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DISTRICT BASEBALL: Fifth-seeded Joplin falls to second-seeded Republic in the district title game

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The postseason run came to an end for fifth-seeded Joplin after the Eagles fell to top-seeded Republic 13-3 in six innings on Thursday in the Class 6 District 6 title game at Central Ballpark.

Joplin and Republic traded runs in the first inning before the Tigers took command with a six-run second frame. Joplin trimmed the lead to four after scoring twice in the top of the sixth inning but Republic answered with six runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away.

“If you take this game as a snapshot, it obviously didn’t go our way,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “That’s baseball. Sometimes you just have to wear it a little bit. That’s a good baseball team over there. They are the district champs for a reason. They took advantage of some opportunities in the second and sixth innings. That offense can ambush you pretty quick, and they did. In the long run, when you see the big picture of what these guys accomplished, I am very proud of their efforts.”

SAYING GOODBYE

Joplin graduates seven seniors from this year’s squad—Fielding Campbell, Carson Wampler, David Fiscus, Kirk Chandler, Josh Harryman, Alex Curry and Kohl Cooper.

“That is the first group that has been with us for four years,” Wolf said. “When you spend that much time with a group of young men over the course of four years, you develop strong relationships. I am proud of them and what they’ve accomplished as a baseball team, but I am really looking forward to seeing the great things they’re going to do with their futures. They are going to go out and do good things for people in this world.”

“I love this team,” Cooper said. “I have never been a part of a team (like this), honestly. I have dealt with injuries and missed seasons. Finally, just being a part of a family, I have never experienced something like that.”

BITTERSWEET ENDING

Joplin closes the 2021 season with a 20-11 overall record, while garnering a 6-3 Central Ozark Conference record. It was the first 20-win season for the Joplin program since 2013-14.

“There have been some ups and downs, and some adversity that you go through as a team,” Wolf said. “These guys have fought through a lot of things. I guess my catchphrase is ‘find a way.’ We’d get knocked down sometimes, but we always got back up and I am proud of them for that.”

“Twenty wins in a season is something that hasn’t been done in a long, long time in Joplin,” Cooper said. “We beat some really good teams this year — we beat Webb City, we beat Kickapoo — we beat some teams a lot of people never thought we could come close to beating.  It didn’t go our way today. (Republic) is just flat-out a great team.” 

ON THE MOUND

Gavyn Beckner earned the win after allowing three runs on 10 hits, three walks and 5 1/3 innings. Cole Iles pitched 2/3 of an inning and didn’t allow a run while giving up one hit and walking one.

Ethan Guilford started on short rest and took the loss after allowing six runs, five earned, on five hits and three walks in one-plus inning. Campbell allowed one run on one hit and four strikeouts over four relief innings. Harryman allowed three runs on two hits and Chandler allowed three runs on one hit and two free passes.

GAME ACTION

Joplin struck first in the district championship, pushing across a run in the top of the first when Alex Curry drove in Bodee Carlson from second with a line drive to left-center field. Carlson singled to lead off the inning.

Republic answered right back in the bottom half of the first when Jared Hughes singled to left field with two outs to score a run and tie the game at 1-1.

Republic took command of the lead in the bottom of the second after plating six runs for a 7-1 advantage. The Tigers saw their first six batters of the inning reach base. Republic took the lead when Vincent Pyeatt drew a bases-loaded walk. Beckner singled in the next at-bat with the bags full to score two runners. Ryker Harrington followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 5-1. The Tigers used a two-base sacrifice fly on a diving catch by Joplin’s Brady Mails in left-center field to plate a run, and Hughes wrapped the scoring with a sac fly.

Joplin loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the third before Carlson was called out trying to take home on a wild pitch on a bang-bang play to end the threat.

The Eagles scored twice in the top of the six to trim the lead to 7-3. Guilford drove home a run with an RBI single to right-center before Carlson picked up an RBI with a sac fly to center.

Beckner highlighted the Tigers’ sixth inning with a two-run double. 

IN THE BOX

Beckner led the Tigers at the plate with three hits, including a double, a game-high four RBI and a run scored. Richard Potter had two hits and scored two runs, while Hughes had one hit and three RBI. Pyeatt had three RBI and two runs scored.

Fiscus and Campbell led Joplin with two hits each, with Campbell scoring a run. Carlson had one hit, scored a run and drove in a run. Curry and Guilford each had hits and tallied one RBI apiece.

“I am proud of our young guys for stepping up into some roles and situations that at the beginning of the year, none of us would have thought they’d be in,” Wolf said when asked about the future of his program. “They stepped into it and found a way to compete for us. At the end of the day, you can’t learn to play in these kinds of games if you don’t find a way to get into these games. We found a way to get to it today. Hopefully, there are some lessons that are learned and we can continue to progress so we can get back here next year.”

NO EXCUSES: Fifth-seeded Joplin beats first-seeded Kickapoo 7-1 in rain-soaked district semifinals

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — No excuses. That was the message Joplin coach Kyle Wolf had for his team before they stepped off the bus on Monday to open district play. 

After defeating fourth-seeded Lebanon on a rain-drenched field in the opening round, the fifth-seeded Eagles once again battled the elements on the way to defeating top-seeded Kickapoo 7-1 in the Class 6 District 6 semifinals on Wednesday at Central Ballpark to earn a trip to the district championship round.

“We’ve said all year that we wanted to be playing our best at the end of the year,” Wolf said. “These have probably been two of our more complete games. I can’t speak enough about the toughness those guys have shown in the elements against good baseball teams. There have been no excuses. We said it at the beginning and that’s the way they’ve played this week. No excuses, and we are just going to get after it to try to stay and play another day.”

Playing in a steady downpour for much of the game, Joplin (20-10) broke through on the scoreboard first with a single tally in the second inning before the offense erupted for six runs in the top of the third inning to take a stranglehold on the lead, 7-0. With senior Kohl Cooper dealing on the mound, Kickapoo (24-9) was held off the scoreboard through the first six innings. The Chiefs scored a run in the bottom of the seventh and had the bases loaded with one out before senior Josh Harryman closed the door on any comeback attempt with a punchout followed by a lineout on the infield to end the game.

CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND

Joplin will take on second-seeded Republic in the district title game at 5 p.m. on Thursday at Central Ballpark. Republic defeated Ozark 6-3 in the other semifinal game.

ON THE MOUND

On a day where getting a grip on the baseball was nearly impossible because of the constant rain, Cooper was dominant on the bump for Joplin after tossing 6 ⅓ innings of one-run baseball to earn the win. He scattered five hits, walked three and struck out five in perhaps the strongest start of his career, which couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Well, that’s a senior that stepped up in a big game and flat got it done, man,” Wolf said of Cooper’s outing. “I couldn’t be more proud of that kid. I have seen him be really good this year and I just felt like if he was that guy, he had the stuff to come out and beat a really, really good team in Kickapoo. He had his stuff today in really tough conditions and just competed his tail off.” 

Harryman pitched 2/3 of an inning and allowed two hits, walked one and struck out one.

Zach McKinnis took the loss after allowing seven runs on five hits and three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Cross Kubik didn’t allow a run in 4 2/3 relief innings. He surrendered three hits, walked three and struck out one.

GAME ACTION

After a scoreless first inning, Joplin senior Alex Curry led off the top of the second with a single on a line drive past the third baseman. Two batters later, sophomore Justin McReynolds singled to right field to move Curry to second. A groundout from senior Fielding Campbell advanced both runners 90 feet. With two outs, junior Ethan Guilford hit a chopper to the left side that turned into a Kickapoo fielding error, allowing Guilford to reach and Curry to score for a 1-0 lead.

Joplin took all of the momentum in the third inning. Junior Bodee Carlson singled to right and senior Carson Wampler reached on a fielder’s choice. Two batters later, Curry singled up the middle to plate Carlson and push the lead to two. Senior David Fiscus reached on another Chiefs’ error, which scored the Eagles’ third run of the game. McReynolds followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score Curry and extend the lead to 4-0. After Campbell loaded the bases with a single to center, Guilford cleared them with a line-drive double to right field to score three runs and push the advantage to 7-0.

“That early first run to take the lead was huge,” Wolf said. “To go put a six spot up in the third, that is a great job by our guys. Just a lot of really good at-bats and executing. We have been working with (Ethan) all year on the understanding you have to hit the ball the other way and he comes up and laces one down the right-field line to score three. That was a huge at-bat.”

