MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — Harley Daniels delivered a double to right field with runners on second and third base and no outs to plate both runs and send the host Mount Vernon Mountaineers to a 7-6 walk-off win over Diamond in the Class 2 District 6 championship game.
Mount Vernon improves to 34-1 with the come-from-behind win and advances to the quarterfinals of the Class 2 state tournament, where the Mountaineers take on Sparta (26-4) on May 16.
Daniels earned the complete-game win in the circle after allowing six runs, five earned, on eight hits, four walks and four strikeouts in seven innings.
Caitlyn Suhrie took the loss for Diamond after allowing seven runs, six earned, on 11 hits, a walk and three strikeouts in six innings.
The Wildcats (27-10-1) built a 3-0 lead in the first inning thanks to an RBI double from Suhrie before two more runs scored on an error later in the frame. Kabrie Parmley added an RBI groundout in the fourth inning to give Diamond a 4-0 advantage.
Mount Vernon rallied in a big way in the fifth, loading the bases with one out before a walk drawn by Molly Daniels brought in the Mountaineers’ first run. Allison Schubert followed with a three-run double to center to tie the game up at 4-4. Harley Daniels came up with an RBI double to center in the next at-bat to give Mount Vernon a 5-4 lead.
Diamond had runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the sixth when a Mount Vernon error on the infield allowed the tying and go-ahead runners to score to give the Wildcats a 6-5 lead.
Mount Vernon had runners on second and third with one out in the last of the sixth when Diamond first baseman Talyn Daniels made a diving play to double off the runner at second and get the Wildcats out of the inning.
Harley Daniels had two doubles and drove in three, while Schubert doubled, scored twice and drove in three. Molly Daniels doubled, scored twice and added an RBI.
Grace Frazier had two hits and scored a run. Parmley had a hit and three RBI for the Wildcats.
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — The top two seeds will meet for the Class 2 District 6 softball championship.
Top-seeded Mount Vernon defeated fifth-seeded Pierce City 3-1 and second-seeded Diamond knocked off third-seeded Sarcoxie 9-5 on Monday in semifinal contests.
The district title game between the Mountaineers (33-1) and the Wildcats (27-9-1) is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday night at Spirit of 76 Park.
MOUNT VERNON 3, PIERCE CITY 1
The Mountaineers extended their winning streak to 25.
Mount Vernon took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Rae Downing’s home run to left.
The Mountaineers added a run in the fourth when Lillian Burk scored from third after a passed ball.
In the fifth, Mount Vernon’s Harley Daniels delivered an RBI single to left, scoring Allyson Burk, for a 3-0 lead.
Pierce City scored once in the top of the seventh on Jillian Mack’s RBI single.
Daniels was the winning pitcher. She recorded seven strikeouts and limited the Eagles to six hits.
Hali Stokes was the lone Mountaineer with two hits, both doubles.
Claudia Crowell took the loss but allowed just two earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six.
Trinity Witt and Crowell had two hits apiece for the Eagles, who end the season at 14-10.
DIAMOND 9, SARCOXIE 5
Coming from behind, Diamond rode a six-run fifth inning to a semifinal victory.
The game was scoreless when Sarcoxie erupted for four runs in the top of the fourth inning.
The first run scored on Kaydence Flynn’s single before a second run crossed the plate after a Diamond error. Lauren Brooks hit a two-run double to center to give the Bears a 4-0 lead.
Diamond responded with two runs in the bottom half. Lauren Turner tripled and scored on Aubrey Ball’s RBI single before Marrisa DeJager contributed an RBI single.
The Bears took a 5-2 lead in the fifth on Flynn’s run-scoring single.
However, Diamond exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth.
In the big inning, Turner hit an RBI single, Talyn Daniels’ sac fly drove in two runs, Sara Roszell added a run-scoring single before DeJager and Emilee Shallenburger hit back-to-back doubles for an 8-5 lead.
The Wildcats added an insurance run in the sixth after Grace Frazier reached on an error and later scored on Caitlyn Suhrie’s sac fly.
Ball had three hits for Diamond, while Turner and DeJager added two hits apiece. Daniels and Shallenburger had two RBI apiece.
Suhrie was the winning pitcher. She allowed four earned runs on six hits and six walks while striking out eight.
