80) and Webb City’s Levi Lassiter (80) and Joplin’s Hobbs Campbell (81) took 10th.
Rounding out the top 15 individuals were Carl Junction’s Jacob Teeter (82), Carthage’s Owen Derryberry (83), Seneca’s Eli Olson (84), Carl Junction’s Logan Lowry (85) and Carthage’s Colson Brust (87).
Joplin’s Ian Surbrugg (88) and Dylan Bozarth (88) and Seneca’s Jace Wilson (88) tied for 16th place, while Lamar’s Koen Littlejohn (92) was 19th. Carl Junction’s Austin Baker (93), Carthage’s Ben Nicholas (93) and Webb City’s Jack Good (93) tied for 20th place.
Carthage won the team championship with a four-person score of 320.
Carl Junction (322) and Joplin (325) were a close second and third in the team standings and Webb City was fourth with a 331.
Rounding out the team standings were Seneca (373), Neosho (377), Clever (396), Joplin JV (425), Nevada (431) and Lamar (438). Purdy had three golfers competing.
It was the first 18-hole event for most of the local teams.
Joplin will host the Horton Smith Tournament on Monday at Schifferdecker Golf Course.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Joplin, Carl Junction, Carthage and McDonald County were among the teams competing at the Girls Night Out track and field invitational on Wednesday at JFK Stadium.
The meet featured female athletes from 33 schools.
Carl Junction’s Sydney Ward won two events — the 100-meter dash in 12.65 seconds and the 200 in 25.62 seconds.
Carl Junction’s Acadia Badgley and Joplin’s Maria Loum placed second and third, respectively, in the pole vault. Both cleared 3.04 meters.
Also for the Bulldogs, Brooke Jasperson tied for 10th in the pole vault.
Joplin’s Allie Keizer finished sixth in the 1600 with a time of 5:33, while teammate Brylee Strickland placed fifth in the 200 with a time of 25.82 seconds. Strickland was also seventh in the 400 with a time of 1:01.
Joplin’s 4×100 relay team of Phia Vogel, Abigayle Lowery, Abigail Eckert and Strickland took sixth in 51.88 seconds.
Also for the Eagles, Kirsten Thom and Aubrey Strickland took 10th and 12th in the 300 hurdles.
Carthage’s 4×400 relay team of Aven Willis, Evelyn Carrol, Maggie Boyd and Lexa Youngblood finished sixth in 4:22.
Also for the Tigers, Joey Hettinger placed sixth in the high jump, Boyd finished seventh in the 800, Karlie Nichols and Lilly Holmes took 10th and 11th in the shot put and Youngblood was 13th in the 200.
McDonald County’s top performers were Lacey Nix (10th in the pole vault) and Corina Holland (11th in the 400).
The top five teams were Blue Springs, Hickman, Helias Catholic, Republic and Kickapoo.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The Nevada Tigers scored early and often during their 11-1 run-rule win in five innings against the host Carl Junction Bulldogs on Saturday morning.
Nevada scored one run in the first, three in the third, five in the fourth, and two in the fifth to close out the scoring and set up the run-rule scenario after the Bulldogs scored their lone run in the fourth.
University of Nebraska baseball commit and Nevada senior Case Sanderson pitched three shutout innings and collected three hits, including an RBI double, and three runs scored.
The Tigers received contributions from every player in their lineup Saturday.
“I think all nine guys made a lot of contributions today,” Nevada coach Danny Penn said. “Case Sanderson, our three hole, had a couple real loud swings, but everyone contributed whether it was a hit bringing in runs or getting on base with a walk. Just a balanced performance offensively today.”
Offensive highlights for the Tigers included Barrett Nadurata’s double in the second, Graham Walker’s two-run single in the third, Caden Klumpp’s two-run single in the fourth and Kennedy D’Elia’s RBI single in the fifth.
The Tigers collected a dozen hits, worked seven walks against four different Carl Junction pitchers, reached twice on errors and once on a hit batter, and left seven runners behind.