Looking to strike back and steal some momentum away, Kickapoo loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third inning. Cooper had other plans, striking out back to back hitters, the second looking, to end the inning and the Chiefs’ only real threat of cutting into the deficit until the seventh frame. 

“It’s such a game of momentum sometimes,” Wolf said. “The same as getting those early runs gives us a little momentum, keeping them from scoring right there gives us a lot of confidence moving forward. And, we’ve got a little bit of momentum that we are carrying onto the offensive end.”

“It was a magical moment for me today,” Cooper said of his back to back punchouts. “I knew God was on my side today. He always is, but I felt the presence of Him today in a situation like that against an amazing team.”

Working quickly in the rain, Cooper relied heavily on the fastball in the third inning to get himself out of the jam, and continued that usage throughout the remainder of his outing.

“It started in the third,” Cooper said when asked at what point the moisture prevented him from finding the grip on his breaking ball. “It started to get a little loopy. … When the water gets on the ball like that it just spins out of my hand. The fastball, I was just spotting it up. That was the key today.”

Kickapoo got on the board in the seventh when Cole Murrel singled with the bases loaded to plate Shane Cummings, trimming the Eagles’ lead to 7-1. Harryman struck out Luke Quackenbush and got Carter Vienhage to line out to end the game.

IN THE BOX

McReynolds led Joplin at the plate with three hits, including a double, an RBI and a run scored. Guilford doubled in one of his two hits and drove in a team-high three runs. Curry had two hits, scored a team-high two runs and drove in one. Campbell and Carlson each had a hit and scored a run. 

Vienhage and Murrell had two hits each to lead Kickapoo. 

DISTRICT BASEBALL: Joplin plates four runs in the first inning, cruises past Lebanon in opening round of district play

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. —  Fifth-seeded Joplin scored four runs in the first inning and the Eagles’ pitching staff limited fourth-seeded Lebanon to a single run on the way to a 7-1 victory in the opening round of the Class 6 District 6 tournament on Monday at Central Stadium.

“It’s a really good one,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “We competed up and down the lineup. It was good to get that early start. … Getting those four runs in the first took a lot of pressure off everybody and let them relax and just go play.” 

Joplin (19-10) waited little time gaining the momentum after pushing four runs across in the top of the first. The Eagles took the initial lead after Bodee Carlson led the game off with a single to left before scoring on a wild pitch later in the inning. Alex Curry singled sharply to right field to plate Carson Wampler, who reached on an error. Three batters later, Ethan Guilford helped himself out with a two-run single to right field to wrap the scoring. 

“We talked before the game and knew he was going to throw a really good fastball,” Wolf said. “We just wanted to jump on that fastball as quickly as we could. And when we get it, don’t miss it. I thought we had a really good approach early. And we didn’t swing at a lot of balls out of the zone. That allowed us to work some walks on top of those hits.”

The top of the first inning was a good indication of the field conditions for Monday’s game. Though the infield was turf, the outfield was natural grass and with all of the rain in the area over the past 24 hours, it was adventurous to say the least. Lebanon’s right fielder lost his footing on two separate plays in the first on line drives in play by the Eagles.  

“We told them just to deepen up and try to keep everything in front of them,” Wolf said. “It is a lot easier to come in on a ball in those conditions than go back. … That was our adjustment to it, and I thought our kids did a good job.”

Joplin added insurance in the top of the fourth when Kohl Cooper hit a two-run triple to center field to score Carlson and Wampler to push the lead to 6-0. Cooper scored on a passed ball in the next at-bat to push the lead to seven.

“He did a good job of fighting and was finally able to get a barrel on a ball,” Wolf said of Cooper’s three-base hit. “He was able to get something elevated a bit that he could hit hard. Those three runs (in that inning) are huge.”

The Yellowjackets (18-8) scored their lone run in the bottom of the fifth when Justin Dameron scored Bennett Schnitzer with a groundout. Schnitzer doubled earlier in the inning.

ON THE MOUND

Guilford earned the win for Joplin after giving up one unearned run on three hits and five strikeouts without allowing a walk in 4 1/3 innings. Guilford threw 56 pitches, which makes him available for the Eagles on Thursday in the district championship should Joplin advance that far.

“You can’t ask for any more out of your starter against a really good offensive baseball team,” Wolf said. “Those guys can flat swing it. I thought he did an outstanding job of hitting spots, staying down in the zone and making big pitches when he had to make big pitches.”

Josh Harryman pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out three to close the game out.

“Josh has just been so good all year,” Wolf said. “He came in, made big pitches and got two really good lefties out. Hopefully, that is a confidence builder for him as well to know that if he executes pitches, he can get anyone out.”

Zach Stewart took the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned, on seven hits, two walks and four strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. John Greenwood didn’t allow a run in 3 2/3 relief innings. He allowed two hits, walked two and struck out three.

IN THE BOX

Carlson led Joplin with three hits and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot, while Cooper tripled, drove in two and scored two. Wampler had two hits and scored two runs. Guilford had one hit and two RBI. Curry tallied one hit, one RBI and one run scored, while Justin McReynolds had a hit and a walk.

UP NEXT

Joplin takes on top-seeded Kickapoo (24-8) at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the district semifinals.

“They’re really good,” Wolf said. “They do things well, they’re well-coached and they play hard. We are going to have to match their intensity and have to execute some big at-bats and take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.”

PREP BASEBALL: Joplin falls to Willard in final conference game of the season

Class 5’s top-ranked Willard jumped out to an early lead and used a four-run fourth to take control before adding insurance three times en route to a 9-2 win over Joplin on Thursday at the JHS Athletic Complex.

The Tigers (18-9, 5-4 COC) scored a pair of runs in the first inning before the Eagles cut the lead in half with a run in the third. Willard took a commanding advantage after crossing home four times in the fourth, while scoring a single tally in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to keep the momentum on its side to an eventual Central Ozark Conference win.

“We’re just trying to find consistency,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “Showing up to the ballpark everyday with the same mindset, locked in and ready to go. There have been days when we’ve done that and we’re pretty good. There’s been days we haven’t and we’re not very good. We’re just trying to find that consistency to be the same team and play the game the way we are capable of playing. Today, there were some situations where we didn’t, and they’re a good team and they’re going to take advantage of those things.”

The matchup with the Tigers was the final COC contest of the season. The Eagles (15-10) finished with a record of 6-3 in conference play.

“Anytime you can have a winning record in this conference you’ve done some things because it’s just a really good conference,” Wolf said. “That being said, I felt like we left a couple out there that maybe we could have gotten. It needs to tell these guys that we are a good baseball team, but we have to do things consistently.”

ON THE MOUND

Gavin Burk earned the win after allowing two runs, one earned on three hits, five walks and three strikeouts in six innings of work. Evan Gaunt pitched a perfect inning in relief.

Justin McReynolds started and took the loss after allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. Kirk Chandler allowed two runs on one hit and a walk in 1/3 of an inning, while Josh Harryman allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits, four walks and two strikeouts. Fielding Campbell pitched a perfect 2/3 of an inning in relief. 

In total, Joplin allowed nine free passes, with seven walks and two hit batsmen.

“Six out of seven innings, we put the leadoff guy on,” Wolf said of the pitching against Willard. “A lot of them were walks and hit-by-pitches. It’s going to be difficult to win a game when you do that.

“The thing is, we’ve been pretty good on the bump all year. I am not blasting our pitching staff because Josh Harryman has been lights out all year. Kirk threw really well last Saturday. Justin threw really well against Ozark in his last start. So, we’ve been there and done good things. But at the end of the day, in this particular game against those guys, when you walk and hit that many people, they are going to be aggressive and it’s going to change the game.”

GAME ACTION

Willard crossed home twice in the top of the first inning to take the initial lead of the contest. After Blake Hultgren singled to left-center field to lead off the inning and stole second base to get into scoring position. Two batters later, Hultgren scored on a fielding error by Joplin and the lead moved to 2-0 after an RBI double to left by Kade Biellier. 

Joplin got onto the scoreboard in the top of the third inning after Bodee Carlson drove home Carson Wampler, who led off the inning with a walk, with an RBI single through the right side to make the score 2-1.

The Tigers took control of the game in the top of the fourth with four runs touching home. The first run scored on a bases-loaded walk from Grant Merryman before Cooper Hampton followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to make the score 4-1. Biellier brought home two runs in the next at-bat with a single to right side to push the lead to 6-1.

“I felt like we just kind of got flat,” Wolf said when asked about his team’s response to the early deficit compared to Tuesday’s game against Carl Junction. “We were just taking the game as the punches came at us, but you have to stand back up and punch back. I don’t think we punched back real well today.”