Kylee Walters took the loss for Sarcoxie. She allowed nine runs, two earned, on 10 hits. She struck out seven.
Flynn and Brooks had two hits apiece for the Bears, who finished 14-10.
NEOSHO, Mo. — The Mount Vernon Mountaineers and the Diamond Wildcats are the first- and second-ranked teams in Class 2 by the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association, entering their game Friday with more than a combined 50 wins between them.
Mount Vernon and Diamond, the defending Class 2 state champions, split their first two meetings this season: Mount Vernon won the first 4-3 in the Joplin Area Tournament (March 18) and Diamond won the second 8-2 in the Mountaineers’ home tournament (March 22).
Since that loss, their only loss of the season so far, the Mountaineers have now rattled off 22 consecutive wins after their 12-6 win on Friday over Diamond within the Marion Sports Complex.
The Mountaineers scored one in the first and the second, then fell behind 6-2 after the Wildcats scored six in their half of the second, and Mount Vernon closed out the scoring with two in the third, three in the fourth, and five in the fifth.
“That’s been our strength all year,” Mount Vernon coach Matt Schubert said. “It’s probably the best team hitting wise in the 10 years that we’ve played softball at Mount Vernon. We’ve got girls all up and down the lineup as you saw with the nine hitter hitting one off the scoreboard. The girls do a great job of being prepared and they usually do a pretty good job of getting a swing on the ball.”
Molly Daniels doubled and scored a run in the first, Cheyenne Bieber doubled and scored a run in the second, Rae Downing doubled in a run in the third, Ally Burk hit a two-run home run in the fourth and Burk added a RBI single and Payge Evans a two-run double in the fifth.
Burk, Downing, and Evans combined for half of the Mountaineers’ 12 hits with two each and Bieber, Isabel Cloud, Daniels, Allie Schubert, Maddie Schubert and Harley Daniels combined for the other half with one hit each.
Downing doubled twice and Evans, Bieber, and Molly Daniels each added a double.
Burk drove in three and scored two runs, Evans drove in two and scored three runs, Downing drove in two runs, and Bieber scored two runs.
The Mountaineers scored more than 10 runs for the 19th time this season.
Harley Daniels earned the win and she allowed six runs (two earned) on five hits with 11 strikeouts and five walks over seven innings.
Mount Vernon has one regular season game remaining before the start of postseason competition.
The Mountaineers are the top seed and tournament host for the upcoming Class 2 District 6 tournament with a field that includes Diamond, College Heights, Pierce City and Sarcoxie.
“That’s what we talked about after the game,” Coach Schubert said. “Seniors only have two guaranteed games left. We added one for Tuesday just before this game (Diamond) started. It’s important for us to maintain that momentum we’ve built and maintain the focus that we strive for. It’s something that we want to make sure that we carry over from game to game.
“Being in the toughest district in the state again, when you come out of it you’re going to be prepared to go on a good run just like Diamond did last year. It’s always fun to play good teams and Diamond is exactly that. They’re better than a good team. They’re probably a great team. But it’s something that you got to be prepared for and you can’t take a play off and you can’t come in unfocused.
“I think the rain (Friday) cost us a little bit of focus at the beginning of the game, but once we got down there 6-2 after the second inning, our girls refocused and were able to come back.”
Mount Vernon improved to 30-1 overall.
Kabrie Parmley’s two-run homer highlighted the Wildcats’ six-run second that also featured Aubrey Ball’s two-run double and a Talyn Daniels RBI double.
Sara Roszell took the loss and she allowed 12 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits with one strikeout and two walks over five innings, while Kenzie Crook pitched two scoreless innings, allowed two hits, and struck out and walked one.
With the district seeds already locked down, Diamond coach Kelsey Parrish used Friday as an opportunity to spread the playing opportunities among her reserves late in the game.
“We were just trying to move things around,” Parrish said. “Going in, I just wanted as many batters as possible on our team that could face Harley the better. We’ve already been seeded at district, and I thought this game was more of an opportunity to see different situations. They have really good bats, though.
“We were able to switch it up in the third, so we could get more plate appearances with everyone to see who is going to come out and be the most competitive against her (Harley Daniels) hopefully when we meet up in the postseason. We’ve got to beat good teams to get there, so who knows what’s going to happen in our district.”
