The College Heights Cougars and the Sarcoxie Bears went five sets Thursday night and College Heights used a hot start in the fifth game to prevail 3-2 (23-25, 25-17, 25-14, 18-25, 15-8) over their former Spring River Valley Conference rival at the ETG Sports & Events Center.
College Heights responded by winning the next two sets after Sarcoxie won the first set and then winning the match after the Bears forced a fifth set.
“I felt we had some really fun emergency plays tonight,” College Heights coach Mary Colin said. “The other team was tall and big and liked to stop it at the net, so it was fun for our team to respond, find the open floor, and move the ball around. I like the energy of our team. They’ll run to the wall to dig a ball, and that’s fun. At the end, when they were under pressure, I felt like they did some good things and even in the sets they lost, they battled.”
College Heights built a 12-3 lead in the fifth on the strength of the first three points and then a 5-0 run highlighted by back-to-back Addie Lawrence aces and a Libby Fanning kill.
“They were having too much fun before the fourth,” Coach Colin said. “They were being a little silly. It’s a double-edged sword, because I want them to be happy and have fun. They were having fun, but it can also get too loosey-goosey. They definitely sharpened up and came back for the fifth energetic in a positive way.”
The Cougars were led by Lawrence with 24 kills, six aces and 13 digs and Maddy Colin added 43 assists and 19 service points, Lauren Ukena 11 kills, five aces and 13 digs, and Ava Masena 20 digs.
College Heights faced and often succeeded in the challenge against Sarcoxie’s 6-foot-2 junior middle blocker Payton Ogle, as well as 6-0 freshman middle blocker Alexis Letts.
“I thought Maddy did a really good job of starting to work away from her (Ogle),” Coach Colin said. “It worked, and it opened up the net. It gave our hitters more options. The whole team has to work together to stay under control and get it over to Addie and pow!”
College Heights improved to 7-1-1 overall and the Cougars return to action Monday on the road against Marionville.
The Cougars won for the second time this week in their new gymnasium, after their win Tuesday against Pierce City.
“We love this gym. Isn’t this fun?” Coach Colin said. “Nothing hit the ceiling tonight. At the old gym, it would have hit the ceiling 17 times. Yeah, they can run balls down, it’s a super fun gym. It seems like the fans were having fun. They were spread out, and we had a good student crowd tonight. They’re probably getting hyped up for our first home football game (Friday).”
College Heights volleyball improved to 6-1-1 on the season with a clean sweep of Pierce City on Tuesday.
The Cougars defeated the Eagles 25-13, 27-25 and 25-19.
Addie Lawrence led the way for CHC with 15 kills, while Lauren Ukena had 10 kills, four aces and 12 points in service. Maddy Colin had 25 assists and two blocks. Ava Masena had eight digs and 15 points in service, while Lindsay Griesemer finished with nine digs and nine service points.
The Cougars host Sarcoxie on Thursday.
SENECA RALLIES PAST MOUNT VERNON
SENECA, Mo. — After dropping the first two sets, Seneca rallied back for a third straight five-set win to open the season with a 3-0 start.
Mount Vernon earned 25-18 and 26-64 wins in the first two games before Seneca rallied with 2514 and 25-16 wins before finishing off the winner-take-all fifth set by the score of 15-11.
Seneca was led by Brylee Sage’s 32 assists, while Parker Long had 16 kills, 15 digs and three aces. Braxton Raulston had 18 digs, 11 kills and a block assist. Jera Jameson had six kills, two aces and a block assist, while Tatum White had four aces and Amber Garrison one block kill.
Seneca hosts Diamond on Thursday.
CARL JUNCTION EARNS ROAD WIN
ROGERSVILLE, Mo. — Carl Junction picked up its first win of the 2022 season by beating Rogersville 3-0 on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs beat the Wildcats 27-25, 25-21, 25-18 in the non-conference clash.
Destiny Buerge and Kylie Scott led the way for the Bulldogs. Both players recorded 16 kills and two aces apiece.
Logan Jones handed out 32 assists from the setter position for Carl Junction, while Jocelyn Brown had seven digs.
Aubreigh Fowler and Karissa Chase contributed three blocks apiece.
Carl Junction (1-1) is at Aurora on Thursday.
THOMAS JEFFERSON TOPS EXETER
Thomas Jefferson defeated Exeter 25-12, 23-25, 25-20, 25-15.
The Cavaliers are now 4-4 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Thomas Jefferson’s Lannah Grigg had eight kills to go along with four aces, three assists and two digs.
Macie Shifferd contributed six kills, two aces, one assist and one block, while Nico Carlson compiled eight assists, five kills, three digs and two aces.
Thomas Jefferson’s Leah Studer had seven assists and five aces, while Mary Nguyen chipped in four digs, four kills and an ace.
JOPLIN FALLS TO SPRINGFIELD CENTRAL
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Joplin went on the road and fell 25-18, 25-21 and 25-18 to Springfield Central on Tuesday.
Bailey Owens led Joplin (1-3) with nine kills and a block, while Paisley Parker had seven kills and 10 digs. Kaya Cooper and Abby Hembree each had 10 assists for the Eagles, while Jayla Hunter finished with 14 digs.
Joplin hosts McDonald County on Thursday.
MCAULEY TOPS NEVC
McAuley Catholic defeated Northeast Vernon County 25-18, 25-21, 25-18.
Lilly Black and Kloee Williamson had 10 kills apiece for the Warriors.
College Heights opened the season with a four-set win (25-17, 18-25, 25-20 and 25-18) over Lockwood on Thursday.
The Cougars are a perfect 1-0 on the season, and were led by Addie Lawrence’s 22 kills. Maddy Colin added 33 assists, while Ava Masena had 13 digs and 17 points in service. Marley Woodford led the Cougars with five blocks in the win.
College Heights is back in action on Saturday when the Cougars take part in the Jasper Invitational volleyball tournament.
SENECA WINS IN FIVE SETS OVER REEDS SPRING
SENECA, Mo. — Seneca started the season 2-0 after its second straight five-set win to open the year, this time defeating Reeds Spring 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 24-26 and 15-11 on Thursday.
Brylee Sage led the Indians with 49 assists and two aces, while Parker Long had 19 kills, 17 digs and a block kill. Jera Jameson had 15 kills, an ace and a block kill, while Braxton Raulston had 10 kills and 15 digs defensively. Ella Graham added 15 digs as well.
At SoMo Sports, we understand the importance of student-athletes competing in prep sports in terms of development, both mentally and physically, for young adults who are preparing for life after high school.
Not only does competing in prep sports help build character, but it also provides student-athletes with tools such as communication, leadership and self-drive that will benefit them as they continue on life’s journey.
With that in mind, SoMo Sports wanted to honor the top athletes in the area who put in countless hours of hard work during practice, workouts, games/meets as well as on their own time by naming them as a SoMo Sports Athlete of the Year.
The Athlete of the Year selections go out to the top area athlete in each sport during the fall, winter and spring prep seasons.
The standout athletes are chosen by SoMo Sports reporters Jason Peake and Lucas Davis, who tirelessly cover prep sports for Joplin and its surrounding communities during the school year. Along with nominations by area coaches, SoMo Sports used individual accomplishments during the regular season and postseason as well as team success as factors for choosing each Athlete of the Year.
The SoMo Sports Athletes of the Year awards will be divided up in three stories—fall, winter and spring. Each sport will have an Athlete of the Year, and if warranted, there may be one or two honorable mentions per sport as well.
The SoMo Sports Athletes of the Year three-part story is sponsored by Cell Phone Medics.
SOMO SPORTS SPRING ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
Donovyn Fowler, Joplin, senior
Joplin senior Donovyn Fowler is the SoMo Sports Athlete of the Year for boys track and field.