Joplin added a single tally in the last of the fourth when Ethan Guilford brought home a run with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 6-2.

Willard brought home a run on an infield hit by Kyden McMain to extend the lead back to five runs, 7-2. The Tigers added a run on a sac fly from Biellier in the sixth and the final insurance run scored in the seventh on a Hultgren RBI single to left.

IN THE BOX

Carlson led Joplin with a hit and an RBI at the plate. Campbell and Kohl Cooper each recorded a hit, while Wampler walked twice and scored a run.

Biellier doubled for one of his two hits and finished with a team-high four RBI for Willard. Hultgren had two hits, an RBI and scored a team-high three runs.

UP NEXT

Joplin is at Glendale on Monday before hosting Lamar to wrap the season on Tuesday in the Senior Night game.

PREP BASEBALL: Curry, Chandler lead Joplin past Carthage 10-2 to wrap three-team road doubleheader

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Kirk Chandler pitched a complete game on the bump and Alex Curry finished a triple shy of the cycle as Joplin defeated Carthage 10-2 in the final non-conference game of a three-team doubleheader with Smithville on Saturday at Carl Lewton Stadium.

The Eagles (14-9) broke a scoreless tie with a five-run third inning to take command. The Tigers (7-14) cut into the lead with two runs scoring in the bottom of the third, but Joplin continued to play add-on with two more insurance runs scoring in the fourth before putting the game away with a three-run seventh frame.

“It’s a big win for us after the way we played this morning,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “It didn’t feel like we completed real hard, and (Smithville) is good. … There is a fine line between us having fun and playing the game the right way. … It’s really fun when you are playing hard and playing the right way. That’s what we’ve got to find, that balance.”

Earlier in the day, Joplin fell to Smithville 9-3, while the Tigers also lost to the Warriors 6-0.

“We didn’t play well,” Carthage coach Luke Bordewick said. “We didn’t play well, end of story. Offensively, we struggled to have competitive at-bats. We wanted to not strike out and hit the ball hard on the ground and we failed to do that today.”

ON THE MOUND

Chandler pitched a gem for the Eagles to earn the win, limiting Carthage to two runs over seven complete innings. He allowed six hits, walked two and struck out six.

“We needed that not only today but we need that going forward,” Wolf said. “Kirk is a good pitcher and has been a good starting pitcher for us over the years. We need him to be confident in what he is capable of doing as we move forward not only with the remainder of the regular season but as we move into the postseason.”

Wil McCombs took the loss after allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits, four walks and two strikeouts. Max Templeman allowed two runs, one earned, while Clay Kinder allowed three runs in relief. 

BIG DAY AT THE DISH

Curry led the way for the Eagles, finishing with a 4-for-5 game at the plate with a team-high three RBI and two runs scored. Curry, a predominantly opposite-field hitter, pulled a ball down the third-base line for a single in the second inning before launching a solo home run over the wall in left to lead off the fourth. Curry roped a ball off the wall in left-center field for a double in the fifth and added a two-run single up the middle in the seventh.

“I don’t know where that came from,” Wolf said with a laugh when asked about Curry’s pull tendency in the win over Carthage. “But the thing is, he pulled the ball correctly. He pulled the ball that needed to be pulled and drove it. He had a good approach and good process. … The home run was impressive but the ball that he hit 20 feet high off the blue wall out there was hit really, really well.”

IN THE BOX

With a bit of a lineup change against the Tigers, Carson Wampler had a hit and scored a run in the leadoff spot, while Justin McReynolds drove in two and scored one to go along with two hits in the two hole. Bodee Carlson had two hits while scoring once and driving in one. David Fiscus, Fielding Campbell and Kyler Stokes all recorded a hit while driving in one. 

Sylas Browning led Carthage with two hits, while Kaden Kralicek doubled in the third to drive in the Tigers’ only two runs. McCombs and Caden Kabance each had hits and scored a run.

GAME ACTION

After stranding runners on second and third with no outs in the second inning, the Eagles redeemed themselves in the third. Kohl Cooper walked to lead off the inning before moving to third on Curry’s single down the line, with the throw to third allowing Curry to take second on the play. Fiscus followed with a single to center to score Cooper. Curry came in to score on a wild pitch in the next at-bat. Later in the inning, Campbell beat out a push bunt to first for an RBI single. McReynolds capped the inning with a two-out, two-run infield hit in a popup that found grass in between the mound and second base to make the score 5-0.

“There was one ball out of all of those that was hit really well,” Wolf said. “After that, it was just competitive at-bats. … At the end of the inning, we look up and we have a five spot. That is what we have to understand. We don’t have to do more than the situation asks for, we just have to do enough.”

Kralicek’s two-run double to center with one out in the bottom of the third cut the lead to 5-2.

Joplin answered right back with Curry’s leadoff homer to straight away left in the fourth before Stokes singled on the infield for an RBI later in the inning.

The first five batters reached base to start the seventh for Joplin. Wampler led off with a single before McReynolds walked and Cooper was hit by a pitch. Curry followed with a two-run single up the middle. Carlson wrapped the scoring with a sac fly to center to score Cooper.

UP NEXT

Joplin hosts Carl Junction on Tuesday.

Carthage is at Branson on Tuesday.

 

SMITHVILLE 9, JOPLIN 3

Smithville pushed a 2-0 lead to 8-1 by the end of the fourth in a win over Joplin to open the Eagles’ Saturday at Carl Lewton Stadium.

The Warriors scored twice in the first and four times in the third to build a 6-0 lead. Smithville scored twice more in the top of the fourth, with Joplin getting on the board with a single tally in the bottom half. Joplin scored twice more in the sixth but would get no closer.

Jacob Wheeler earned the win after allowing one run on two hits, four walks and five strikeouts in four innings.

Kohl Cooper took the loss after allowing eight runs, six earned, on five hits, five walks and five strikeouts in three innings. Tyler Duley allowed one run on two hits and two strikeouts in four relief innings.

Kyle Ruff led Smithville with two hits, an RBI and two runs scored at the plate. Cannon Kobylski doubled and drove in one, while Ryker Edwards tripled and scored twice. 

Justin McReynolds and Ethan Guilford, who doubled, had two hits apiece to lead Joplin at the plate. McReynolds also scored a run.

 

SMITHVILLE 6, CARTHAGE 0

*Story will updated when information becomes available

 

PREP BASEBALL: Curry’s walk-off single sends Joplin past Carthage in 9 innings

One of the most rewarding and mentally demanding experiences that comes with playing the game of baseball are the moments of dealing with success and failure.

On Wednesday, Joplin’s Alex Curry experienced both in the Eagles’ Central Ozark Conference matchup with Carthage at the JHS Athletic Complex. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Joplin (12-6, 4-1 COC) had the bases loaded and one out with the game tied at 3-3 when Curry hit a ball up the middle that looked like it might drive home the winning run. Instead, Carthage was able to turn a double play to end the threat and force extra innings. Fast forward to the bottom of the ninth with a runner on second and two outs and the game still tied, Curry came through with a single to right field to plate Bodee Carlson to give the Eagles a 4-3 walk-off win in extra innings over the Tigers (5-10, 0-4 COC).

“I really just learned from the last couple of at-bats,” Curry said. “He was throwing me a bunch of curveballs. I sat on one and hit backside like I always do. It’s a real confidence booster for everybody. … I think we will fly from here and do what Eagles do—win.”

“Alex has been really good for us all year,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “What you saw in his last at-bat, driving the ball backside, not trying to do too much, is what he has been able to do all year. … It is big on him to step up in that situation after three pretty tough at-bats and come through. That shows a lot of toughness on his part. There was a lot of focus and confidence right there to get the job done.”

GAME ACTION

Joplin took the initial lead of the game after Justin McReynolds crossed home on an infield hit with two outs by Kyler Stokes in the bottom of the second.

Carthage answered back right away, scoring three times in the top of the third. After a walk and an error allowed the first two Tigers to reach base and end up in scoring position, Wil McCombs grounded out for an RBI to tie the game. Caden Kabance scored later in the inning on a first-and-third double steal to put Carthage on top 2-1. Clay Kinder came around to score with two outs on a wild pitch to push the lead to 3-1.

Carthage’s Caden Kabance steals home in the Tigers’ loss to Joplin on Wednesday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.

The Eagles cut the lead to one in the bottom of the fourth inning after McReynolds, who reached on an error, came around to score on a groundout from Stokes. Joplin tied the game in the next at-bat, as Carlson singled to short to allow Carson Wampler to touch home.