Diamond fell to 22-8 on the season and the Wildcats close out their regular season Thursday on the road against College Heights Christian (McAuley Catholic).
If the Mountaineers and the Wildcats meet for a fourth time this season, it would be for a district title on Tuesday, May 9, at the Spirit of 76 Park in Mount Vernon.
“I think it’s going to be a scramble,” Parrish said. “We have some really good teams. Sarcoxie is on a 14-game winning streak right now, Mount Vernon has only one loss, Pierce City, College Heights. It’s a very tough district … so we’ll see what happens.”
DIAMOND, Mo. — Diamond’s softball team hiked its record to 18-4 by beating Lamar 6-3 on Monday.
The game was deadlocked when the Wildcats scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Diamond’s Lauren Turner earned the pitching victory after allowing three unearned runs on six hits in four innings. She struck out five and walked none.
Caitlyn Suhrie tossed three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out seven.
Suhrie also went 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and three runs scored. Grace Frazier went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Talyn Daniels drove in a run.
Lamar’s Lilly Weber was charged with the loss. She allowed six runs, three earned, on eight hits in six innings.
Jaycee Doss had two of Lamar’s seven hits and Kennedy Evans drove in two runs. Zavrie Wiss had the other RBI for the Tigers.
Diamond is at Miller on Tuesday and hosts Sarcoxie on Thursday for the team’s ‘Gold Out’ game for childhood cancer awareness.
College Heights (with McAuley) took control early and held off Miller for a win on Tuesday.
The Cougars (4-0) scored in the first inning when Maddy Colin picked up an RBI on a groundout.
Aaliyah Perez pushed the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning with a two-run single to center field.
College Heights ultimately took a 4-0 lead when Allie Stout singled home Lauren Ukena with two outs in the last of the sixth inning.
Miller rallied with two runs touching home in the top of the seventh but that would be as close to the lead that the Cardinals would get.
Colin dominated in the circle, earning the win after allowing two unearned runs on four hits, a walk and 17 strikeouts in a complete-game effort of seven innings.
Jayli Johnson had two hits and scored a run for CHC, while Kloee Williamson had a hit and scored a run. Perez had a hit and drove in two. Ukena had a hit and scored, while Stout had a hit and drove in one.
College Heights is at Lamar on Tuesday.
DIAMOND 8, LIBERAL 2
DIAMOND, Mo. — Diamond hung eight runs on the board in the first three innings on the way to a win over Liberal (with Bronaugh) on Monday.
The Wildcats (15-3) scored twice in the first inning before adding three runs in the second inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Grace Frazier.
Diamond took control for good in the third inning when Emilee Shallenburger connected for a three-run home run to left with one out in the frame.
Lauren Turner earned the win in the circle for Diamond after allowing one run on three hits, two walks and nine strikeouts in four innings. Sara Roszell allowed one unearned run on two hits, a walk and five strikeouts in three relief innings.
Kyla Porter took the loss after allowing eight runs, seven earned, on eight hits, four walks and four strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.
The Wildcats totaled nine hits, with Marissa DeJager leading the way with two hits and a run scored. Frazier and Roszell each doubled, while Shallenburger homered. Frazier finished with two runs and two RBI, while Shallenburger had three RBI and a run scored.
Ellaina LaNear had two hits, an RBI and scored a run for Liberal (4-6). Katelyn Wallace doubled and drove in a run. Bailey Couch also doubled and scored a run.
The Diamond Wildcats pieced together eight runs with a little timely hitting and lots of aggressive baserunning and received an absolute gem from senior pitcher Jacob Atkinson during an 8-1 win over the McAuley Catholic Warriors on Friday at Wendell Redden Stadium within the Joplin Athletic Complex.
McAuley Catholic opened the scoring with one run in the first, then Diamond scored eight unanswered with one in the second, four in the third, one in the fifth and two in the sixth.
Atkinson surrendered a RBI single to Noah Black in the first, then he allowed no more hits the final six innings and in fact retired the Warriors in order five of the final six innings.