Donovyn Fowler’s senior season at Joplin High School could be described as remarkable and historic. In one of the best individual seasons in JHS history, Fowler captured conference, district, sectional and state titles in both the long jump and triple. Fowler went undefeated in both events the entire spring, setting school records along the way.
At the Class 5 state track meet, Fowler won the long jump with a leap of 25-3.25. The mark is a new Class 5 meet record. Fowler won the triple jump with his mark of 49-8.25. He became the first athlete from JHS to win two state titles in the same season. Fowler, who also qualified for state in the 200 and with the team’s 4×100 relay, led the Eagles to a second-place finish in the team standings. It’s the first time since 1978 a Joplin team finished in the top four at state.
Fowler will continue his athletic career at Oklahoma.
Addison Lawrence, College Heights Christian, junior
College Heights Christian’s Addie Lawrence is the SoMo Sports Athlete of the Year for girls track and field.
For the second straight season, College Heights Christian’s Addison Lawrence brought home multiple gold medals from the state track meet. And for the second straight season, Lawrence is the SoMo Sports Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
A junior, Lawrence earned all-state honors in four events at the Class 2 state track meet, with two first-place finishes to go along with a runner-up and fourth-place showing. Lawrence was the state champion in the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.97 seconds. She won the same event in Class 1 in ’21. Lawrence led the Cougars to podium finishes in two relays, capturing gold and silver medals. The CHC team of Jayli Johnson, Lauren Ukena, Emily Winters and Lawrence won the 4×400-meter relay in 4 minutes, 9 seconds. College Heights Christian’s 4×200-meter relay team of Johnson, Ukena, Winters and Lawrence finished second with a time of 1:48.5.
Lawrence also finished fourth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.67 seconds. With Lawrence leading the way, the Cougars finished fifth in the Class 2 team standings. Ahead of the state championships, Lawrence was the district and sectional champ in both the 200 and 400.
In a season to remember, Lawrence won four individual events at the Ozark 7 Conference Meet—the 100, 200, 400 and long jump. Lawrence set the school record in the 200 with a time of 25.35 and the team’s 4×400 ran a record time of 4:07.87.
HM: Ally Montez, Carl Junction; Jennalee Dunn, Joplin.
BOYS TENNIS
Ian Ding and Tyler Brouhard, Thomas Jefferson Independent
Thomas Jefferson’s Ian Ding is one half of the SoMo Sports Athlete of the Year for boys tennis.
In a season to remember, Thomas Jefferson’s Ian Ding and Tyler Brouhard finished third in the Class 2 doubles bracket at the MSHSAA Boys Tennis Championships. The duo concluded the season with a 27-3 record in doubles matches.
At the state tourney, Ding and Brouhard advanced to the semifinals, where they suffered a three-set setback to Ladue’s Brian Tokarczyk and Amit Kadan. In the third-place match, the Cavaliers defeated Parkway West’s Kai Daudsyah and Winston Gao in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1.
Ding and Brouhard led the Cavaliers to a 13-3 record in dual matches. Ding was a senior, while Brouhard was a junior this past spring.
BASEBALL
Levi Helm, pitcher, McDonald County, senior
McDonald County pitcher Levi Helm had perhaps the biggest bounce back season of any SoMo Sports Athlete of the Year selection. After a junior campaign filled with frustrations similar to Rick Ankiel in not being able to find the strike zone on the mound, Helm flipped the fortunes of his prep career as a senior. One of the most dominating pitchers in the area this season, Helm turned in a 6-2 record to go along with a 2.25 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 59 innings pitched, issuing just 19 walks. Even better, Helm was just as dominant at the plate after posting a .374 batting average with four home runs, four doubles and a pair of triples to go along with 23 RBI. Helm’s success on the bump and in the box was not only integral to McDonald County’s 22-9 season, it earned him unanimous first-team All-Big 8 Conference as well as first-team all-state honors by the MHSBCA.
Madi Bentley had perhaps one of the most memorable seasons in her final year with the Diamond Wildcats. The senior pitcher, who is committed to Southwest Baptist, not only dominated in the circle, but was as potent at the plate all season long to help lead her Wildcats to their first ever state title in a 6-4 win over Skyline in the Class 2 championship as well as a school best 29-3 record.
Bentley, who earned the complete-game win in the ‘ship, finished with a 19-2 record with a 1.75 ERA in 21 starts this season while striking out 235 batters and walking just 31 through 131 2/3 innings, holding opposing hitters to a .178 batting average in the process. At the plate, Bentley hit .480 to go along with 17 doubles, 11 home runs and three triples. She also drove in 48 runs. Bentley, a first-team all-state honoree, also left her historical mark on the program with career records of 657 strikeouts in the circle as well as 23 home runs with a bat in her hands.
BOYS GOLF
Jack Spencer, Carl Junction, freshman
It was quite a freshman season for Carl Junction’s Jack Spencer. He earned a win at the Carthage Invitational to go along with a third-place standing at the Ozark Invitational. He also added a fifth-place finish at the Twin Hills Invitational and was a qualifier for the Horton Smith competition all while averaging 76 strokes per round. Spencer topped his first prep season off with all-district honors and a seventh-place finish in the Class 4 state tournament.
GIRLS SOCCER
Lauren Burgess, Carl Junction, senior
Carl Junction’s Lauren Burgess is the SoMo Sports Athlete of the Year for girls soccer.
Carl Junction senior forward Lauren Burgess had an impressive final season on the pitch for the Bulldogs. The four-year varsity starter capped her career by helping lead Carl Junction to a 21-6 record, the best season from the Bulldogs in nearly a decade, as well as a berth to the quarterfinals of the state tournament.
Burgess finished the year with a team-high 26 goals and added a team-high 22 assists. She earned Class 3 Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year, District 6 Player of the year and was also named first-team all-conference.
Top-seeded Marion C. Early scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn a walk-off win over College Heights in the semifinals of the Class 2 District 12 Tournament on Monday.
The Cougars scored three runs in the top of the first to take the initial lead before building a 7-2 advantage through four and a half innings following a four-run fifth. The Panthers climbed back into the game with three runs in the fifth inning to time the lead to 7-5 before walking off with three runs in the seventh.
College Heights closes the season with a 6-13 record and graduates senior Nicholas Brueggemann.
Jacob Presley started and took a no-decision after allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts in five innings. Hadan Madewell allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits, a walk and a strikeout in one relief inning. Triston Bruegman earned the win in relief with two strikeouts in one scoreless inning.
Smoke Ezell started and took a no-decision for CHC after allowing five runs, two earned, on six hits and three strikeouts in six innings. Brueggemann allowed one run on two hits, a walk and strikeout in 1/3 of an inning, while Liam Nelson took the loss after allowing two runs on a hit and a walk in relief.
Jayce Walker had three hits, including a double, and scored two runs for CHC at the plate. Brueggemann had two hits and scored a run, while Caleb Evans had two hits, including a double, and drove in three runs.
CLASS 1 DISTRICT 7
(3) EXETER 6, (2) MCAULEY CATHOLIC 1
HURLEY, Mo. — Third-seeded Exeter scored five runs in the third inning to fuel a 6-1 win over second-seeded McAuley Catholic in the Class 1 District 7 semifinals at Hurley High School on Monday.
The Warriors end the season with a 6-9 record and graduate seniors Declan Berkstresser and Kevin Tran.
Corey Hilburn earned the win after allowing one run on one hit, seven walks and eight strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Wyatt Lemons pitched 2 1/3 scoreless relief innings, allowing one hit and striking out four. Gretzky Lee pitched 1/3 of an inning relief.
Kable Reichardt was saddled with the complete-game loss after allowing six unearned runs on five hits, two walks and 12 strikeouts in seven innings.
Zach Lee had two hits and scored two runs to lead Exeter offensively.
Bradley Wagner and Kendall Jones each had hits for McAuley, with Jones scoring the lone run. Michael Parrigon walked twice and had an RBI.