“Yeah, it was a tight (strike) zone,” Penn said. “It was tight both ways so that was something that we talked with our guys about and they did a nice job early in the count laying off those pitches and either getting into a more favorable count or a walk.
“On the flip side, it did hurt Case a little bit because those pitches that are right there on the black, he was not getting those calls today so that elevated his pitch count a little bit, but I thought he did a nice job of adjusting to the strike zone and pitching to contact.”
Two days earlier, Nevada jumped out to a 6-0 lead at home against Central Ozark Conference school Carthage.
Carthage scored four runs in the fourth and two in the sixth for a tie score, but Nevada walked it off with a 7-6 win.
On Saturday, though, Nevada scored at least one run in four of the five innings and responded much sooner after Carl Junction broke on through for that first run.
“That’s something I talked with the guys about after the game,” Penn said. “Our showing today was much more representative of the team that I think we can be. We scored runs early and we kept adding. We got out to a 4-0 lead and where Thursday we stopped scoring runs and our approach changed, today we kept the same approach and put up a five-spot there in the fourth inning for a 9-0 lead. We just kept going from there.”
Nevada improved to 5-2 overall this season, including 3-1 for the week with three straight wins headed into the Smith-Cotton Tournament starting Wednesday with games against Warrensburg and Battle, and the Tigers won consecutive games against COC schools Carthage and Carl Junction.
“Early in the season, we’re playing some bigger schools,” Penn said. “We’re playing those schools that are in tough conferences to see how we stack up. We’ve had some success and got off to a good start to the season, but we’ve got to be able to make sure that we recognize those areas where we can still improve and continue growing as players so that we don’t peak too early in the season, and we keep getting better as the season progresses.”
Carl Junction received two hits from Lucas Vanlanduit and one each from Arlen Wakefield, Cody Hollingsworth, and Logan Eck, the first three hitters in the Carl Junction order.
Bentley Rowden led off the Carl Junction fourth with a walk and courtesy runner Grady Goddard scored the Bulldogs’ lone run on Vanlanduit’s RBI triple.
Wakefield beat out a covering Sanderson to the bag for an infield single in the first, but Sanderson picked off Wakefield at first.
Eck then hit a two-out single in the first, but Sanderson induced a Rowden groundout to first baseman D’Elia to retire the side.
Vanlanduit singled to left in the second, following Nevada left fielder Riddick Shook’s diving catch on a Drew Massey ball roped near the line.
Hollingsworth singled in the fifth.
Nevada scored eight runs (six earned) against starter Eck, one against Jacob Ford who struggled to find the zone and walked all four batters during his relief appearance in the fourth, and two against Massey. Only third pitcher of the day Mekhi McGarry avoided a dent to his ERA.
Carl Junction dropped to 2-5 overall entering Thursday’s conference opener on the road against Joplin.
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Joplin’s boys and Carthage’s girls captured the team championships at the 39th Carthage Track and Field Invitational on Friday at David Haffner Stadium.
Joplin’s boys won six events and finished with 177 points. Webb City (98), Willard (79) and Carthage (72.5) finished second, third and fourth. There were 14 teams in attendance.
Carthage’s girls compiled 100 points to take the team crown. Riverton (91), Joplin (89) and Webb City (85.27) were the second, third and fourth place teams. There were 15 girls teams competing.
The meet began on Thursday, was postponed due to the weather and was finished up on Friday.
JOPLIN HIGHLIGHTS
Joplin’s Tayshaun Palmer is pictured at the start of the 4×200 relay. The Eagles won the team championship at the meet. Photo by Darris Strickland.
In addition to winning six events, the Eagles were second in five events, third in five events and fourth in four others. With that, the Eagles had 20 top-four finishes.
Joplin senior standout Hobbs Campbell won two events. A future Kansas Jayhawk, Campbell won the 800 in 1:58 and the 1600 in 4:29.
Joplin sophomore sprinter Noah Soriano won two events, the 100-meter dash in 11.47 seconds and the 200 in 23.1 seconds. Soriano also finished fifth in two other events, the long jump and pole vault.