“We were really aggressive today,” Diamond coach Dayton Shaw said. “We’ve been wanting to run and today was the first day that we’ve been really aggressive. We hit and run probably 10 times. That helps keep us out of double plays and gets guys in scoring position. “Yeah, it all started with him (Atkinson) today. He kinda struggled this year. We talked today about just going right at people and not being so cute with off-speed pitches. Pound the zone with fastballs and you get ahead and you can try off-speed. With that different approach, he had his best outing of the year so far today by far.”
McAuley Catholic’s Rocco Bazzano-Joseph worked a walk in the first, stole second, and scored on Black’s two-out hit to left. Atkinson cut off left fielder Peyton Marbough’s throw and threw out Black at second to retire the side.
Grady Bentley led off the Diamond second with a walk, stole second, and scored on an Austin Girdner RBI double. The Warriors kept a tie score by throwing out Girdner at home on a grounder to third baseman Chase Gardner, who delivered a strike to catcher Bradley Wagner.
Atkinson led off the four-run Diamond third with an infield single, the Wildcats’ only hit of an inning during which the Warriors committed all three of their errors. The Wildcats arguably showed their most aggressiveness on the bases in the third with three stolen bases, extra bases taken from errors, and one run scored on a wild pitch.
Brayden Clement and Girdner each finished with two RBI for the Wildcats and Bentley scored two runs on a day when the Wildcats racked up 13 stolen bases against the Warriors. Bentley had three steals, Clement, Matt Navarro and Thomas Gow two each, and Girdner, Marbough, Ty Stokes, and Daniel Weiss one each.
Atkinson allowed one run (earned) on one hit with seven strikeouts and two walks over seven innings. Atkinson finished with 87 pitches, 57 of them for strikes, while three McAuley Catholic pitchers combined to walk six Diamond batters.
Black had McAuley Catholic’s lone hit and lone RBI, while Bazzano-Joseph and Gardner worked the walks against Atkinson.
Diamond improved to 2-7 overall and the Wildcats’ 8-1 win Friday ended a four-game losing streak. The Wildcats are back in action Monday with their Southwest Conference opener against Pierce City.
McAuley Catholic dropped to 2-3 overall, meanwhile, and the Warriors have a home Ozark 7 Conference game Monday against Wheaton.
FORSYTH, Mo. — Diamond hung crooked numbers on the scoreboard in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings on the way to a 10-5 win over Forsyth on Monday.
The Wildcats took control with two runs in the second and three more in the third before Forsyth got on the scoreboard with two runs in the third. Diamond answered with a three-run fourth and two more runs scoring in the fifth to secure the momentum in the win.
Lauren Turner earned the win after allowing two unearned runs on two hits, three walks and seven strikeouts in three innings. Caitlin Suhrie allowed three unearned runs on two hits, four walks and six strikeouts in four innings.
Lindsey Essary took the loss after allowing 10 runs, seven earned, on 10 hits, three walks and two strikeouts in five innings.
Grace Frazier had three hits and scored a run for Diamond, while Talyn Daniels had three hits, four RBI and scored two runs. Turner had two hits, including a double, drove in one and scored one. Suhrie had two hits and scored two runs.
SPARTA, Mo. — Sparta scored in the first inning but Diamond scored every run after that on the way to a 4-1 win on Tuesday.
The Wildcats trailed 1-0 before scoring single tallies in the third and fourth innings before scoring twice in the seventh inning to secure the win.
Diamond improves to 3-0 on the season.
Lauren Turner earned the win in the circle after allowing one run on three hits, four walks and 13 strikeouts in seven innings.
Natalie Wilks took the loss after allowing four runs on 12 hits, two walks and two strikeouts in seven innings.
Five players had multiple hits for Diamond, with Caitlyn Suhrie and Aubrey Ball each doubling. Ball had two RBI and Suhrie scored a run. Grace Frazier scored twice to go along with two hits, while Turner and Piper Brewer each had two hits and drove in a run.
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Fair Grove got hot from the perimeter early to build an early double-digit cushion and held off Diamond’s late rally in a 62-52 win in the Class 3 sectional round of the state tournament.
The first basket of the game was a 3-pointer by Fair Grove (25-4) and the Eagles went on to finish with four triples in the first quarter while building a nine-point lead in the process. Diamond trimmed the lead to single digits, 30-23, by the intermission before Fair Grove pushed the margin back to double digits to end the third quarter. A quick surge by the Eagles extended the lead to 18 early in the fourth before the Wildcats fought to cut it to 10 by the final horn.