NEOSHO, Mo. — Second-seeded College Heights (with McAuley) opened up district play against seventh-seeded Southwest the best way possible—hanging crooked numbers up on the scoreboard inning after inning while starting pitcher Maddy Colin tossed a four-inning perfect game in the circle.
The Cougars scored three times in the first, twice in the second and plated six runs in the third before finishing off the 15-0 victory in four innings over the Trojans with four more runs touching home in the fourth frame in Class 2 District 6 action at the Neosho Athletic Complex.
“I thought we played great offensively,” College Heights coach Mike Howard said. “We hit the ball really well and had really good base running. After how we played over the weekend, that was definitely a great confidence boost moving forward.”
College Heights improves to 19-4, setting a new program for wins in a season in the progress.
IN THE CIRCLE
Colin was electric from the start, striking out the first six batters she faced before ultimately punching out 10 of the 12 batters she faced without allowing a base runner in four innings en route to the complete-game win.
“She is a workhorse and lives for this moment,” Howard said about his sophomore hurler. “When the game is big and the bright lights are on, that is when she is at her best. She really proved that tonight after not throwing all week long because we couldn’t get outside because of the weather.”
Alli Fosse took the loss after allowing 10 runs on 10 hits, two walks and a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings. Kaleigh Tull allowed five runs, two earned, on three hits, two walks and a strikeout in 1 2/3 relief inning.
GAME ACTION
College Heights pushed across three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take control of the district contest in the early onset. Addie Lawrence picked up an RBI on an infield single that scored Jayli Johnson, who walked to lead off the inning before stealing second and moving to third on a groundout. Lawrence eventually came around to score on a wild pitch before Colin, who reached on a single, scored on an RBI groundout from Aaliyah Perez to make the score 3-0.
“Once it is district time, you never know what is going to happen,” Howard said. “Weird things happen. If we let them hang around later in the game, all of the pressure is on us. We wanted to really jump out on them at the start and I thought our girls had a good game plan in the box. We took a good approach and hit the ball well to get that early lead.”
Two more runs came across the plate in the second inning to give the Cougars a five-run advantage. The first run touched the plate on a throwing error by Southwest before Colin doubled to deep center field to plate Lawrence for a 5-0 lead.
College Heights blew the doors off the hinges in the third inning, plating six runs to build an insurmountable lead. The first run came home when Johnson reached on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded. Kloee Williamson followed with an opposite-field RBI single to make the score 7-0. Lawrence singled home two runs in the next at-bat before Williams and Lawrence later came home to score on the same wild pitch to push the lead to 11-0.
“It shows that we weren’t content,” Howard said of the six-run third inning. “We were prepared for this game and went up there with a good approach and a mindset of doing whatever we can to get runs across. It gives us more confidence moving forward.”
Johnson added an RBI single with runners at the corners and one out in the fourth before Williamson tripled home two runs on a line drive to center field to push the lead to 14-0. Lawrence reached on an error to allow the 15th run of the game to score and end the game.
IN THE BOX
Lawrence had three hits, four RBI and scored three times, while Colin, who doubled, had three hits, drove in one and scored once. Williamson, who tripled, and Johnson had two hits each. Williamson drove in three and scored three times, while Johnson scored three runs and picked up two RBI. Lauren Ukena, Avery Eminger and Kallie Spencer all had hits for CHC.
During the winter months, you can find McAuley Catholic girls basketball coach Mike Howard and College Heights Christian girls basketball coach John Blankenship coaching opposite sides of the sideline in what has developed into quite a heated rivalry on the court between the Warriors and Cougars.
College Heights assistant coach John Blankenship joined the Cougars’ staff this season and the move has paid dividends in multiple ways for CHC. Photo by Israel Perez.
Coaching against each other for the last seven years, Howard and Blankenship, who have become good friends away from the court, added a new dynamic to their relationship this spring. Howard, who is also the head coach of the CHC softball team that partners with McAuley in the spring season, had an opening on his staff heading into the season and figured he would ask his friend to join him on the diamond.
“We have always hinted around at wanting to coach together,” Howard said. “We’ve talked about getting a travel team together for basketball in the summer but it’s never come to fruition. When the spot on my staff came together this year, I reached out to him and asked if he would be interested in helping out with softball because it would be a way that we could coach together. … It was just a perfect fit and I couldn’t be more happy.”
The transition of adding Coach Blankenship to the softball staff has been seamless to say the least. Much like the players on the field, Howard and Blankenship have thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company this season in the dugout and have meshed well coaching together on the diamond.
“It’s been great,” Howard said about the addition of Coach Blankenship to the team. “It’s essentially like having a co-head coach. He is always here helping out and lightening the load for me, asking if there is anything more he can do to help out. … I always give my coaches a chance to talk at the end of the day after I give my talk to the team, and he is always teaching them things. It’s not always about softball necessarily, sometimes it’s about life. It’s all about building these girls up to prepare them for the world they are heading into. He has been around doing this for a long time and he understands that. That’s what makes him special.”
College Heights coach Mike Howard, who is the Athletic Director and girls basketball coach at McAuley Catholic, recently took over the CHC softball program and when he had an opening for an assistant coach, the first person he thought to ask was his friend, College Heights girls basketball coach John Blankenship. Photo by Israel Perez.
“Mike and I have become really good friends over the last few years,” Blankenship said when asked what made him want to join the softball coaching staff. “We’ve competed against each other in basketball and have developed a really strong relationship. It was also another chance for me to extend my time with my own players from basketball to softball. So, it was a combination of them needing to fill a position, my friendship with Mike and working with my kids.”
For Howard, one of the most rewarding experiences of getting to coach with his friend instead of against him is getting to see how Coach Blankenship has built relationships with the McAuley girls he coaches against during basketball season. Howard was in a similar position not too long ago when he took on the position of being the softball coach.
“He gelled with the McAuley girls so well and so quickly,” Howard said. “To be able to coach against them in basketball and then turn around in the next season and have them on your team in the spring is a special opportunity to experience. And Coach Blankenship has done an awesome job at that. For him to be able to bond with our girls so quickly, and for them to welcome him with open arms has been wonderful.”
College Heights catcher Jayli Johnson receives a pitch during a Cougars’ win earlier in the season. Photo by Israel Perez.
And while Coach Blankenship has taken to the McAuley players quickly, he has also given another familiar outlet for the College Heights girls as well. In a sense, it almost balances out the scales between both schools as they compete together for a common goal.
“(Coach Howard and Coach Blankenship) have always had a good relationship and they really even each other out,” added College Heights second baseman Kloee Williamson, who attends McAuley and is also a guard on the basketball team. “It has been fun. I think it is great (for the College Heights girls) because most of them know him already as their basketball coach. They know how he works and he knows them. I think it’s great.”
“It is nice to have his input in the dugout,” said College Heights catcher Jayli Johnson, who attends CHC and is a point guard under Blankenship during basketball season. “It is really fun just to have that familiar face around. And the joking around is a big part of it because we always like to give him a hard time. … (Coach Howard and Coach Blankenship) work well together. They help each other see what the other doesn’t and that really helps us a lot to make sure we are getting better.”
Coach Blankenship—who actually helped start the College Heights softball program with his wife, Leah, in 2005 and they both coached the team for three years—has also helped deepen the roster since he accepted the assistant coaching role, which was another reason Coach Howard wanted to bring him on.
College Heights second baseman Kloee Williamson, who attends McAuley Catholic, squares to bunt during a Cougars’ win earlier in the season. Photo by Israel Perez.
“When we were doing this, I was hoping and anticipating that he would be able to retain girls and recruit girls at (College Heights) to play softball,” Howard said. “After we had a great year last year, we graduated four or five seniors and were left with only eight girls. He went in and recruited some girls who wouldn’t necessarily play and got them to try. I think we have four or five first-year girls who are giving it their all and getting better and learning every day. Bringing him on has been extremely beneficial in several ways.”