JHS senior Orion Norris crossed the line first in the 400 in 54.23 seconds and took third in the 200, while sophomore Avarus Kuhn-Wofford won the 300 hurdles in 43.2 seconds.
Joplin’s boys were second in all four relays.
The team of Tayshaun Palmer, Fredy Cerrato-Martinez, Norris and Davin Thomas took second in the 4×100, while the team of Palmer, Norris, Aidan Sampson and Thomas finished second in the 4×200.
The Eagles were also second in the 4×800 relay, with Ian Horton, Grey Edwards, Chance Tindall and Parker Durham competing. The 4×400 featuring Cerrato-Martinez, Jamohn Smith, Kuhn-Wofford and Campbell also took second.
In the field events, Dontrell Holt placed third in the shot put, while Drew and Draven VanGilder finished third and fourth, respectively, in the javelin, while Cordell Washington was third in the high jump and Neil Barstow placed third in the discus.
The Eagles showed off their depth on the track, as Horton was the runner-up in the 3200, Thomas took fourth in the 100 and sixth in the 200, Aiden Scourten took fourth in the 400, Tindall was fourth in the 3200, Edwards finished sixth in the 800 and Washington was seventh in the 300 hurdles.
Joplin’s girls won the 4×200 relay in 1:48, with Phia Vogel, Abigail Eckert, Abigayle Lowery and Brylee Strickland competing.
A freshman, Strickland won the 400 with a time of 1:02. She was also the runner-up in both the 100 and 200.
Also for the JHS girls, Allie Keizer finished third in the 800 and fourth in the 1600, Annabelle Rutledge took third in the 3200 and Kirsten Thom was fourth in the 300 hurdles.
Joplin’s Maria Loum placed fourth in the pole vault, Aubrey Strickland took fifth in the 100 hurdles and seventh in the 300 hurdles, Lowery finished fifth in the 200, Mairi Beranek took fifth in the 3200 and Claire Jasper finished seventh in the shot put.
The JHS girls finished third in the 4×400 and were sixth in the 4×100.
CARTHAGE HIGHLIGHTS
Carthage’s Katy Witherspoon hands off the baton to Maggie Boyd during the 4×800 relay. The Tigers took first place in the event and also won the meet. Photo by Jason Peake.
Carthage’s girls won three events, including two relays. The Tigers were second in three events and took fourth in five other events for 11 top-four finishes.
The invite hosts won the 4×800 relay in 11:12, with Lauren Choate, Grace Brown, Katy Witherspoon and Maggie Boyd competing.
Carthage’s 4×400 relay team of Aven Willis, Evelyn Carrol, Boyd and Lexa Youngblood took first in 4:25.
The team of Ashlyn Brust, Youngblood, Willis and Joey Hettinger finished fourth in the 4×100 relay, while the Tigers were fifth in the 4×200, with Willis, Ashleigh Rowden, Brust and Ada Roughton competing.
Carthage’s Karlie Nichols won the discus and took fourth in the shot put, while Hettinger took second in the high jump and Lilly Holmes was the runner-up in the shot put.
Youngblood took second in the 400 and also placed fourth in the 100, Witherspoon was fourth in the 3200, Boyd finished fourth in the 800, Roughton was fourth in the triple jump, Jaidyn Brunnert was seventh in the 100 hurdles, Willis was seventh in the 200 and Hettinger was seventh in the long jump.
Carthage’s boys won the 4×400 relay in 3:35, with Braxton McBride, Miguel Solano, Daryl Martin and Joseph Childs competing.
Martin and Trenton Yates placed second and third in the 110 hurdles. Martin was also the runner-up in the 300 hurdles. Solano took second in the 800 and was fourth in the 1600.
Micah Lindsey finished fourth in the shot put and the discus, with Neil Barstow seventh in the same event. Caleb Fewin placed sixth in the 3200 and Yates tied for seventh in the high jump.
The CHS boys finished fifth in the 4×100 relay.