“I told them that this game is hard enough and we are putting a lot of pressure on ourselves trying to do too much,” Wolf said about his team battling back from a two-run deficit. “We just have to do enough. Just be good enough. We were able to get guys to second and third and scored a couple of runs without hitting the ball out of the infield. Sometimes, that’s baseball. We just had to grind that game out.”

Carthage had a runner on second with two outs in the top of the eighth but failed to push across the go-ahead run.

Joplin had a chance to end the game in the bottom half of the eighth inning when McReynolds singled to center field with a runner on second with one out only to see the Tigers come up with a game-saving play by throwing the would-be winning run out at home plate.

“I told my guys that we’ve lost to two of the top teams this week in the COC (Joplin and Nixa) on a walk-off,” Carthage coach Luke Bordewick said. “It’s frustrating, but the overall message is we are right there with anybody if we play the ball we want to play. The negative note is eventually we have to start winning some of these one-run baseball games.”

Joplin’s Josh Harryman delivers a pitch to the plate in the Eagles’ COC win over Carthage on Wednesday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.

ON THE MOUND

Kohl Cooper started for Joplin and took a no-decision after allowing three runs, one earned, on two hits, a walk and three strikeouts in three innings. Josh Harryman earned the win after tossing six dazzling relief innings without allowing a run. He scattered two hits, walked one and struck out three in his longest outing of the season.

“As long as he was throwing up zeros he was staying out there,” Wolf said with a laugh about Harryman’s outing. “That’s huge for him to come into that situation when we’re down. He came in and was able to hold them at bay and give us a chance to win. He made some really big pitches. … He was really efficient and pounded the zone.”

Mason Utter started and took the no decision after allowing three unearned runs on four hits, three walks and two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Kaden Arr took a tough-luck loss after allowing one run on four hits, three walks and two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

“Getting out of that bases-loaded jam in the seventh was huge,” Bordewick said of Arr’s outing. “They put pressure on us in the eighth, too. He was just, time and time again, locating his fastball, curveball and changeup. You can’t ask much more out of your reliever.”

IN THE BOX

Stokes led Joplin at the plate with two hits and two RBI. McReynolds had a hit and scored twice. Carlson and Wampler each had one hit and scored one run and Carlson drove in one. Curry had one hit and an RBI.

Kaden Kralicek had two hits in four trips to the plate to lead Carthage, while Kanen Vogt and Micah Lindsey also added base hits. McCombs drove in one.

UP NEXT

Joplin is at Kickapoo on April 26.

Carthage hosts Republic at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.

PREP BASEBALL: Nixa hands Joplin first conference loss of the season

Fueled by a six-run second inning, Nixa handed Joplin it’s first Central Ozark Conference loss with a 7-1 victory on Monday.

Joplin (11-6, 3-1 COC) took a 1-0 lead into the top of the second inning when Nixa (13-2, 3-0 COC) used four walks and a hit-by-pitch as a catalyst for six runs crossing the plate. Nixa added an unearned run in the sixth inning en route to the win.

“When you give a team of their caliber some extra opportunities, they’re probably going to take advantage of it,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said of Nixa’s six-run second inning. “It’s hard to overcome. At the plate, I thought we had some good at-bats against a pretty good lefty. We just couldn’t get them at the right time and couldn’t string any of them together. … We have to shake some things up, figure some things out and start playing a little better.”

Joplin took the initial lead after David Fiscus brought home a run with the bases-loaded single through the left side to score Bodee Carlson in the bottom of the first inning.

“David has had a lot better approach at the plate here the last three or four games,” Wolf said. “He came up in a big spot and got a hit for us.”

Fiscus’ single was the last of four straight base hits with one out for Joplin, which managed to score just the one tally in the first innings after consecutive strikeouts following the RBI ended the threat with the bags full. 

“That was a huge inning to start off the game,” Wolf said. “You feel good getting one, but if you come up with another hit right there, you can push two or three across. That is just confidence in the situation.”

Nixa started the second inning with a hit-by-pitch before a walk allowed the first two batters to reach. Nixa tied the game two batters later when Alex Johnson singled up the middle with one out to score John Gholson. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases and forced a run home to give NHS the lead. Ryan Retone followed with a double to center field to score two runs and push the Nixa lead to 4-1. A sac fly and a Joplin error allowed two more runs to score.

Nixa added an unearned run in the sixth after Jaret Nelson doubled off the top of the concrete wall in right-center with two outs to score Retone, who reached on a dropped third strike that at-bat before.

Joplin’s offense had no problem getting runners on base, but did have shortcomings with RISP. JHS stranded the bases loaded in the first and third innings, while leaving five runners on base from the fourth inning on. 

“We just have to do a better job of chipping away and putting a run up here or there and giving us a chance,” Wolf said. “I think, to some degree, we are pressing a little bit. Our guys are not making outs on purpose. They are trying to make plays, and sometimes it doesn’t work out. We may have to shake things up and do things a little differently to provide a little spark in the lineup.”

ON THE MOUND

Isaac Mitchell earned the win for Nixa after allowing one run on eight hits, five walks and five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Parker Bridges pitched 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Ethan Guilford (6-1) suffered his first loss of the season after surrendering six runs, five earned, in two innings of work. He allowed two hits, walked four and struck out three. 

“Ethan has been good for us all year and he will continue to be good for us,” Wolf said. “He had a bad inning in the second and that happens throughout the course of the season. There is no confidence lost in him on the mound.”

Fielding Campbell allowed one unearned run in five relief innings. He scattered three hits, struck out four and didn’t walk a batter.

“Fielding came in and did a tremendous job on the mound for us,” Wolf said. “He gave us every opportunity to come back in that game and to win it. … Him being able to go out and do what he did gave us an opportunity to save some guys for Carthage later this week. … That was a super job by him.”

IN THE BOX

Retone and Nelson each doubled and drove in two to lead Nixa. Retone also scored twice.

Carson Wampler tripled and had two hits in three at-bats to lead Joplin. Kirk Chandler went 2-for-4 with a walk. 

UP NEXT

Joplin hosts Carthage at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.   

PREP BASEBALL: Pittsburg upends Joplin 3-1 on Alumni Day

Joplin’s game against Pittsburg didn’t end up in favor of the Eagles, but the program had plenty to celebrate anyway.

On Saturday, Joplin baseball welcomed back several former players and coaches on the field prior to first pitch to honor them on Alumni Day. Highlighting the festivities, the 2001 state champion Eagles were recognized with it being the 20th anniversary of their title run.

Coached by Kirk Harryman, Joplin defeated Neosho and Kickapoo in district play before scoring seven runs in the top of seventh inning in a 7-3 sectional win over Lebanon. In the quarterfinals, Joplin breezed past Columbia Hickman 7-5 before earning a narrow 1-0 win over Eureka  in the semifinal round. Joplin capped the six-game playoff run with a 2-0 win over Francis Howell North to capture the state title.

“It was awesome to see those guys,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “I was kind of looking forward to this day just to see those guys come out to the park. Those guys have a great tradition. … That is a tough group of guys who found a way to get it done in 2001. It was exciting to see them. I was happy we got them out here. I just wish we could have played a little bit better for them.”

On the diamond, the cooler weather limited the scoring opportunities. But it was the Dragons (6-3) who took advantage when presented, scoring single tallies in the second, third and fifth innings before holding off the Eagles (11-5) in the seventh for a 3-1 win. 

“Pittsburg took advantage of the opportunities in front of them,” Wolf said. “They did a good job of getting a guy on, getting him over and getting him in. We didn’t. At the end of the day, you credit (Pittsburg starting pitcher Cooper Hayden) because he pounded the zone and put pressure on us. We didn’t make the adjustments we needed.”

ON THE MOUND

Cooper Hayden earned the win for Pittsburg, allowing one unearned run in a complete-game effort. He allowed 11 hits, walked two and struck out five in seven innings.

“I thought Cooper was great,” Pittsburg coach Keith Matlock said. “Anytime he is on the mound, we know he is going to compete for us. He keeps us in the game and gives us a chance as long as we do things behind him.”

Justin McReynolds made his first career start and allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits, two walks and six strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Josh Harryman pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit and walking one.

“It was his first varsity start of his career and I thought he went out and threw extremely well,” Wolf said of McReynolds. “He competed in the zone. He got some big outs when he needed to. At the end of the day, it should be a confidence builder for him. It certainly was for us because he can go out and do a good job for us in that role. He threw well enough to give us a chance to win.”