ALL GOOD THINGS
Diamond finishes the season with a 22-6 record after reaching the sectional round for the first time in nearly 40 years. The Wildcats graduate lone senior Ashlyn Daniel.
GAME ACTION
Camdyn Hart knocked down a 3-pointer to start the scoring for Fair Grove. Hart sank another shot from the perimeter near the midway mark before Ashton Bell buried back-to-back 3-pointers inside the final two minutes for a 20-6 advantage.
Bell opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer and Abbey Green added an inside buck to push the lead to 14 before a 12-3 run by the Wildcats fueled by 10 points from Grace Frazier—including a pair of 3-pointers—cut the Diamond deficit to two possessions, 28-23, with 2:20 left in the half.
Frazier added another perimeter bucket to open the second half to get the Wildcats within four, 30-26.
Seven straight points by Fair Grove—including a 3-pointer from Bell—put the Eagles on top by 10, with the advantage at 12 to start the fourth quarter.
Fair Grove used 3-pointers from Emma Padgett and Brooke Daniels as part of a 9-3 run to open the fourth to push the lead to a game-high 18.
Frazier did her best to help Diamond whittle the lead to 10 by the final horn with 17 fourth-quarter points, but it wasn’t enough as the Eagles staved off the comeback bid.
SCORING LEADERS
Bell sank six 3-pointers on the way to a team-high 26 points for Fair Grove, while Daniels finished with 16 points in the win.
Frazier led all scorers with 40 points, 23 coming in the second half. She made a game-high seven 3-pointers and was 5-of-7 shooting from the charity stripe.
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.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Senior Madi Bentley was dominant in her final high school start in the circle and it was a driving force in leading top-ranked Diamond to the program’s first ever state championship as the Wildcats defeated defending state champ Skyline 6-4 in the Class 2 state title game on Tuesday at the Killian Sports Complex.
Skyline (22-5) struck first with a run in the bottom of the second inning before Diamond (29-3) tied it up with a single tally in the third inning. The Wildcats scored the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth inning before pushing across four runs in the seventh frame to build a five-run lead. The Tigers made it interesting in the last of the seventh, scoring three times and leaving the tying run on base when the final out was made.
Bentley earned the complete-game win after allowing four runs on six hits, two walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings.
Jadyn Foster took the complete-game loss after allowing six runs on 11 hits, a walk and five strikeouts in seven innings.
After Bentley, committed to Southwest Baptist, struck out the first five batters she faced, looking for a sixth, Skyline’s Grace Edge ripped an inside two-strike pitch down the line in left off the foul pole for a two-out solo home run for a 1-0 advantage.
Diamond answered back in the top of the third inning when Grace Frazier singled to right field with two outs before stealing second and third to get in scoring position. Caitlyn Suhrie followed with a run-scoring double down the left-field line to tie the game at 1-1.
Suhrie led off the top of the sixth with a single to right field before moving to second on a stolen base and advancing to third on the same play after an error on Skyline. Bentley followed with an RBI single to center field to plate the go-ahead run for a 2-1 lead. Lexy Bridges doubled to left in the next at-bat to put runners at second and third with no outs in the inning, but Skyline got out of the jam without another run touching home to keep the deficit at one run.
Kabrie Parmley singled to lead off the top of the seventh for Diamond before Lauren Turner followed with a single and moved to second on the throw to put runners at second and third with no outs for the second straight inning. Frazier followed with a single to right field to plate an insurance run for a 3-1 lead. Bridges capped the scoring with a two-out three-run home run over the wall in straight away center field to push the lead to 6-1 lead.
Skyline threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning, loading the bases with one out on a walk and two hits before a second walk in the inning forced home a run. Kalli Edison followed with a shallow single to right field to bring a run home and cut the lead to 6-3 with the bases remaining loaded. Autumn Baldwin singled up the middle in the next at-bat to score a run, but a second run was cut down at the plate for the second out of the inning with the Wildcats’ lead sitting at 6-4. Bentley induced a popup on the infield for the final out to clinch her team’s first ever state title.