WEBB CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Webb City’s boys won four events.
Webb City senior Abi Street won two events at the Carthage Invitational, the 1600 and the 3200. Photo by Darris Strickland.
Justin Allen and Grayson Smith finished first and second in the pole vault, with Jadon Brisco fourth in the same event.
Trey Roets won the javelin, while Evan Stevens took first in the 3200 and was also third in the 1600.
Webb City’s 4×100 relay featuring Jordan Thornburg, William Headrick, Joseph DeGraffenreid and Breckin Galardo took first in 44.44 seconds.
Also for the Cardinals, Mason Hedger placed third in the 3200, Noah Moss finished fourth in the 110 hurdles and fifth in the 300 hurdles, while DeGraffenreid took fourth in the high jump, Gabe Johnson was fifth in the 100 and Joshua White was seventh in the 200.
The Cardinals were fourth in the 4×400.
For the Webb City girls, senior standout distance runner Abi Street won a pair of events, the 1600 with a time of 5:36 and the 3200 in 11:53.
Dawsyn Decker won the javelin and was fifth in the shot put, while Brooke Hedger took second in the 800 and was sixth in the 1600 and Emily Countryman was the runner-up in the 3200.
Also, Essence Robinson took second in the long jump and finished third in the 400, Chase Stilley placed fourth in the 200 and Bryleigh Webb was sixth in the javelin.
Carl Junction’s Sydney Ward wins the 100-meter dash on Thursday at the Carthage Invitational. Also pictured is Joplin’s Brylee Strickland, who took second. Photo by Darris Strickland.
CARL JUNCTION HIGHLIGHTS
Carl Junction sophomore sprinter Sydney Ward won two events, the 100-meter dash in 12.64 seconds and the 200 in 26.35.
Madilyn Olds was the runner-up in the javelin, Brooke Jasperson and Acadia Badgley were second and third in the pole vault and Sloan Uebinger placed third in the 100 hurdles.
Carl Junction’s 4×100 relay took third and featured Olivia Battagler, Mya Thomure, Hannah Cantrell and Ward. The team of Battagler, Zoie Weibel, Mya Thomure and Ward finished fourth in the 4×200.
Carl Junction’s boys were seventh in the 4×100, with Colton Talken, Ryder Pyles, Dexter Merrell and Jaxton Wobken competing.
NEOSHO HIGHLIGHTS
Neosho senior Jared Siler won the high jump and the long jump. In fact, Siler and teammate Isaiah Green finished first and second in the long jump, and Siler and Green were also second and third in the triple jump.
Tyrese Hill was the runner-up in the 100. Carter Baslee finished fifth in the discus and Cade Camerer tied for seventh in the high jump.
For the Neosho girls, Riley Kemna and Chloe Wood finished third and fifth, respectively, in the 1600, Jazmyn Washington was third in the high jump, Kaylee Schibi finished fourth in the discus and Kailyn Daniels placed sixth in the pole vault.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Monett’s Konner Poynter won the 110 hurdles and Lamar’s Tyson Williams won the discus.
East Newton’s Chase Sorrell was the runner-up in the 1600.
McDonald County’s Joshua Pacheco took third in the 100, while Andrew Moritz finished sixth in the javelin.
The Mustangs were fifth in both the 4×800 (Hunter Leach, Dalton McClain, Devon Hickman and Tyler Rothrock) and the 4×200 (Dominic Cervantes, Aidrian Short, McClain, Esteban Martinez-Olvera).
McDonald County’s girls finished third in the 4×800 relay, with Clara Horton, Madison Burton, Kate Cheney and Anna Price running. Mac County’s Anissa Ramirez took fifth in the girls javelin.
RECOGNITION
Carthage took a moment at the meet to recognize Roger Kirby on 40 years of officiating track meets in Carthage.
Carthage Invitational
Boys team scores: Joplin 177, Webb City 98, Willard 79, Carthage 72.5, Lamar 68, Neosho 62.5, Marshfield 47, Nevada 25, Grove 25, Riverton 20, McDonald County 19, East Newton 16, Monett 13, Carl Junction 8.