GAME ACTION

Pittsburg’s Cole Jameson put the first run on the scoreboard with an RBI single through the left side in the top of the second to give the Dragons a 1-0. Blaine Dunstan singled earlier in the frame before moving to third on a Joplin error, setting up the RBI opportunity.

“It started with our first at-bat,” Matlock said. “Our guys have really been locked in the last couple of weeks. They are starting to get a realization of where they’re at in the order and doing some situational things. I have been really proud of them.”

The Dragons pushed the lead to 2-0 in the top of the third inning after Tyler Sutton doubled to center field before coming around to score on an RBI groundout from Braden Benson.

Hayden doubled to right-center to lead off the Pittsburg half of the fifth inning and came around to score on an RBI single to left by Jackson Turnbull to make the score 3-0.

“That was big,” Matlock said about his team adding insurance runs. “We even tried to bunt a little bit there late to get another one because (Joplin) is a good baseball team. I never felt comfortable up 3-0. … Just being able to scratch out those three, I was really proud of them.”

Joplin, which stranded 10 runners on base in the loss, had runners on second and third in the last of the seventh with two outs when David Fiscus came up with an infield hit to the shortstop, driving home a run. On the play, after the throw to first was late, PHS ended the game following a follow-up throw to the plate to nail the second runner trying to score at home to end the game.

“We had opportunities,” Wolf said. “Between base running errors and mistakes, maybe the approach at the plate of trying to do too much, but, again, credit to (Hayden) for making big pitches in big spots. Our guys, throughout the course of the year, have shown they can come up with those hits in those situations. We just couldn’t do it today.”

IN THE BOX

Hayden and Turnbull each had two hits to lead the Dragons at the plate. Turnbull, Benson and Jameson all finished with an RBI, while Sutton, Dunstan and Brandon Freeman each scored a run.

Fiscus led Joplin with three hits and an RBI, including a double, while Alex Curry and Ethan Guilford each added two hits. Bodee Carlson had one hit, a walk and scored a run.

UP NEXT

Joplin hosts Nixa at 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

PREP BASEBALL: Joplin beats Branson behind five-run 4th inning for COC win

BRANSON, Mo. — Joplin struck early for the initial lead before scoring five times in the fourth inning on the way to an 8-3 Central Ozark Conference road win over Branson on Thursday.

With the win, Joplin improves to 11-4 with a 3-0 COC record, tops in the conference. 

Ethan Guilford earned the win for the Eagles after shutting out the Pirates over four innings. He scattered two hits and struck out two. Kirk Chandler allowed three runs, one earned, on four hits, two walks and two strikeouts in 1 2/3 relief innings. Josh Harryman closed it out with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and struck out two.

Kale Lankton took the loss for Branson after allowing eight runs, five earned, on nine hits and three walks. Heath Cole pitched four scoreless innings in relief, surrendering two hits, walking one and striking out two.

Joplin broke through on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the first inning. After the first two at-bats resulted in outs, the Eagles’ next five batters reached to push across two runs. David Fiscus highlighted the inning with an RBI double to left. Kohl Cooper had a double and scored a run, while Alex Curry singled and scored a run.

The Eagles pushed the lead to 3-0 in the top of the second when Cooper singled home Carson Wampler, who walked to lead off the inning.

The first five batters reached base in the top of the fourth to propel Joplin to a four-run inning. After consecutive singles from Fielding Campbell and Bodee Carlson started the inning, Cooper doubled to center field to bring home both runners, with Curry following up with a double of his own to left field to score Cooper. The Eagles scored two more runs to make the score 8-0 later in the inning when a Branson fielding error with two outs allowed two runs to score. 

James Houston singled home a run to highlight the three-run bottom of the fifth for the Pirates.

Cooper led Joplin with a 3-for-3 game with two doubles, a team-high three RBI and two runs scored. Curry and Carlson each had two hits and scored a run, while Curry had an RBI. 

Joplin hosts Pittsburg at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

PREP BASEBALL: Joplin falls to Willard, Springfield Catholic in doubleheader

Inclement weather moved a road doubleheader to Joe Becker Stadium, where Joplin was on the wrong end of a pair of games with Willard and Springfield Catholic on Saturday.

The Eagles (9-4) opened the day against the Tigers and fell into an early hole when Willard crossed home six times in the second inning. Joplin broke through with a run in the fifth and trimmed the lead to one with a four-run sixth. The Eagles loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh but were unable to bring home the tying run in a 6-5 loss.

Springfield Catholic scored one in the second to take the lead before pushing home three runs in the fifth four a 4-0 cushion. Joplin crossed the plate once in the sixth but couldn’t come up with another run before the final out was made. 

“We knew coming into it that we were playing two really good baseball teams,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “We knew we had to do things well to give ourselves an opportunity to win. We did a good job in the first game of fighting back to really be one swing away from having a chance to win that game. In the second game, it was just a couple little mistakes in the midst of that game to give them an opportunity. They are a very disciplined and fundamental baseball team who took advantage of them.”

 

WILLARD 6, JOPLIN 5

Willard took control of the first game of the day after Kade Biellier connected for a two-out grand slam to cap a six-run second inning.

Joplin’s Fielding Campbell scored in the bottom of the fifth following a single from Bodee Carlson to trim the lead to 6-1.

Kirk Chandler cut Joplin’s lead to 6-2 in the sixth with a single up the middle to score Alex Curry. Two batters later, Ethan Guilford tripled down the line to left to play Chandler and Justin McReynolds to make the score 6-4. Carson Wampler followed with a sac fly to right to bring the deficit to one with one inning to play.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Curry reached on an infield single before David Fiscus and Chandler drew consecutive walks to load the bases. The rally ended there as Kyler Stokes and Guilford struck out swinging to end the game.

“I was proud of the effort to go put up some runs there late,” Wolf said. “Especially against those guys because they are a good baseball team and play with a lot of intensity. It would have been easy to lay down when it was 6-0 after the grand slam, but we didn’t.”

Evan Gaunt earned the win after allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits, a walk and two strikeouts in five innings.

Chandler took the loss after allowing six runs on three hits, a strikeout and two walks in two innings. Campbell pitched five scoreless relief innings, scattering two hits and striking out two. 

Curry led Joplin at the plate with three hits and a run scored. Chandler had a hit, scored a run and drove in one. Campbell and McReynolds had a hit and scored a run. Guilford tripled and finished with a team-high two RBI.

 

SPRINGFIELD CATHOLIC 4, JOPLIN 1

Playing as the home team, Springfield Catholic took the initial lead when Collin Davis touched home on a double steal in the bottom of the second.

Jeremy Rader came up with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth, while Ben Smith doubled home a run two batters later to highlight the Fighting Irish’s three-run inning.

Joplin broke through on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth when Guilford grounded out to score Joe Jasper.

After a pair of strikeouts started the bottom of the seventh for Joplin, Kohl Cooper and Curry singled to bring the tying run to the plate. The game ended with a strikeout by Fiscus.

Cooper started and took the loss after allowing one run on one hit, four walks and two strikeouts in two innings. McReynolds pitched four innings in relief and allowed three runs on four hits and four strikeouts. 

Davis earned the win after allowing one unearned run on four hits, two walks and five strikeouts in six innings.

Joplin had no problems putting traffic on the basepaths, as the Eagles had runners on base in each of the last six frames. JHS just couldn’t find a timely hit, stranding 10 total baserunners in the loss.

“I felt like we were going to break through any given time,” Wolf said. “Especially earlier in the game, I thought we hit some balls hard just right at people. We got runners on, we just couldn’t quite get the hit we needed.

“We just have to have a little bit better of a collective approach. I felt like at times that we had nine individuals up there at the plate. I think we need to do a better job of recognizing the game situation and having a little bit more of a team approach on offense.”

Campbell, Cooper, Curry, Fiscus, Chandler and Stokes all had hits in the loss. Guilford picked up the lone RBI, while Jasper scored the only run.

UP NEXT

Joplin is at Harrisonville for a 4:30 p.m. matchup on Tuesday.

BASEBALL: Cooper’s sixth-inning home run leads Joplin past McDonald County; Eagles fall to West Plains

ANDERSON, Mo. — Joplin baseball traveled to McDonald County for a pair of Saturday games that saw the Eagles beat the Mustangs 2-1 before JHS fell to West Plains 13-5.