Of course, for Coach Blankenship, stepping into a dynamic of two schools that share a natural rivalry, particularly during the winter season, only to team up in the spring in hopes of winning a state title together has been a fun experience for him.
“It is a lot of fun,” Blankenship said about his experiences this season. “It has been interesting seeing that dynamic come together between College Heights kids and McAuley kids and the friendships that have developed. They compete hard against each other during basketball season and it seems like they are great friends when softball season starts.”
One thing is clear, Coach Blankenship and the additional first-year players on the team this year have made an impact. The Cougars are currently the eighth-ranked team in the state at the Class 2 level according to the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association and hold an 18-4 record fresh off another Ozark 7 Conference title. College Heights is the second seed in its Class 2 District 6 tournament matchup against seventh-seeded Southwest at 5 p.m. on Friday at the Neosho Athletic Complex.
“It is amazing to see two schools that just go at it several times during the year during basketball season, doing whatever it takes to help their school win, be able to turn around and be best friends with each other the very next season,” Howard said. “That is a God thing, you know? It shows a lot of character and leadership in the way they were raised. … It is a special thing to see and I couldn’t be more proud of the way they carry themselves. They represent both schools tremendously.”
College Heights senior Ethan Meeks signed his letter of intent to play basketball at Southeast Missouri Prep on Friday.
Meeks, who was also considering Calvary University and Westminster College, decided to attend Southeast Missouri Prep because the coaches are giving him an opportunity to continue playing the game of basketball, where he will be a power forward.
“It gives me another chance to play the sport I love,” Meeks said to SoMo Sports. “And I get a chance to get better every day with great coaches and great people around me.”
As Meeks concludes his career as a student-athlete with College Heights, he was quick to point out that he is thankful for everything and everyone at CHC.
“I want to thank all of the people, my coaches and parents, who helped me get to this point,” Meeks said. “Along with all of the coaches believing in me and giving me this opportunity, I want to thank God for giving me the ability to do this and the situation He put me in and all of the people He has put in my life.”
The 6-foot-7 Meeks averaged 10 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as a senior. Meeks made 56 percent of his field goal attempts this past winter for the Cougars, who went 24-5 and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Class 2 state tournament.
ANDERSON, Mo. — Class 5 sixth-ranked McDonald County used a four-run second inning on the back of a no-hitter from Cross Dowd on the way to a shutout win over Cassville on Thursday.
Dowd earned the no-hit shutout win for McDonald County (16-4) on 95 pitches. He struck out 13 and walked two.
Devin Bailey took the loss after allowing four runs, two earned, on two hits, four walks and two strikeouts in two innings.
Destyn Dowd had two hits and scored a run, while Cross Dowd had a hit and scored twice. Levi Helm and Weston Gordon each had a hit and scored.
REPUBLIC BASEBALL 5, CARTHAGE 3
REPUBLIC, Mo. — Republic held a 5-1 lead after five innings and held off a late rally from Carthage on Thursday.
Gavyn Beckner earned the win after allowing two runs on eight hits, two walks and seven strikeouts in six innings. Ace McWatters earned the save after allowing two runs on five hits in one relief inning.
Kaden Arr took the loss after allowing five runs, three earned, on six hits, six walks and six strikeouts in five innings of work.
Carthage started the rally with two outs in the sixth after Sylas Browning, who singled to left to start the inning, scored on a double steal, with Nate Norbury taking second after reaching with a single.
Clay Kinder and Ty Perry had back to back RBI singles in the top of the seventh with two away but the final out was made with the tying run on second.
Braxdon Tate and Logan Carmickle each had three hits, with Carmickle driving in one and scoring once to lead Carthage at the plate. Caden Kabance and Browning had a hit and scored a run.
OZARK 12, NEOSHO 0 (5 INNINGS)
OZARK, Mo. — Ozark scored 11 runs in the first three innings on the way to a five-inning Central Ozark Conference win over Neosho on Thursday.
The Tigers scored three times in the first inning, five times in the second and three more runs in the third to build a commanding lead before adding a single tally in the fourth frame to score a run in every at-bat.
Devyn Wright earned the complete-game win after throwing five scoreless innings on three hits and two strikeouts.
Austin Rodriguez took the loss after allowing eight runs, three earned, on four hits, three walks and a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings.
Cooper Buvid doubled and had two RBI and scored twice, while Brady Dodd had a hit, scored a run and drove in three.
River Brill, Carter Fenske and Carter Baslee registered hits for Neosho
LIBERAL BASEBALL 6, COLLEGE HEIGHTS 5
LIBERAL, Mo. — Liberal broke a back-and-forth 5-5 tie with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning on the way to a win over College Heights on Thursday.
The Cougars and Bulldogs exchanged two runs in the second inning before CHC added a single tally in the top of the third to take the lead. Liberal regained the lead with a three-run fifth before College Heights scored twice in the top of the sixth to tie things up at 5-5. The Bulldogs pushed across the go-ahead run in the last of the sixth to earn the win.
Kole Wiles earned the win after allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits, four walks and two strikeouts in six innings. Matthew Boehne earned the save after pitching a scoreless seventh inning on one hit.
Ben Thomas took the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, on seven hits, four walks and a strikeout.
Payton Morrow had two hits, including a double, and two RBI. Chase Ray had one hit and one RBI, while Boehne had a hit, scored a run and drove in one.
Josh Anderson had two hits, including a double, and three RBI for CHC. Austin Miller and Kelton Welch each had a hit and scored a run, with Welch adding an RBI.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS SOFTBALL 6, LIBERAL 3
LIBERAL, Mo. — Playing as the home team after inclement weather forced the game to Liberal, College Heights (with McAuley) built a four-run lead through the first three innings on the way to a win over the Bulldogs on Thursday.
The Cougars (13-2) took the initial lead in the bottom of the first when Kloee Williamson singled home Jayli Johnson before she touched the plate later in the frame on an RBI groundout by Maddy Colin for a 2-0 lead. Addie Lawrence hit an inside-the-park home run that scored Williamson, who singled with one out in the inning, in the third inning to push the lead to 4-0.
Liberal (with Bronaugh) had a three-run fourth inning highlighted by an RBI double from Jordan Goodell.
Lawrence tripled to right field in the bottom of the fourth inning to plate two runs to wrap the scoring in the game.
Colin earned the win after allowing three unearned runs on two hits and 13 strikeouts in seven complete innings.
Kyla Porter took the loss after allowing six runs, three earned, on eight hits, a walk and four strikeouts in six innings.
Lawrence homered and tripled to go along with four RBI and a run scored to lead CHC at the plate. Williamson had three hits, scored three runs and added an RBI and a walk. Colin, Aaliyah Perez and Lauren Ukena each had hits, while Johnson scored twice.
College Heights (with McAuley) broke a 2-2 tie with a run in the fifth inning before plating two more runs in the sixth en route to the 5-3 win over Lockwood on Monday at the Joplin Athletic Complex.
The Cougars (12-2) took the momentum with two runs in the bottom of the first inning before Lockwood (5-10) used the long ball in the fourth inning to knot things up at 2s. College Heights manufactured the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning before bringing home insurance in the sixth thanks to a timely home run.
“Every game isn’t going to be a blowout,” College Heights coach Mike Howard said about the offensive output in the win. “We are going to have close games, and I am proud of the way they responded in the situation of a close game. (CHC assistant coach John Blankenship) likened it to basketball, which is funny because both of us are basketball coaches. Sometimes you are going to have off-shooting nights, but you win games with defense and making plays in pressure situations.”
College Heights’ Maddy Colin winds up to deliver a pitch in the Cougars’ win over Lockwood. Colin struck out 19 Tigers in the complete-game win. Photo by Israel Perez.