Girls team scores: Carthage 100, Riverton 91, Joplin 89, Webb City 85.27, Marshfield 80.53, Carl Junction 64, Willard 49, Grove 46, Lamar 31, Neosho 29, Nevada 14.54, McDonald County 11.54, Pittsburg 11.27, Monett 8.81, East Newton 1.
Above and below, runners compete in the 4×800 relay on Thursday at the Carthage Invitational. Photo by Jason Peake.
The Carthage Invitational track meet was held Thursday and Friday at David Haffner Stadium. Pictured above is the girls 100-meter dash, which was won by Carl Junction’s Sydney Ward. Carthage’s Lexa Youngblood (far left) finished fifth, while Joplin’s Brylee Strickland (second from left) took second and Joplin’s Abigayle Lowery (far right) took eighth. Photo by Jason Peake.
Carl Junction’s Sloan Uebinger finished third in the 100 hurdles. Photo by Darris Strickland.
Joplin’s boys track team won the Carthage Invitational. The Eagles are pictured above competing in the 4×800 relay.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Joplin’s Harry Satterlee earned medalist honors and Carl Junction captured the team title in a boys golf quadrangular on Wednesday at Briarbrook Golf Course.
A junior at JHS, Satterlee posted a 3-under-par 33 to claim top individual honors.
One stroke back was Carl Junction sophomore Jack Spencer, who was the runner-up with a 2-under 34.
Carl Junction had a four-person score of 154, while Joplin was second with a 162. Carthage and Webb City both had a 163.
Also shooting in the 30s were Carl Junction’s Jacob Teeter (38), Carthage’s Max Templeman (38), Webb City’s Braxten Cahoon (39) and Joplin’s Ian Surbrugg (39). Teeter and Templeman tied for third place.
Also competing for Carl Junction were Tommy Walker (40), Logan Lowry (42) and Zach Merwin (49).
Hobbs Campbell (43), Dylan Bozarth (47) and Taylor McMillian (48) also competed for Joplin.
Also competing for Carthage were Britt Coy (41), Colson Brust (42), Owen Derryberry (42) and Ben Nicholas (46).
Levi Lassiter (41), Jack Good (41), Cooper Forth (42) and Carson Judd (43) also competed for Webb City.
It was the third straight day the four teams competed against each other.
Carthage won the team titles on Monday (Twin Hills) and Tuesday (Carthage Golf Course) before the Bulldogs won on their home course on Wednesday.
Area squads will compete at the Joplin Invitational on April 6 at Twin Hills.
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Max Templeman and the Carthage Tigers are now 2-for-2 this spring.
For the second straight day, Templeman earned medalist honors while leading Carthage’s boys golf team to a quadrangular victory over Carl Junction, Webb City and Joplin.
A senior at CHS, Templeman carded a 32 on Tuesday at the Carthage Golf Course. He was also the medalist on Monday at Twin Hills.
Competing on their home course, the Tigers finished with a four-person score of 144 to claim a second straight team title. Carl Junction finished with a 157, while Webb City had a 159 and Joplin had a 164.
After Templeman, Webb City’s Braxten Cahoon carded a 34 to claim the individual runner-up honors.
Three golfers turned in identical scores of 36 to tie for third place — Joplin’s Harry Satterlee and Carthage’s duo of Owen Derryberry and Britt Coy.
Three athletes shot 38—Joplin’s Hobbs Campbell, Carl Junction’s Logan Lowry and Webb City’s Cooper Forth.
Also competing for Carthage were Ben Nicholas (40) and Colson Brust (41).
Also competing for Carl Junction were Jacob Teeter (39), Tommy Walker (40), Zach Merwin (40) and Jack Spencer (41).
Levi Lassiter (42), Jackson Lucas (45) and Carson Judd (46) also competed for Webb City.
Dylan Bozarth (45), Ian Surbrugg (45) and Taylor McMillian (47) also competed for Joplin.