Turner had three hits, including a double, and scored a run, while Bridges doubled and homered to go along with three RBI and a run scored. Frazier had two hits, scored twice and drove in one. Suhrie doubled on the way to two hits, an RBI and a run scored.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Diamond Wildcats will play for a state softball championship.
Diamond earned a thrilling 7-6 walk-off win over Kennett in the semifinals of the MSHSAA Class 2 Spring Softball State Tournament on Monday at Killian Softball Complex.
The Wildcats (28-3) will meet Skyline (22-4) at 10 a.m. on Tuesday in the championship game. Diamond is in a title game for the first time in school history.
Monday’s back and forth semifinal was deadlocked at six after six innings.
After the Indians failed to score in the top of the seventh, the Wildcats won the game in the bottom half.
Sophomore Caitlyn Suhrie doubled to left to start the final inning, and she took third on Madison Bentley’s fly out. With one out, Lexy Bridges grounded back to Kennett pitcher Anelle Harris, who looked the runner back and threw to first for the out. But Suhrie charged home on the play, sliding in safely for the winning run.
The Wildcats overcame a three-run deficit.
Kennett pushed across a single tally in the first inning, but the Wildcats plated two runs in the bottom half. One run scored on Bentley’s sac fly before another tally crossed home on an error.
The Indians scored four runs in the second for a 5-2 lead, but Diamond tied it up Suhrie’s three-run homer in the third.
The Indians scored once in the fifth before the Wildcats tied it up in the sixth after Kabrie Parmley doubled and came home on Lauren Turner’s RBI single.
Bentley earned the pitching victory. She allowed five earned runs on seven hits and four walks in seven innings while striking out six.
Turner went 3-for-4 at the plate, while Suhrie scored three runs and drove in three runs on two hits. Grace Frazier scored twice.
Harris took the loss. She gave up six earned runs on eight hits and three walks, striking out five.
Handley McAtee and Harris had two hits apiece for the Indians.
Skyline defeated Park Hills Central 6-4 in the other semifinal.
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.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Purdy defeated Holcomb 4-1 in the Class 1 title game at the MSHSAA Spring Softball Championships on Sunday at Killian Softball Complex.
In Class 2, Diamond settled for fourth place, as Kennett earned a 6-2 win over the Wildcats in the tourney’s third place game.
CLASS 1 CHAMPS
The Purdy Eagles capped a 30-1 season with a state championship, the program’s first.
Sunday’s title game was deadlocked 1-1 when the Eagles pushed across a single tally in the fifth and added two insurance runs in the sixth.
Lauren Schallert (26-1) was the winning pitcher. She struck out seven, scattered two hits and did not allow an earned run.
Purdy took a 1-0 lead in the third after a walk, a single and a Holcomb error.
Holcomb plated an unearned run in the fourth.
Purdy’s Robyn Schad homered to left in the fifth.
In the sixth, Jessi Hoppes doubled and Annabelle Bowman contributed a run-scoring single to left. Kinsley Mattingly added an RBI single up the middle for a 4-1 lead.
Bowman went 3-for-3 for the Eagles.
In Saturday’s semifinal, Purdy defeated Advance 7-0.
Schallert struck out 16 and gave up just two hits in a complete-game shutout.
Bayleigh Robbins went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Bowman drove in two runs on two hits.
FOURTH IN CLASS 2
The Class 2 third-place game was tied at two after five innings, but Kennett plated four runs in the top of the sixth.
Diamond’s Madison Bentley (15-3) was charged with the loss. She allowed five earned runs and struck out seven.
Bentley also had two of Diamond’s six hits.
Kennett’s Anelle Harris gave up two runs on six hits and fanned nine.
The Wildcats scored once in the second on Grace Irwin’s RBI single.
Diamond’s final tally crossed home in the third, as Grace Frazier walked and later scored on Bentley’s RBI single to left.
With the game tied, Kennett scored four runs on three hits in the sixth, with a two-run double from Kayton Hurst the biggest blow.
Diamond went 20-4 this spring.
Potosi beat Diamond 3-0 in Saturday’s semifinals, as Samantha Huck tossed a no-hitter. She struck out 14 and walked one.
Diamond’s Bentley took the loss, but she allowed just two earned runs on five hits. She struck out eight.
In the Class 2 title game, Skyline beat Potosi 1-0.