IN THE CIRCLE
Maddy Colin started and earned the complete-game win for College Heights after allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits, a walk and 19 strikeouts in seven innings. Colin struck out the side in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, with the Tigers going down in order via the punchout in the third, fifth and sixth frames.
“We have to shore up our defense a little bit, but our pitching was really good,” Howard said. “Other than one pitch she didn’t get up enough, Maddy did a phenomenal job. Our defense made a few mistakes tonight, but overall they played pretty well.”
Adrien Neill took the loss after allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits, a walk and seven strikeouts in six innings of work.
GAME ACTION
College Heights wasted little time taking the lead, plating two runs in the first inning for the initial momentum swing. The Cougars got on the scoreboard on a sacrifice fly by Addie Lawrence that scored Jayli Johnson, who reached on an error to lead off the frame, from third base. Colin helped her own cause in the next at-bat, ripping a ball to the left-center field gap for an RBI double to push the lead to 2-0.
“Looking back at it now, those runs were really important,” Howard said of the first-inning run support. “The top of our lineup is usually very consistent. If we can get them on base, they’re full of speed and that allows us to steal some bases and manufacture some runs, sometimes by playing some small ball. To get those two runs early and give Maddy some confidence early was huge.”
Lockwood tied things up in the fourth inning when Breckyn Brummett smacked a two-run home run to center field with one out to tie the game at 2-2.
Johnson reached on a dropped third strike to start the bottom of the fifth for CHC before stealing second to get into scoring position and third on a wild pitch. Kloee Williamson followed with a groundout to second base to score Johnson for an RBI to give CHC a 3-2 lead.
College Heights’ Jayli Johnson (21) steals second base to get into scoring position before later coming around to score in the Cougars’ win over Lockwood on Monday. Photo by Israel Perez.
“Those are hustle plays,” Howard said of his team’s ability to push a run across without recording a hit. “Knowing to run on a dropped third strike and hustling all the way through it. Getting one of our fastest girls on base was huge because she can steal bases and read balls in the first so well. … She was able to take advantage of the mistake there. Then, it was just a routine ball in play to the pull side of the field to get the run home. It was good, timely fundamental softball.”
The Cougars added insurance in the sixth inning when Kaitlyn Bates, who wore No. 9 against Lockwood for the first time this season after a mishap with her regular No. 16 jersey, launched her first-career home run to left field—with Aaliyah Perez, who singled to lead off the frame—on second for a two-run shot to push the lead to 5-3.
“She really hit the ball hard and it kept on carrying,” Howard said. “I didn’t know if it had enough to get out, but it just kept on carrying. I joked with her after she hit it that that is her new jersey now. She is now No. 9 and we are going to go with it for the rest of the year because I am superstitious.”
IN THE BOX
Bates had two hits, including a homer, two RBI and a run scored to lead CHC at the plate, while Perez had two hits, and scored a run. Williamson had one hit, one RBI and a run scored. Johnson scored twice to go along with one hit, while Colin had a hit and drove in one.
Brummett had a double and a homer, two RBI and scored twice to lead Lockwood.
ON DECK
College Heights hosts Liberal (with Bronaugh) on Thursday before taking part in the Jasper Invitational softball tournament over the weekend.
WEBB CITY, Mo. — Webb City improved to 2-1 in Central Ozark Conference play and 9-8 overall with a win over the always-solid Tigers on Thursday at Chuck Barnes Field.
Winners of three straight, Webb City recorded four hits, two by Kaylor Darnell and one apiece from Jeremiah Leaming and Cade Wilson. The Cardinals also took advantage of three Ozark errors.
Kaylor Darnell earned the win on the mound. He went five innings and allowed just one earned run. Walker Sweet tossed the final two innings, allowing a run while striking out two to earn the save.
Ozark’s Devyn Wright took the loss after allowing one earned run on four hits in six innings.
Ozark fell to 11-5 and 2-1 in the COC.
After the Tigers plated a run in the top of the first, the Cardinals responded with two runs in the bottom half. With the bases loaded, Kaylor Darnell smacked a two-run single to left, scoring Cy Darnell and Jeremiah Leaming.
Ozark tied it up in the second on Rhett Hayward’s run-scoring single.
In the fourth, Kaylor Darnell tripled to right and pinch runner Evan Freeman later scored on Wilson’s sacrifice fly to right.
One inning later, Eric Fitch reached on an error and later came home on Kenley Hood’s sac fly, giving the Cardinals a 4-2 advantage.
Ozark stranded the bases loaded in the top of the sixth, as Sweet worked out of trouble.
The Tigers scored a run in the seventh on Brody Baumann’s RBI double before Sweet retired the side.
Webb City is at Glendale on Saturday.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS 8, VERONA 3
VERONA, Mo. — College Heights built an 8-0 lead through the first 6 1/2 innings en route to a win over Verona in Ozark 7 Conference action on Thursday at Warren Turner Field.
The Cougars (3-6) took the lead with a run in the first after Kelton Welch, who doubled to lead off the inning, scored on an RBI groundout from Austin Miller. Jayce Walker highlighted the two-run third inning for CHC with a run-scoring single through the right side before coming around to score later in the inning on a passed ball to push the lead to 3-0.
Nicholas Brueggemann tripled home a run before Ben Thomas brought him home with a triple in the next at-bat. The Cougars added the final run in the top of the fifth on a Verona error.
College Heights added two more runs in the seventh inning on a two-run single from Smoke Ezell.
Thomas earned the win after allowing three runs, one earned, on one hit, two walks and 12 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
Jacob Stellwagen took the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, on nine hits, two walks and five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Welch had four hits and scored three runs to lead CHC at the plate, while Walker and Brueggemann each had three hits, scored twice and drove in one.
WILLARD BASEBALL 7, NEOSHO 4
NEOSHO, Mo. — Willard rallied with a five-run seventh inning to come back for a win over Neosho in Central Ozark Conference play on Thursday at Roy B. Shaver Field.
Neosho (9-5) scored three runs in the second, highlighted by an RBI single from Matthew Velasco, to take a 3-0 advantage.
Willard rallied in the seventh to tie the game on a Neosho error that allowed two runs to score. Klayton Kiser hit a three-run homer later in the inning to score the go-ahead runs.
Kael Smith started and took a no-decision after allowing two runs on four hits and five strikeouts in six innings. Wyatt Shadwick took the loss after allowing five unearned runs on one, two walks and a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning in relief.
Jared Miles earned the win after allowing four runs, two earned, on four hits, a walk and 10 punchouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Eli Zar had two hits, while Velasco had a hit and two RBI to lead Neosho at the plate.
REPUBLIC BASEBALL 8, CARL JUNCTION 3
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Republic built a 4-3 lead after three and added insurance late on the way to a Central Ozark Conference win over Carl Junction on Thursday.
The Tigers (8-8) scored twice in the first and added single tallies in the second and third to lead the Bulldogs 4-3, as CJ (5-9) scored a run in the second to get on the scoreboard before adding two runs in the third frame to cut the lead to one. Republic added a single tally in the fifth and three runs in the sixth to seal the win.
Gavyn Beckner earned the win after allowing three runs on four hits, five walks and eight strikeouts in six innings of work.
Logan Eck took the loss after allowing four runs, one earned, on seven hits, a walk and two strikeouts in three innings.
Jordan Woodruff finished with a home run, two RBI and run scored to go along with two walks to lead CJ at the plate. Eck had a hit and drove in a run, while Drew Massey had a hit and scored a run.
MCDONALD COUNTY 6, MONETT 0
ANDERSON, Mo. — Weston Gordon hurled a complete-game shutout, limiting the Cubs to two hits while striking out nine.
Cole Martin had two hits for the Mustangs, while Fisher Sanny had an RBI. Isaac Behm and Cross Dowd had one hit apiece.