The same four teams will compete again on Wednesday at Briarbrook Golf Course.
The Carl Junction Bulldogs scored three goals in the first half and six in the second to earn a commanding 9-1 win over the McAuley Catholic Warriors on Monday at the Hershewe Soccer Complex within the Joplin Athletic Complex.
The Bulldogs controlled possession for the vast majority of the match and consistently attacked the Warriors from the opening whistle until senior forward Hannah Franks’ second goal of the match closed it out with the eight-goal mercy rule in effect.
“We talked about finding some composure and figuring out if it’s a one-touch or two-touch in the box and checking our shoulder to see how much time we had,” Carl Junction coach Ed Miller said. “Truthfully, the other thing was their goalie in the first half wasn’t the same as the second half, and she did a really good job coming out and cutting down angles and stopping a lot of shots in the first half. We put the pressure on and wore them down. This was their first game, our second game early here in the season, and I think we’re deeper than they are and that helped us out.
“Our girls did a good job. They came out and played. It’s a mud pit so you never know what you’re going to get when you’ve got a wet, sloppy field. We played on grass for the first time, so it slowed things down a little bit. Proud of the girls’ effort as far as working hard and pressuring the ball, and we had a lot of opportunities. We did a good job passing the ball, so we’ve got to work on finishing when we get a chance in the box because we’re not going to get that many opportunities every game we play.”
Carl Junction freshman forward Ella Anderson, assisted by senior midfielder Allie Wrestler, opened the scoring with the first goal after the Bulldogs had several goal-scoring opportunities, including a goal by Anderson negated by an offside penalty.
The Warriors tied it up at 1 on one of their rare possessions in Carl Junction territory with senior forward Ava Masena’s penalty kick.
The Bulldogs led 3-1 at halftime following a goal by senior midfielder Jocelyn Brown (assisted by Franks) and a header by Franks off a corner kick by senior Constance Graham.
Taking advantage of the Warriors’ switch in goal for the second half, senior forward Sammie Sims netted back-to-back goals to put the Bulldogs ahead 5-1.
Wrestler, junior midfielder Hailey Merwin, Brown (penalty kick), and Franks then closed out the goal scoring.
Carl Junction improved to 2-0 on the season and the Bulldogs return home Tuesday for a match against Cassville.
McAuley Catholic dropped to 0-1 overall and the Warriors start a four-game road stretch of their schedule with Greenwood on Thursday.
Max Templeman earned medalist honors and led Carthage to a team victory in a boys golf quadrangular on Monday at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club.
In the opener of the 2023 season, Carthage had a four-person team score of 166, while Carl Junction had a 171, Joplin recorded a 172 and Webb City finished with a 177.
A senior, Templeman carded a 1-over-par 37 to take first place individually.
Joplin junior Harry Satterlee and Carl Junction sophomore Jack Spencer both turned in identical scores of 38 and tied for second place honors.
Carthage’s Britt Coy shot a 40, good for fourth place individually after Templeman, Satterlee and Spencer.
Carl Junction’s Tommy Walker carded 41 and finished in fifth place.
Joplin’s Hobbs Campbell, Webb City’s Braxten Cahoon and Carl Junction’s Jacob Teeter tied for sixth place with identical scores of 42.
All five of Carthage’s golfers shot 45 or under. Also competing for the Tigers were Owen Derryberry (44), Colson Brust (45) and Ben Nicholas (45).
Also competing for the Bulldogs were Logan Lowry (50) and Zach Merwin (51).
Joplin’s Ian Surbrugg shot 45 and Dylan Bozarth turned in a 47. Also competing for the Eagles was Taylor McMillian (55).
Also competing for Webb City were Jackson Lucas (44), Cooper Forth (45), Carson Judd (46) and Levi Lassiter (46).
The same four teams will compete again on Tuesday at the Carthage Golf Course and again on Wednesday at Briarbrook.
ANDERSON, Mo. — McDonald County took an early lead and held off Carl Junction for a 4-2 win on Saturday.