 

JOPLIN 2, MCDONALD COUNTY 1

Joplin (8-2) and McDonald County played to a scoreless tie through two and a half innings before the Mustangs loaded the bases with one out in the last of the third inning after Jack Parnell was hit by a pitch, which was followed by walks to Cole Martin and Destyn Dowd. McDonald County’s Levi Helm pushed the first run across after grounding into a fielder’s choice out at second, scoring Parnell to make the score 1-0.

After failing to reach the scoreboard through the first five innings, Joplin found some life offensively in the top of the sixth when Bodee Carlson led off the frame with a single to left field.

Joplin’s Kohl Cooper stepped up to the plate and blasted the second pitch he saw over the wall in right field for a go-ahead two-run home run, giving the Eagles a 2-1 advantage—a lead they never relinquished.

“I just went up there with the thought of, ‘If he grooves me one, just take a nice easy cut and hit it where it’s pitched,’” Cooper said.

When asked if he knew it was gone when it left the bat, Cooper smiled before his reply. 

“Oh yeah, oh yeah,” he said. “It was one of the best feelings in the world. I have to give all glory to God on that one.”

“I had a decision to make with my three-hole hitter who has swung it well all year,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “Do you bunt the guy to second and move him into scoring position or let him hit? Ultimately, with the feel of the day, I thought one good swing might give us a chance, and Kohl was the right guy at the plate to give us that swing.”

Cooper also started on the bump and took a no-decision after allowing just one run on one hit, four walks and nine strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

“Kohl threw really well,” Wolf said. “It’s really just his second high school start and I thought he did a good job of staying down in the zone aside for one inning. … He came up with some big pitches in big situations. When I went out there to pull him, I told him he put us in a position to win this game, and that’s all you can ask from your starter. I thought he did really well and the confidence is growing in what he can do for us all season long.”

Josh Harryman came in and provided 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings to earn the win. He didn’t allow a hit or a walk and struck out three.

“Every time I put him in, I drop the ball in his glove and tell him this is what you live for,” Wolf said. “He has really come up big in some big situations. … Josh has been a very good reliever for us.”

Cooper had a team-high two RBI and a run scored to go along with his homer to lead Joplin at the plate. Fielding Campbell, Carlson, Alex Curry, Kirk Chandler and Kyler Stokes all recorded hits for the Eagles.

Helm had the lone hit and lone RBI for McDonald County.

 

WEST PLAINS 13, JOPLIN 5

West Plains scored four runs in the first two innings before eventually building a 10-2 lead through five and a half.

Joplin scored three times in the sixth to cut the deficit to five, but the Zizzers answered with three runs of their own in the seventh to provide insurance en route to the win.

Caleb Hawkins earned the win for West Plains after allowing four runs on four hits, three walks and a strikeout in five innings. 

Fielding Campbell took the loss after surrendering four runs on eight hits and a strikeout in four innings. Justin McReynolds allowed nine runs on 11 hits, a walk and seven strikeouts,

Haidan Barnard doubled and had three hits, two RBI and a run scored. Hayden Bryant doubled and tripled, had three hits, drove in two and scored three times. Colby Hoover went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. 

David Fiscus hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, while Fielding Campbell finished with one hit and one RBI, a run-scoring single in the fifth. Kirk Chandler and Kyler Stokes had a hit and an RBI each. Stokes also scored a run.

UP NEXT

Joplin is at Webb City for a 4:30 matchup on Thursday. 

PREP BASEBALL: Five-run ninth leads Joplin past Neosho to open COC play

NEOSHO, Mo. — Joplin pushed five runs across in the top of the ninth inning en route to a 7-2 extra-inning win over Neosho to open Central Ozark Conference play on Thursday at Roy B. Shaver Field.

“At the end of the day, it’s a good win,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “Credit to their lefty (Wyatt Keplar). He gave us fits. We didn’t do a good job of adjusting. And I told the kids they picked me up and found a way to win that game. We missed some signs and things, but I have to manage the game better and get my guys ready to play better.”

The Eagles (7-1, 1-0 COC) and the Wildcats (1-8, 0-1 COC) found themselves in a pitcher’s duel with the game scoreless after three innings. 

Joplin scored an unearned run in the top of the fourth to break the seal, and Neosho answered right back with a run in the bottom half to keep the game tied. Joplin scored another unearned run in the sixth to take a 2-1 advantage, but the Wildcats rallied in the seventh for a run to force extra innings. 

Neosho loaded the bases with one out in the eighth only for Joplin to get out of the jam with an unconventional double play, with the Eagles parlaying the momentum into a five-run ninth inning to earn the conference win.

“I’m proud of the way we battled back after being down 2-1,” Neosho coach Danny Powers said. “We still are putting too many on base for free. Unfortunately, we had two bad errors early in the game that led to two runs. Combine that with eight walks, and your pitcher is at 105 pitches and you have to take him out of the game. It’s encouraging that hopefully we understand now that we are good enough to compete with anybody. We just have to learn to finish games out.”

ON THE MOUND

Joplin’s Ethan Guilford started and took the no-decision after surrendering two runs on eight hits, a walk and six strikeouts in seven-plus innings of work. Josh Harryman earned the win after pitching two scoreless relief innings, allowing one hit, walking three and striking out two. 

“Ethan is a competitive son of a gun,” Wolf said. “He is a bulldog. He’ll fight with you. … He was really efficient. … He had a great outing … and gave us a chance to win by throwing really, really well.”

Neosho’s Wyatt Keplar started and took a no-decision after allowing two unearned runs on one hit, eight walks and five strikeouts over six innings of work. River Brill allowed four runs on three hits, three walks and two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings and took the loss. Carson Thomas allowed one run on one hit and two walks in 2/3 of an inning.

GAME NOTES

Joplin struggled with the bat against Neosho in terms of stringing together hits, but the Eagles’ plate discipline played a major role in the win. Joplin drew a total of 13 walks in the win, and all three innings the Eagles scored were started with a leadoff walk.

“In a game like that when you are struggling to get some hits, you have to find a way to get it done,” Wolf said. “Whether that’s getting hit by a pitch, taking a walk or getting a bunt down. It’s finding ways to get on base and moving some people around.”

In the fourth, Kohl Cooper led off with a walk before moving to second on a sac bunt from David Fiscus. He moved to third on a groundout and scored after Neosho mishandled a line drive off the bat of Guilford to take a 1-0 lead.

The Wildcats answered back in the bottom half of the inning when Keplar reached on an infield hit to third that scored Lane Yost, who singled to lead off the inning.

“That was big for us because it’s a momentum thing,” Powers said. “If (Guilford) comes out and has a 1-2-3 inning, that is a bit of a momentum killer for us and a boost for them. It was a good job of responding. I thought we responded twice very well offensively to put us in a position to win the game.”

Bodee Carlson walked to lead off the sixth frame before a walk to Cooper put runners on first and second. With one out, Alex Curry appeared to ground into a potential double play, but the relay throw from second sailed out of play in the first-base dugout to score Carlson while putting Joplin on top 2-1.

Keplar led off the seventh for the Wildcats with an opposite-field triple to left and came around to score the tying run two batters later when Jose Ortega singled sharply through the right side.

“Wyatt had a big hit for us,” Powers said. “And Jose followed with a great at-bat, hitting the ball on the ground through the right side, which is exactly what he is supposed to do.” 

Neosho had a real chance to end the game in the bottom of the eighth after River Brill had an opposite-field double to left to lead off the inning. With Harryman in for Guilford, a sacrifice bunt moved Brill to third with one out. Wolf decided to intentionally walk the next two Wildcats to load the bases. The move paid off, as Brett Slavens hit a shallow fly ball to Cooper in right, who caught the ball and fired it to first to double off the Wildcat baserunner and end the threat.

“That was great awareness by Kohl,” Wolf said. “Most guys are thinking, ‘I have to keep that run from tagging.’ He knew immediately when he caught it that he had a play at first base. That’s good awareness on the field in a big moment by him.”

Joplin loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth after a walk from Kirk Chandler, an infield from Byler Reither and a walk by Fielding Campbell. Carlson scored the go-ahead run with a single through the left side past an outstretched glove. After back-to-back RBI walks with the bags full by Cooper and Fiscus, Curry doubled to right field to bring home two runs and push the lead to 9-2. 

“Bodee is a player, and every time he comes up to the plate (in that situation), you feel like he is going to come up with one of those hits,” Wolf said. “Alex is the one guy who I felt had a good approach last night and a good approach today. … Alex, all 6-foot-4, 290 pounds of him said I am going to take it and serve it to right field if that’s what you’re giving me.”