Monett’s Marcus Young allowed three earned runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts.
Daniel Geiss and Young had Monett’s lone hits.
NIXA 17, CARTHAGE 4
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Carthage scored two runs in the first inning to take an early lead before Nixa answered with 11 unanswered runs over the next three innings on the way to a six-inning win over the Tigers in Central Ozark Conference action on Thursday at Carl Lewton Stadium.
Harry Dougan earned the win for Nixa after allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits, four walks and five strikeouts in four innings.
Parker Copeland took the loss after giving up 11 runs, 10 earned, on 10 hits, two walks and strikeout in three innings.
Jack Edwards had three hits, including a double and a home run, two RBI and a run scored. Caden Cloud had a double and a home run, four RBI and scored three times.
Caden Kabance doubled and had two hits to lead Carthage at the plate. He scored once and drove in one. Copeland had a hit and an RBI to go along with a walk. Ty Perry had a hit and scored a run.
NEOSHO, Mo. — College Heights (with McAuley) scored 11 runs in the first three innings and eventually touched home in every frame on the way to a 13-2 win in five innings over Jasper on Monday at the Neosho Athletic Complex.
College Heights (10-2) didn’t waste time taking control with three runs crossing in the first inning. The Cougars added a five-run second and three more in the third before adding single tallies in the fourth and fifth to end the game via run rule.
Maddy Colin earned the complete-game win in the circle after allowing two unearned runs on seven hits and nine strikeouts in five innings.
Grace Osborne took the loss after allowing 13 runs, 10 earned, on eight hits, eight walks and seven strikeouts in five innings.
Kloee Williamson highlighted the first-inning scoring with an RBI triple to left field that scored Jayli Johnson, who led off with a walk. Two more runs scored on Jasper errors to wrap the scoring.
The first three Cougars reached to start the second inning before Lauren Ukena, who was playing in her first game of the season after returning from a shoulder injury suffered during basketball season, came home to score on a wild pitch. Addie Lawrence followed with a three-run inside-the-park home run to push the lead to 7-0.
Lawrence came up with an RBI double to center field an inning later, with Johnson coming around to score on the throw later in the play to make the score 10-0. Kaitlyn Bates picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly to cap the inning.
Johnson singled with two outs in the fourth and touched home on an RBI single from Williamson and Bates added another sac fly in the fifth.
Williamson had three hits, including a triple, three runs and two RBI to lead CHC. Lawrence doubled on the way to two hits, a team-high six RBI and three runs scored. Johnson was 1-for-1 with two walks and a team-high four runs scored. Colin doubled and scored twice.
ANDERSON, Mo. — No. 8 McDonald County scored in every inning but the second on the way to a run-rule win in six innings over Providence Academy on Friday.
The Mustangs (9-3) built a 4-0 lead after four innings before a four spot crossed home in the fifth to push the lead to 8-0. McDonald County scored twice more in the sixth to end the game via run rule.
Cross Dowd earned the complete-game shutout win after blanking Providence in six innings. He surrendered just one hit, walked four and struck out eight.
Sam McAlister took the loss after allowing eight runs, four earned, on nine hits, three walks and six strikeouts in five innings.
The Mustangs took the initial lead on an RBI single from Isaac Behm in the first inning. Levi Helm singled in the third and came around to score on an error before Behm touched home on an RBI single from Dowd to push the lead to 3-0. McDonald County scored on a Providence error in the fourth inning. Jack Parnell highlighted the four-run fifth inning with an RBI single for McDonald County. Helm led off the sixth inning with a single before Behm homered to left-center to wrap the scoring.
Behm had three hits, including a homer, and three RBI. Dowd had three hits, including a double, while Helm finished with a pair of base hits.
PIERCE CITY BASEBALL 12, COLLEGE HEIGHTS 6
Pierce City scored five runs in the fifth inning to pull away from College Heights on Friday.
College Heights (2-5) trailed 7-6 heading into the seventh inning when Pierce City’s Mekhi Kleiboeker drew a walk with the bases loaded to force in a run. Noah Crews followed with an inside-the-park grand slam to put the game out of reach.
Crews earned the win in relief after allowing one run on four walks and eight strikeouts in three innings.
Nicholas Brueggeman took the loss after allowing six runs, two earned, on seven hits, a walk and two strikeouts in five innings. Ben Thomas allowed six runs, one earned, on three hits, five walks and a strikeout in two relief innings.
Clayton Raley had four hits, including a double, two RBI and two runs scored to lead Pierce City. Robert Leavitt had three hits, two RBI and scored a run. Crews homered, had two hits, four RBI and scored twice.
Kelton Welch had a hit, three walks, drove in one and scored a run to lead College Heights. Thomas doubled and scored a run. Smoke Ezell had a hit, walked and drove in two.
DIAMOND SOFTBALL 6, COLLEGE HEIGHTS 3
DIAMOND, Mo. — Diamond broke a 2-2 tie with four runs crossing home in the third inning on the way to a win over College Heights (with McAuley) on Friday.
The Cougars (6-2) took the initial lead with an RBI groundout by Aaliyah Perez in the top of the first inning. Diamond answered back with two unearned runs touching home in the bottom of the first on a CHC error before College Heights tied it up with a single tally in the top of the third inning.
The Wildcats (11-2) took the momentum for good in the bottom half of the third when Madi Bentley tripled to left to score two runs. Lexy Bridges followed with an RBI in the next at-bat, and Diamond added a run on a CHC error later in the inning to cap the scoring.
Bentley earned the complete-game win after allowing three runs on seven hits, three walks and 13 strikeouts in seven innings.
Maddy Colin took the loss after allowing seven runs, four earned, on seven hits, three walks and eight strikeouts in six innings.
Caitlyn Suhrie and Lauren Turner each had two hits and scored a run to lead Diamond at the plate. Bentley had a hit, two RBI and two runs scored.
Jayli Johnson had three hits and scored three times to lead College Heights.
CARL JUNCTION GOLF DEFEATS WEBB CITY
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Carl Junction boys golf earned a 9-6 team win over Webb City in the Papa John’s Match Play Championships on Friday at Briarbrook Golf Course.
In alternate shot foursome play, Webb City’s Evan Garrison and Daniel Roy defeated Riley Roper and Carson Beckfield 4 and 2, while Webb City’s Brett Swearengen and Jack Good finished all squared with Carl Junction’s Quinn Vogel and Jayden Wingo.
In four ball best ball, Carl Junction’s Jacob Teeter and Tommy Walker earned a 3 and 2 win over Webb City’s Cooper Forth and Caden Ray. Jack Spencer and Zach Merwin led the Bulldogs past Josh Howard and Levi Lassiter 4 and 3, while Zach Wrensch and Noah Williams earned a 2 up win over Keegon Dill and Braxten Cahoon.
In individual play, Garrison defeated Roper 3 and 1, while Beckfield defeated Roy 3 and 2. Swearengen won 4 and 3 against Wingo, while Good and Merwin finished all squared. Vogel defeated Ray 2 up and Teeter earned a 1-up win over Forth. Walker won 2 and 1 against Lassiter. Cahoon and Howard earned 2 and 1 wins against Williams and Wrensch. Spencer defeated Dill 2 up.
GORDON LEADS JOPLIN SOCCER PAST ROGERSVLLE
BRANSON, Mo. — Grace Gordon scored both of her team’s goals to lead the Joplin High School girls soccer team to a 2-0 win over Rogersville on Friday at the Branson Tournament.
A senior, Gordon scored in the fourth minute and again in the 65th minute. The goals were assisted by Morgan Ferro and Paisley Parker.
Joplin plays Green Forest in the semifinals at 11 a.m. tomorrow.
Ella Hafer scored three goals in the first half to lead Joplin girls soccer to a win over Pittsburg on Tuesday.