The Mustangs scored three times in the bottom of the first inning to lead 3-1 before the Bulldogs scored a single tally in the second to trim the lead to 3-2. McDonald County added insurance in the bottom of the third inning and kept CJ off the scoreboard for the remainder of the contest.
Isaac Behm earned the complete-game win after allowing two runs on three hits, three walks and four strikeouts in seven innings.
Logan Eck took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits, three walks and five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Behm helped himself out at the plate with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored, while Destyn Dowd also doubled and scored a run.
Bentley Rowden doubled and drove in a run, while Eck also doubled and Wyatt McAfee tripled for Carl Junction.
CAMDENTON 9, CARL JUNCTION 2
ANDERSON, Mo. — Camdenton scored all nine of its runs in the first three innings and paced to a win over Carl Junction on Saturday.
Camdenton pushed across two runs in the first inning before taking control with a six-run second frame. Both teams traded runs in the third and Carl Junction added a single tally in the sixth to wrap the scoring.
Kade Durnin earned the win after allowing one unearned run on one hit, three walks and seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Karson Durnin pitched 1 2/3 relief innings and allowed one run on one hit and three strikeouts.
Cooper Vediz took the loss after allowing seven runs on two hits, five walks and four strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. Deacon Endicott pitched 4 1/3 relief innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits, three walks and six strikeouts.
Kade Durnin tripled and homered and drove in four, while scoring twice.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The Neosho Wildcats opened their 2023 season with a 4-1 win in eight innings on Monday against the Carl Junction Bulldogs.
In the top of the eighth, Neosho top-of-the-order hitters River Brill and Quenton Hughes worked consecutive walks to start the frame against Carl Junction’s Lucas Vanlanduit, who entered in the seventh in relief of starter Logan Eck.
Neosho senior catcher Eli Zar then delivered the go-ahead RBI single and fellow seniors Austin Rodriguez and Carter Fenske later came through with critical insurance RBI singles for a three-run lead entering the bottom half of the eighth.
“We had baserunners all game long, just couldn’t get that one big hit,” Neosho coach Bo Helsel said. “We got thrown out at home twice, which is okay because I want us to be aggressive on the bases. It’s first and second and nobody out and most coaches are going to bunt there to get second and third to have a chance, but it’s my best hitter—Eli Zar—and he was an all-conference player for me last year, so I’m going to let him swing the bat. He produced and we just kept it rolling from there, it usually just takes one and the floodgates open.”
Neosho pitchers Kael Smith, Hughes and Brill combined on a one-hitter on Monday, with Vanlanduit reaching on a single in the third.
“One hit and it was a little blooper,” Helsel said. “We had too many walks and that’s why the game was close, but our guys battled out there. Kael Smith, he’s been battling a back injury and threw five innings for me. Quenton Hughes came in with the bases loaded and two outs and got a strikeout (in the fifth). River Brill is our closer and that’s what I expect him to do. He scared me a little bit with that four-pitch walk and a couple balls after that, but he’s a grinder.
“We’ve got a lot of senior leaders and they’ve been through this. We lost a game to CJ last year at this place with Quenton on the mound and they walked us off. This year, with a little bit more experience, we came away with a 4-1 win.”
Neosho lost several close games last season, including a 5-4 loss in Central Ozark Conference play against Carl Junction, a team the Wildcats defeated 8-6 earlier that season.
Run production sometimes proved a big challenge for Neosho last season.
“We found a way all day,” Helsel said. “We hit the ball hard. We had eight hits as a team. Credit to them. Their pitchers threw a lot of strikes. We have good hitters. We’re strong one through nine this year, and I think we’re going to do great things offensively. We showed today that we can grind through a tough game and get a win.”
Neosho, 1-0 overall, returns to action Tuesday at home against traditional rival McDonald County, continuing a busy week of baseball for the Wildcats between games against CJ and McDonald County and hosting the second edition of the Roy B. Shaver Classic.