AT THE PLATE

Curry had two hits, including a double, and a team-high two RBI, while Carlson and Copper each had a hit, an RBI and two runs scored. Cooper and Campbell each walked three times. 

Keplar led Neosho with three hits, including a triple, and had an RBI and a run scored. Brill and Yost each had two hits, with Yost scoring a run. 

UP NEXT

Joplin travels to McDonald County for a 10 a.m. matchup on Saturday, while Neosho is at Aurora for a 10 a.m. matchup on Saturday. 

 

PREP BASEBALL: Joplin defeats St. Mary’s Colgan as longtime friends square off in coach’s box

Joplin coach Kyle Wolf faced off against longtime colleague and friend on Wednesday—Mike Watt, the legendary head coach for St. Mary’s Colgan baseball.

Wolf spent 12 seasons as an assistant to Watt on the Panthers’ coaching staff prior to taking the head coaching job at Joplin. He was a member of the Panthers’ staff for nine of Coach Watt’s 16 state titles.

The Eagles finished with the upper hand following a 10-8 win over the Panthers in the teams’ first meeting since Wolf joined Joplin. 

Joplin took the initial lead with two runs in the first before Colgan put the first big inning together with a five-run top of the third. The Eagles answered right back with a crooked number of their own, regaining the lead, 6-5, after touching home four times in the bottom half of the third. Colgan tied the game up with a run in the fifth before Joplin again answered quickly in the bottom half with a two-out tally to take the 7-6 advantage. The Eagles scored three insurance runs in the sixth and held off the Panthers in the seventh to preserve the win.

“That game was exactly what I expected that game to be,” Wolf said. “We put the two runs up early, which I felt good about. I knew they were going to climb back in it with a team of their pedigree. I was proud of our guys for finding a way to score and take the lead right back. I think that was huge. I think it gave us some confidence and maybe took a little away from them. 

“We have to do a better job of bringing good energy day to day. We had to battle through it just a little bit. We have to lock in from the start and stay locked in.”

After going 3-1 in the Tiger/Zebra Classic over the weekend in Oklahoma, the win over Colgan hikes Joplin’s record to 6-1 to start the season.

“We just have to keep getting better,” Wolf said. “We have to keep playing hard and we have to keep having a good mentality with our team and make sure we keep playing for one another.”

Joplin’s Kirk Chandler delivers a pitch to the plate in the Eagles’ win over St. Mary’s Colgan on Wednesday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.

ON THE MOUND

Kirk Chandler started and earned the win after allowing eight runs, five earned, on 10 hits, a walk and five strikeouts on 104 pitches in 6 2/3 innings. Josh Harryman came in and surrendered one hit, but needed just three pitches to record the final out.

“Kirk threw pretty well aside for one pitch that he kind of left up,” Wolf said. “Other than that, their guys battled tough and put some bats on some balls. Kirk battled tough and found a way to get outs.”

Lucas McKain started and took a no-decision after allowing two runs on three hits, a walk and a strikeout in two innings. Caleb Hamilton allowed three runs, two earned, on three walks without recording an out in relief. Gianni Piccini was saddled with the loss after allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits, two walks and two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings of relief. Kannon Keller pitched 2/3 of a scoreless inning, striking out both batters he faced.

GAME ACTION

Joplin’s Kohl Cooper brought home the first run of the game when he doubled to right-center with one out in the bottom of the first inning to plate Bodee Carlson, who singled earlier in the frame. Cooper advanced to third on a Colgan error before coming around to score on an RBI groundout from David Fiscus to make the score 2-0.

“When you can get up early, it lets your hitters relax a little bit and frees some things up that we can do on the bases,” Wolf said. “It forces (the other team) to have to make plays. … Anytime you score first in a game, you give yourself a pretty good chance to win that game. I think that’s huge, and we need to continue to do that.”

Colgan broke through in the top of the third, scoring five runs on six hits to take a 5-2 advantage. Janko Kalan brought home Blaise Dawson and Piccini with a two-run single to right before Keller doubled home a pair of runs two batters later to give Colgan a 4-2 lead. Cooper Simmons wrapped the inning’s scoring after bringing home Keller with an RBI groundout.

Joplin wasted little time answering back, pushing across four runs in the bottom half of the third to regain the momentum. 

“We came out, had a good approach and didn’t chase balls out of the zone,” Wolf said. “We gave ourselves a chance to get to first base, and if you keep the line moving, eventually, I feel like we are going to come up with a hit with a guy in scoring position. Credit to those guys for not pressing when we got down. … We found a way to get on base, we got some hits and scored some runs.”

The first three Eagle batters walked to load the bases before Alex Curry singled to right field to bring home a run. Ethan Guilford followed with an RBI groundout, with a throwing error by the Panthers allowing a second run to score on the play to tie the game at 5-5. Kyler Stokes brought home the go-ahead run later in the inning with a single to center to score Guilford.

Joplin was forced to rally again after SMC’s Kaden Vogel singled home a run with two outs in the top of the fifth to tie the game back up at 6s. 

Joplin’s Kyler Stokes yanks a ball off the wall for a run-scoring triple in the Eagles’ win over St. Mary’s Colgan on Wednesday. Photo by Shawn Fowler.

Curry beat out an infield hit to short to lead off the bottom of the fifth before being lifted for a pinch runner. Later in the inning with two outs, Stokes tripled off the wall in left field to bring home the go-ahead run. 

“The thing with Alex is he is a big ol’ dude, but he surprises you with his athleticism,” Wolf said. “The diving play he had at first—that’s a pretty big guy making an athletic play. He’s stolen two bases this year. He is going to take advantage of things when they are in front of him.

“Kyler, early in the season, was pressing a little bit and was trying to do too much. I think he is finding his identity just a little bit. … Really since Saturday down in Oklahoma, he has swung the bat really well for us. I am really proud of him for making the adjustment and doing the things he needs to do at the plate to give himself success.”

The Eagles’ three-run sixth inning was highlighted by an RBI double from Cooper, a run-scoring single from Brady Mailes and a bases-loaded walk by Guilford to stake Joplin to a 10-6 lead. 

Colgan scored a two-out run on a Joplin error before Vogel singled home Simmons to trim the lead to 10-8. Harryman finished the game by inducing a groundout.

IN THE BOX

Cooper led Joplin at the plate with a 3-for-3 game, including two doubles. He had a team-high three runs scored and drove in two. Curry and Stokes each had two hits, with Stokes tripling. Stokes also drove in two.

Simmons led Colgan with three hits in four at-bats, scoring once and driving in one. McKain doubled and scored a run while finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. Vogel had two hits and two RBI. Keller and Dawson doubled.

UP NEXT

Joplin travels to Neosho for a 4:30 p.m. matchup on Thursday.

CATCHING UP: Joplin’s Kyle Wolf and St. Mary’s Colgan’s Mike Watt share special evening on the diamond

Joplin coach Kyle Wolf’s pregame meeting at home plate with the umpires and opposing team’s head coach was a memory he’ll hold onto for the rest of his life.

Standing across the plate was legendary St. Mary’s Colgan coach Mike Watt, for whom Wolf was an assistant for over 12 seasons prior to taking the head coaching job at Joplin. 

On Wednesday, their teams squared off on the diamond for the first time.

“They are a good baseball team and a good baseball program,” Wolf said prior to first pitch. “I have a lot of respect for Coach Watt and what he has done for my career, obviously, but I just have a lot of respect for their program. They’re going to make us play good baseball because they are going to do things the right way. Somebody asked me if there was any extra pressure. There really isn’t because at the end of the day, we just want to play and get better. But, it is going to be weird because a lot of the signs and verbals are going to be the same and we’re going to look very similar taking (infield and outfield warmups). Success leaves clues, and they’ve had a lot of success. I try to model some of the things they do.”

“I believe it was 12 years he was with me, and Coach Wolf is a passionate, high-energy guy,” Watt said. “Not only is he a very good coach, but he is a good friend. I hated to see him leave, but for him to take another step in his career to become a head coach, I couldn’t be happier for him.” 

Coach Wolf spent 12 seasons in Pittsburg, Kansas, with Coach Watt in the SMC baseball program. In that time, the Panthers had incredible success, including a total of nine state championships together. When Wolf was asked what Watt has meant to him in terms of his career, the Joplin coach answered without hesitation and explained why their relationship goes beyond the game of baseball.