The Eagles scored four first-half goals total on the way to the victory over the Dragons, hiking their record to 2-0 on the season. Joplin had 28 shots on goal to Pittsburg’s three. Sophia Schwartz had one save in goal for the Eagles, while Serafina Auberry had a pair of saves in the win.
Hafer broke the scoring with a goal at the 10-minute mark on the assist from Paisley Parker for a 1-0 advantage.
Joplin went up 2-0 in the 12th minute when Emily Delman scored an unassisted goal of a deflection from a corner kick.
Hafer found the back of the net again in the 16th minute off another assist by Parker before Hafer wrapped the scoring with an unassisted goal in the 21st minute of play.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS SOFTBALL 8, LAMAR 1
College Heights scored three runs in the first inning to take the lead and added to it on the way to the win over Lamar on Tuesday.
The Tigers crossed home once in the top of the first inning before the Cougars answered with three of their own. College Heights scored twice in the third and added three runs in the sixth inning to pave the way to victory.
Maddy Colin earned the complete-game win after allowing one unearned run on three hits and eight strikeouts in seven innings.
Lilly Weber took the loss after allowing eight runs, six earned, on 14 hits, four walks and six strikeouts in six innings.
Kloee Williamson singled home a run in the first to tie the game at 1-1 before an RBI double from Addie Lawrence gave CHC a 2-1 advantage. Aaliyah Perez wrapped the scoring with an RBI single to right field.
Jayli Johnson doubled home two runs in the bottom of the third inning to push the lead to 5-1.
Lawrence doubled home a run to center field to start the sixth-inning scoring, while Perez singled home a run two batters later. Colin came in to score on a wild pitch later in the inning.
Lawrence doubled twice, scored twice and drove in two. Johnson had three hits, including a double, drove in two and scored once. Williamson had two hits, including a double, scored twice and drove in one. Perez had two hits and two RBI, while Colin doubled on the way to two hits and a run scored.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS BASEBALL 15, MCAULEY 0 (3 INNINGS)
College Heights scored 15 runs in the first three innings on the way to a win over McAuley on Tuesday.
The Cougars scored eight times in the first inning before plating two runs in the second and five more in the fifth frame.
Ben Thomas earned the win after blanking McAuley over three innings on two hits, a walk and three strikeouts.
Kable Reichardt took the loss after allowing 15 runs, 10 earned, on six hits, seven walks and three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings.
Smoke Ezell had two hits and drove in a run for CHC. Jayce Walker had a hit, three RBI and scored three times. Thomas and Kelton Welch each had a hit and drove in one. Welch scored twice and Thomas once.
Michael Parrigon and Reichardt had hits for McAuley in the loss.
Playing as the away team after weather forced the game to be played at the Joplin Athletic Complex, College Heights (with McAuley) needed a total of six innings to sweep a pair of Ozark 7 Conference games from Wheaton 20-0 and 21-1 on Friday.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS 20, WHEATON 0
The Cougars (4-1) scored nine runs in the first inning and capped the opener with an 11-run third frame to run away with the first game against the Bulldogs in three innings.
Maddy Colin earned a three-inning win while tossing a perfect game. She didn’t allow a base runner and struck out eight.
Monica Hinojosa took the loss after allowing 20 runs, 19 earned, on 15 hits, nine walks and three strikeouts in three innings.
Jayli Johnson, Addie Lawrence and Kaitlyn Bates each had three hits in the win. Johnson doubled, tripled, scored a team-high four runs and had two RBI. Lawrence doubled and had a team-high five RBI to go along with two runs scored, while Bates drove in three and scored twice. Colin doubled twice and added three RBI, while Kloee Williamson had two hits, including a double, three RBI and three runs scored.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS 21, WHEATON 1
College Heights (5-1) hung crooked numbers in each of the first three innings — five, six and 10 — to earn the three-inning win and complete the sweep against Wheaton.
Lawrence earned the win after allowing one unearned run on no hits, three walks and three strikeouts in two innings. Johnson allowed three hits and struck out two in one inning.
Alissa Mason took the loss after allowing 21 runs, 15 earned, on 14 hits and seven walks in three innings. She struck out five.
Williamson and Colin each led the Cougars with four hits and four runs scored apiece in the second game. Colin finished with three RBI and Williamson drove in two. Johnson had one hit, drove in three and scored twice, while Aaliyah Perez had a hit, two RBI and scored twice. Avery Eminger had one hit, two RBI and a run scored.
Jenny Par, Zoey Martell and Hinojosa all had hits for Wheaton.
EXETER, Mo. — College Heights (with McAuley) built an early lead and added on late to seal an 8-5 win over Exeter on Tuesday.
The Cougars (3-1) built a 4-0 lead after two innings before a four-run fourth by Exeter trimmed the advantage to 5-4. College Heights added an insurance run in the fifth and added two more in the sixth on the way to its third straight win.
Maddy Colin earned the win after allowing five runs, three earned, on five hits and 17 strikeouts in seven complete innings.
Aubry Antle took the loss after allowing eight runs, seven earned, on 13 hits, two walks and nine strikeouts in seven innings.
Kloee Williamson highlighted the three-run second inning with a two-run triple and added an inside-the-park home run in the fourth. Addie Lawrence had an RBI triple in the top of the sixth and Colin followed it with an RBI single.
Colin, who had one RBI, and Williamson led College Heights at the plate with four hits each. Williamson tripled and scored a game-high four runs to go along with a game-high three RBI. Jayli Johnson had a hit, drove in one and scored a run. Lawrence tripled, scored a run and drove in one, and Kaitlyn Bates doubled and had a run scored.
SARCOXIE, Mo. — College Heights earned its first two wins of the season on the road after beating East Newton and Sarcoxie on Saturday.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS 13, EAST NEWTON 0 (5 INNINGS)
Maddy Colin tossed a no-hitter as College Heights (with McAuley) scored early and often to earn its first win of the season over East Newton on Saturday.
Colin was dominant for five no-hit innings in her start to earn the win. She struck out 11 and didn’t allow a walk in a near perfect game, as the Cougars committed one error.
Faith Jones took the loss after allowing five runs on two hits and three walks in one inning. Gracie Ford allowed eight runs on six hits, six walks and two strikeouts in four relief innings.
College Heights scored three runs in the first inning, highlighted by an RBI double from Addie Lawrence.
The Cougars poured it on in the second with five crossing the plate. Jayli Johnson had a two-run single and Colin added a three-run triple later in the inning to make the score 8-0.
Lawrence had a three-run double in the third inning, which was followed by an RBI single to Colin to push the lead to 12-0.
Lawrence went 3-for-5 with two doubles, five RBI and two runs scored. Johnson had two hits and two walks and scored a team-high four runs. Colin tripled on the way to two hits and a team-high six RBI. Kloee Williamson had a hit, two walks, scored three runs and drove in one.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS 6, SARCOXIE 0
Colin followed up her no-hitter with a two-hit shutout performance as College Heights closed its day with a win over Sarcoxie.
After five scoreless innings, College Heights ended the scoring drought with three runs in the sixth inning before adding three insurance runs in the seventh inning to seal the win.
Colin worked seven scoreless innings, scattering two hits, walking two and striking out 14 to earn the win.
Kylee Walters took the loss after allowing six runs, five earned, on five hits, four walks and 19 strikeouts in seven complete innings.
Williamson broke the scoreless tie in the sixth inning with an RBI double to center field to plate Johnson, who doubled in the previous at-bat. Lawrence followed with a single up the middle to score Williamson and make the score 2-0. Lawrence touched home on a passed ball later in the inning to push the lead to three.
Williamson led CHC at the plate with two hits, three RBI and two runs scored, while Johnson doubled, walked twice and scored twice. Lawrence had one hit, RBI and run scored. Kaitlyn Bates also recorded a hit for the Cougars.
Columbus scored four runs in the first and continued to put up tallies throughout on the way to the win over College Heights (with McAuley) in six innings.