The Bulldogs also played their season opener and their first game under new head coach Phil Cook, the Carl Junction superintendent who returned to coach baseball this season after his previous reign at the school from 1997 to 2000.
Carl Junction scored first with a run in the fourth, after the Bulldogs started the inning with consecutive walks by catcher Bentley Rowden and starting pitcher Eck. Johnny Starks executed a sacrifice to move courtesy runners Mekhi McGarry and Alden Straight over 90 feet, then McGarry scored on a Wyatt McAfee fielder’s choice that eventually turned into the second and third outs on a play scored 5-2-6-2-4-5 with one runner safe at home and one thrown out at home and another thrown out at third.
“I thought we played well,” Cook said. “Hitting is so much a mental game. You have to hit good pitches, you have to be ready to hit, and you have to keep your hands. A lot of our guys really looked great in the cage during BP, but you get them in a game situation and everything changes. They lose their mind a little bit.
“Physically, we may have had an error or two there, but I thought we played good defense, the pitching was really good, and both teams I thought threw the ball well. At the plate, we’ve got to get better, and we will. We’ll talk through it and we’ll think hitting a little bit more. We’ll get there.”
Carl Junction, 0-1 overall, returns home and welcomes Hollister on Thursday.
“That was a good high school baseball game (Monday),” Cook said. “I don’t know what time it is, but it felt like it just kept moving at a good pace. Both teams fought hard, and they’re a nice team (Neosho). They’re going to win a lot of games this year, and so are we. We’re going to keep getting better every game, improving and learning, and that’s what it’s all about.”
The man who last coached Carl Junction when the Bulldogs were in the state championship in 2000—Phil Cook—is back in charge of the CJHS program for the 2023 season.
Cook, who has been the Carl Junction superintendent for the last 18 years, is back in the dugout after last coaching CJHS from 1997-2000, amassing a 57-16 record while at the helm.
“This is my first time back on the diamond at the high school level since 2000, where we lost to Helias in the state championship game,” Cook said to SoMo Sports. “I see a great amount of potential with this team and I see us getting better as the year goes on. … This team is going to focus on the basics and the fundamentals. As the players progress as students of the game, we will move to be more dynamic. We plan to swing at strikes and put the ball in play. We will throw strikes and play good defense. Finally, we will use our God-given skills to put pressure on the opposing team. Pretty simple.”
The Bulldogs lost six seniors to graduation from a year ago. However, Carl Junction returns a solid core of players to help anchor every phase of the game for the upcoming season. Four seniors highlight the list of returners for the Bulldogs—INF/P Lucas Vanlanduit (), OF Arlen Wakefield, OF/P Logan Eck and INF/P Drew Massey. Also back with varsity experience is C/P Bentley Rowden.
“I am extremely pleased with the players’ attitudes and efforts to this point,” Cook said. “They have put in a lot of time and are improving every day. We are ready to see how all of our work pays off.”
As far as the lineup goes, Coach Cook has an idea what the top half of the batting order will look like, while the bottom half is up for grabs. Wakefield, who hit .329 with 10 RBI, figures to lead off while playing center field, with Vanlanduit, who hit .329 with 10 RBI last year, figures to hit second at the shortstop position. Massey (.246, 15 RBI) and Rowden (.261, four RBI) , who will catch, will hit third and fourth, with Eck (.292, 12 RBI), senior IF Jacob Ford, junior OF Johnny Stark, sophomore OF Wyatt McAfee, junior IF Cody Hollingsworth and others in the mix to fill out the lineup.
Junior 1B Jace Buffer, junior OF Grady Goddard, sophomore IF Braxton Jones and sophomore C Gabe Sitton also figure to be in the mix.
Vanlanduit, an all-conference and district selection last year, brings back a 2.53 ERA to the pitching staff, while Eck returns with a 5.39 ERA as key returning hurlers for the Bulldogs. Eck, senior Gaige Carson, senior Mekhi McGarry, Ford and Massey all figure to be in the mix for starts on the mound as well.
Carl Junction opens the season against Neosho at home in non-conference action on Saturday.