“First and foremost, he is a baseball mentor, but he is also a friend,” Wolf said of Watt’s impact on his life. “We did a lot of fun stuff over those 12 years. We went to a lot of state championships, but just the relationship with him not only from a baseball perspective, but just off the field, too. He is a great baseball coach and a better man.”

Since Wolf has taken over Joplin, the Eagles have been trending up as a program. In Wolf’s second season two years ago, Joplin baseball finished with a winning record for the first time in five seasons on the way to winning a district title in the process. The Eagles are also off to a 6-1 start in 2021.

“He is a baseball guy, and I hope he learned something from me,” Watt said with a smile. “But it just makes me proud to see his success. Every time Joplin plays, I make sure to look and see how they did. He was a good colleague, a good coach and a better friend. This is a special time.

“He teaches kids how to play the game the right way, but most importantly, he teaches kids how to grow up to be good young men. That is a very positive message he sends all the time.” 

Of course, when you have spent as much time together as Coach Watt and Coach Wolf have, there are an endless amount of positive memories to draw back on. It is clear their time together as Panthers will always be remembered fondly.

“In the 12 years there we had nine or 10 opportunities to play for a state title, and it’s easy to look at those things,” Wolf said about what he cherishes most in his time on the SMC staff. “But just the day-to-day of being in a program with high expectations and learning the little things from Mike that he has picked up over his time.” 

“This may sound a little strange, but some of the best times were when the park was empty (after a game or practice),” Watt said when asked his fondest memories of having Wolf on his staff. “We would sit there at Jaycee with the lights out and the sun going down, we would just sit and talk baseball.” 

Though this is the first matchup between the Eagles and Panthers, there are plans to keep this cross-state rivalry in place for the foreseeable future.

“I have full intentions of making the trip north and playing at Jaycee Ballpark,” Wolf said. “I have a lot of memories there as well. At the end of the day, I think it is easy to look at this game and think it doesn’t make sense in a lot of peoples’ eyes. But, I know who we are going to tangle with and it’s beneficial for our kids to compete against them.”

Coach Watt had a slightly different take.

“Well, if I beat him, we probably won’t play again,” Watt said with a laugh. 

PREP BASEBALL: Joplin rallies to beat Pryor in 10 innings to close Tiger/Zebra Classic

PRYOR, Okla. — Joplin rallied from a 6-2 deficit to force extra innings before holding off Pryor in the 10th frame for an 8-7 win on the final day of the Tiger/Zebra Classic.

The Eagles improve to 5-1 on the season.

Kohl Cooper earned the start and no-decision after allowing four runs on seven hits, one walk and four strikeouts in four 1/3 innings. Ethan Guilford earned the win in relief after allowing three runs on six hits, a walk and six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Brooks Miller was saddled with the loss after allowing four unearned runs on five hits, a walk and four strikeouts in four relief innings.

Joplin scored twice in the top of the fifth on a Fielding Campbell RBI single in the hole to short that scored Kirk Chandler before Bodee Carlson followed with a sac fly to right to plate Kyler Stokes.

Pryor answered with a four-run fifth to make the score 6-2, highlighted by a three-run home run from Si Collins. 

Joplin cut the deficit in half in the sixth after an RBI groundout from Chandler that scored Joe Jasper and an RBI double from Stokes that scored Guilford to make the score 6-4.

The Eagles tied the game in the top of the seventh after a Pryor error on a David Fiscus fly ball to right field allowed Campbell and Carlson to score. Campbell and Carlson each had one-out singles earlier in the frame.

After a scoreless eighth and ninth inning, Guilford singled to left to lead off the top of the 10th for Joplin. Chandler reached base on a fielder’s choice and moved into scoring position after a passed ball. Stokes followed with a single to left to put runners on first and third. The Eagles took the lead on a passed ball that scored Chandler, with Stokes attempting to take third on the play. Pryor’s catcher attempted to throw out Stokes, but the ball got away, allowing him to score an insurance run while extending the lead to 8-6 in the process.

Pryor scored on a single by Blake Raglin in the bottom of the 10th, with Peyton McClelland advancing to third on the play. Guilford struck out Bobby Belew looking to end the threat and the game.

Stokes had three hits, including a double, and scored two runs while driving in one. Campbell, Guilford and Chandler each had two hits. Guilford doubled and scored a run, while Chandler scored twice and drove in one. Campbell scored once and drove in one.

UP NEXT

Joplin hosts St. Mary’s Colgan at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

PREP BASEBALL: Joplin splits on second day of Tiger/Zebra Classic

CLAREMORE, Okla. — Joplin went 1-1 at the Tiger/Zebra Classic on Friday, with a win over Claremore in the opener before falling to Fort Gibson in the second game. 

The Eagles are 4-1 to start the season.

JOPLIN 12, CLAREMORE 11

Joplin built a 6-1 lead by the end of the second inning and pushed the advantage to 12-6 through five complete in the opener against Claremore. The Zebras rallied with a run in the sixth and scored four times in the seventh to trim the deficit to one, but the Eagles held on for the win before the tying run crossed home.

Fielding Campbell earned the win for the Eagles after allowing six runs, two earned, on seven hits, three walks and three strikeouts. Josh Harryman allowed five runs, three earned, on three hits, two walks and two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings of relief. Byler Reihter pitched a scoreless 2/3 of an inning and allowed one hit, walked one and struck out one.

Cameron Palmer took the loss after allowing eight runs on eight hits, four walks and three strikeouts. Grant Evans allowed four runs, two earned, on four hits, three walks and two strikeouts in four innings of relief.

Campbell and Kohl Cooper led Joplin at the plate with two hits apiece. Campbell had a run-scoring triple in the second inning and finished the game with a team-high four runs scored and two RBI. Cooper doubled home a run in the first and added an RBI double in the second inning before finishing with a team-high three RBI and a run scored. Ethan Guilford had a hit, two RBI and a run scored, while David Fiscus and Alex Curry each had hits and drove in two apiece. Kirk Chandler doubled and scored a run.

FORT GIBSON 7, JOPLIN 3

Joplin suffered its first loss of the year after Fort Gibson extended a 3-2 lead to 7-2 with a four-run fifth inning on the way to the win.

Gray Edwards earned the start and no-decision after pitching two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk. Grant Edwards earned the win in relief after allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits, two walks and five strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. 

Kirk Chandler took the loss after surrendering seven runs, six earned, on five hits, three walks and three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Joe Jasper pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings in relief, giving up two hits and striking out three.

Alex Curry, Chandler, Ethan Guilford and Byler Reither all had hits for Joplin. Guilford and Reither picked up an RBI each, while Bodee Carlson, who walked twice, Brady Mails and Fielding Campbell all scored a run.

UP NEXT

Joplin ends play in the Tiger/Zebra Classic with a 3 p.m. matchup against Pryor, Oklahoma, on Saturday.

PREP BASEBALL: Joplin continues perfect start to 2021 with win over Glenpool in Tiger/Zebra Classic

CLAREMORE, Okla. — Joplin continued its strong start to the season with a 12-2 win in five innings over Glenpool in the Tiger/Zebra Classic on Thursday.

The Eagles wasted little time taking the momentum, scoring eight runs in the first inning. Joplin added a run in the second and traded two runs with Glenpool in the third before scoring another run in the fourth.

The win improves Joplin’s record to 3-0 on the season.

Ethan Guilford earned the win for Joplin after allowing two runs on three hits, three strikeouts and one walk in 2 1/3 innings. Josh Harryman pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk. Justin McReynolds pitched one scoreless inning, striking out two and walking two.

Bodee Carlson got the scoring started for the Eagles after hitting a triple to center to score Fielding Campbell, who led the inning off with a double to left. Two batters later, Guilford helped his own cause with an RBI single to right to push the lead to 2-0. After a run scored on a wild pitch, David Fiscus followed with an RBI double to left, with Alex Curry following with a run-scoring single to short. Campbell picked up an RBI on a groundout later in the inning with Carlson wrapping the first-inning scoring with a two-run single to center field. 

In total, the Eagles scored eight runs on seven hits and three walks in the opening frame.

Campbell added an RBI single in the second, with Curry picked up an RBI in the third inning on a single to center. Kyler Stokes drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning to push the lead to 11-2. Curry brought home Joplin’s final run in the fourth with a sac fly.

Carlson finished with two hits and three RBI, while Curry had two this, three RBI and two runs scored. Campbell added two hits and a run scored, while Guilford went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Kirk Chandler also had two hits and scored a run.

Joplin takes on Claremore at 10 a.m. and Fort Gibson at 3 p.m. on Friday to continue the Tiger/Zebra Classic.