The Titans added runs in each inning after the first, scoring a single tally in the second, fourth and six innings and two runs in each the third and fifth frames.
Aubree Saporito earned the complete-game win after giving up one run on three hits and 11 strikeouts in six innings.
Maddy Colin took the loss after allowing 11 runs, three earned, on nine hits, a walk and six strikeouts in six innings of work.
Kaitlynn Lopp had three hits, an RBI and two runs scored for Columbus. Torey Tedlock doubled twice and had three RBI as well as a run scored.
Jayli Johnson doubled and scored a run for CHC, while Colin had a hit and an RBI.
RIVERTON 5, COLLEGE HEIGHTS 0
Riverton scored three times in the third inning to build a four-run lead on the way to the win over College Heights on Friday.
Nick Bruggemann took the loss after allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits, a walk and four strikeouts in four innings for College Heights. Ben Thomas allowed one unearned run on two hits and five strikeouts in three relief innings.
After coming off a historic season last year, College Heights softball (with McAuley Catholic) returns a bevy of starters with sights set even higher in 2022.
“We are very excited,” CHC coach Mike Howard said. “Ever since we lost that last game, it left a bitter taste in our mouth. Diamond had a great game against us. … It’s been (a year) since then and we are ready to get back at it and try to repeat the success from last year, even more so.”
The Cougars are coming off a program-best 18-4 record and a district championship last spring. However, CHC did graduate three seniors (catcher Sarah Painter, 1B Layne Jackson and 2B Avery Good) who were integral in the success last season and will be hard to replace.
“We are going to miss all three of those losses,” Howard said. “All three of those girls were important to our team. … All of them were all-conference and all-district players and Sarah was an all-regional player.”
The good news is College Heights welcomes back five starters, possibly six, including four all-conference players from a year ago, which has the Cougars having aspirations for a memorable run.
Highlighting the list of returners is sophomore pitcher Maddy Colin, who was named the Ozark 7 Conference Player of the Year and was a first-team all-district and all-region selection. She carried a 1.62 ERA and had 224 strikeouts in 121 innings and also hit .375 at the plate to go along with 21 RBI.
Also returning for College Heights: junior Jayli Johnson (.500 BA, 37 runs, 20 RBI), who will transition to catcher this year after earning first-team all-conference, district, region and state honors at shortstop while leading the team in home runs (four), triples (three) and doubles (eight); sophomore 2B/OF Kloee Williamson (.579 BA, 31 runs, 29 RBI), also a first-team all-conference, district, region and state recipient; junior OF Addie Lawrence (.387 BA, 23 runs, 18 RBI), who garnered all-conference and all-district recognition; junior SS/OF Aaliyah Perez (.324 BA, 15 runs), also all-conference and district last year. Lauren Ukena, who was projected to start on the left side of the infield, is also back but may miss significant time with a shoulder injury suffered during basketball season. Sophomore OF Kaitlyn Bates is also back and is expected to step into a much larger role this season.
Newcomers expected to make an impact at the varsity level this year include freshman Libby Fanning, who figures to take over at first base, senior OF Avery Eminger, junior IF/OF Marley Woodford, sophomore Avery Shuemaker and freshmen Toryn Fink (IF/OF) and Callie Spencer.
“We have some girls coming in who are working hard,” Howard added about replacing the positions lost to graduation. “But, I think we will be able to fill those spots nicely.”
Perhaps the biggest strength for College Heights is their experience, and that’s only going to continue to grow. All of the returning players from a year ago are juniors or sophomores, which means the Cougars will run it back with nearly the same squad a year from now. Knowing they have two full years together has motivated CHC to waste any time on its goal of playing for a deep postseason run, which has been evident to Coach Howard by the leadership he has seen from his second-year players in practice.
“Last year was the first year for all of the underclassmen playing high school ball because of the COVID year (two years ago),” Howard said of his juniors and sophomores this season. “For them to come out in their first years and perform like they did, it just says a lot about their character and hard work as athletes.
“The fact that our returners are so athletic and knowledgeable, they are like coaches on the field. They will put the new girls in the right positions to be successful. I have already seen several times in practice where I have seen a veteran player coaching a younger player. … It is great to be able to have a good core of veteran players to help teach the process.”
Of course, aside from depth and experience with success up and down the lineup, CHC also brings back Colin into the circle after a dominating freshman season that saw her garner numerous awards and accolades, turning heads in the process.
“I can’t say enough about that kid,” Howard said of his standout pitcher. “She is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen and she is very humble, putting her teammates before herself. She keeps us in every game because her ability to locate pitches so well is unparalleled. She has gotten stronger and I think her velocity is up a little bit. The fact that I know I have her for three more years gives me goosebumps.”
College Heights opens the season with a home matchup against Galena (Kansas) at 5 p.m. on Monday at the Joplin Athletic Complex.
COLLEGE HEIGHTS 17, EL DORADO SPRINGS 2 (3 INNINGS)
College Heights scored seven runs in the second inning and 10 runs in the third on the way to win over El Dorado Springs to open the season in the Purdy Invitational on Saturday.
Benjamin Thomas earned the win for CHC after allowing two runs on two hits, two walks and six strikeouts in three innings.
Austin Miller had three hits, scored three times and drove in two to lead the Cougars at the plate. Joshua Anderson had a hit, scored twice and drove in three. Thomas had a hit and three RBI. Kelton Welch had a hit, an RBO and scored twice.
PURDY 12, COLLEGE HEIGHTS 3 (6 INNINGS)
Purdy scored in every inning on the way to a win over College Heights on Saturday in the Purdy Invitational.
The Eagles scored two runs in the first, second, third and fifth innings, while scoring a single tally in the fourth and three times in the sixth. College Heights had a three-spot in the fourth inning for its only runs in the loss.
KENNETT 12, CARTHAGE 2
Kennett hung crooked numbers up in the first, second and fifth innings to fuel a win over Carthage on Saturday.
Kennett scored in every inning, with three runs crossing in the first, two in the second and four in the fifth.
JT Williams earned the win for Kennett after allowing two runs on three hits, four walks and three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Reece Robinett pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, scattering two hits, walking two and striking out seven.
Bradyn Tate took the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits, a walk and four strikeouts in three innings. Zach Geter allowed five runs on eight hits, a walk and two strikeouts in two innings, while Sylas Browning allowed one run on two hits, two walks and a strikeout in one relief inning.
Brooks Nigut had a double, four total hits, three RBI and three runs scored. Reece Robinett had three hits, including a double, three RBI and three runs scored. Matt Gardner had three hits, including a double, and scored twice.
Caden Kabance, Nate Norbury, Logan Carmickle, Kanen Vogt and Braxdon Tate all had hits for Carthage. Braxdon Tate and Norbury each scored runs.
GLENDALE 12, CARTHAGE 6
Glendale built an 8-1 lead through three innings and didn’t look back in a win over Carthage on Saturday.
Holding an 8-3 advantage, the Falcons scored single tallies in the fourth and fifth innings before a two spot in the sixth frame.
Kaleb Julian earned the win for Glendale after allowing five runs, three earned, on 10 hits, a walk and a strikeout in 3 2/3 innings. Brooks Kettering allowed one run on one hit, a walk and five strikeouts in 3 1/3 relief innings.
Kaden Arr took the loss for Carthage after allowing seven runs on seven hits, five walks and two strikeouts in two innings. Parker Copeland allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits, three walks and two strikeouts in three relief innings. Brodie Cole gave up two runs on one hit, two walks and two strikeouts in one relief inning.
Jacob House homered and doubled, scored twice and drove in three for Glendale. Cam Stratten had a hit and two RBI.
Norbury had three hits and scored twice, while Kabance and Browning had two hits each. Browning tripled and had an RBI, while Kabance picked up an RBI and scored a run.
