Tag: Joplin Outlaws

A stellar season that saw the Outlaws climb to the top of their division ended in defeat on Tuesday when Joplin lost to Jefferson City 9-5 in the MINK League South Division title game.

“Hats off to Jeff City, they came out swinging and put it on us early,” Outlaws manager Chris Dawson said after the game. 

The Renegades scored nine runs before Joplin scored one. Joplin scored another four runs in the bottom of the ninth in front of a devoted crowd but couldn’t make up the deficit.

For the Outlaws, the 2023 season concluded with Tuesday’s loss.

Jefferson City advanced to the MINK League’s championship series against North Division champion St. Joseph. 

“I wish we were on the other side,” Dawson said. “I hope one day we’ll be able to get over the hump and bring one home for Joplin. Best of luck to Jeff City, and hopefully next year will be our year.”

 

ON THE MOUND

Colin Shreves brought home the win for Jefferson City after a long eight-and-a-half inning stint on the mound. Shreves gave up three runs on four hits, a walk and a strikeout.

“We put ourselves behind the eight-ball quick and their guy threw a perfect game through five,” Dawson said of Shreves. 

Steen Lane took the loss for Joplin after giving up seven runs in four innings on nine hits, two walks and a strikeout. Sullivan Lane, Will Islay and Eli Stoops also pitched for the Outlaws. 

“We had our best arms out there and our best lineup, and we just came up short,” Dawson said. 

 

GAME ACTION

Jefferson City seized the lead in the top of the first inning with RBIs earned by Eli Hill, Justin Rivera and Kam Durnin. Hill singled, Rivera doubled and Durnin hit a sac fly to center field.

Hill hit a homer in the next inning, tacking on two more unanswered runs for the Renegades.

The Renegades brought the score to 7-0 in the top of the fifth with an RBI by Nate McHugh and a run scored on a passed ball. 

Jefferson City added another two runs in the eighth inning. Kadyn Williams scored on a balk and Aiden Bauman earned an RBI with a single to center field, bringing the score to 9-0. 

Joplin scored its first run of the night after Jason Lazo hit a triple before scoring on a wild pitch in the eighth inning. 

The Outlaws put together a spirited rally in the ninth. With one out, Garret Chun stepped to the plate and got things rolling for the Outlaws with a single to right field. Chun advanced to second when Nixon Brannan made it to first after being hit by a pitch. Kolton Reynolds sent Chun home with a single to left field. 

Jaret Nelson walked next, loading the bases with Brannan on third and Reynolds on second. Lazo stepped up to the plate with Joplin down 9-2, one out on the board and the bases loaded. Lazo earned his second RBI of the night with a single. 

After a pitching change, Landon Meyer grounded out to second base for an RBI, sending Reynolds home.

At bat after Meyer, Reynolds walked to reload the bases. Caden Bressler was hit by a pitch, earning an RBI. 

Jefferson City put another fresh arm on the mound, and he retired the side.

“We gave it a good shot there in the ninth, but it was a little too late,” Dawson said. “I wish we’d put some pressure on them there earlier in the game and made them go to their bullpen, but we just didn’t do it till late.” 

AT THE PLATE

Reynolds sent one home and scored once on two hits. Lazo earned an RBI and scored one on two hits. Bressler and Meyer each earned an RBI and Brannan and Nelson each scored a run. 

Hill earned three RBI and scored twice on two hits. McHugh, Baumann, Durnin, and Rivera each sent one home. Williams scored once on two hits while Luke Matschiner scored three runs on two hits and two walks.

A STELLAR SEASON

The Outlaws were the regular season champs of the South Division.

“Hell of a group we have, top to bottom they just didn’t quit,” Dawson said of his team. “I can’t wait to keep in touch with these guys and I can’t wait to see what they do in the spring. We have some really special guys on this team that are going to do some pretty big things moving forward, so hats off to them.”

The Jefferson City Renegades rallied late for a 10-6 victory over the Joplin Outlaws on Saturday night at Joe Becker Stadium.

Joplin was up one at the end of the seventh inning, but the Renegades scored five unanswered runs in the last two innings, securing their win. 

Saturday’s game was a ‘Pink Night’ fundraiser for the Hope 4 You Breast Cancer Foundation.

“It’s always a good night to celebrate survivors and bring awareness for prevention, and we had a great crowd tonight,” Outlaws assistant coach Nathan Robl said. 

 

ON THE MOUND

Jonah Sarabia earned the win for Jefferson City after pitching five innings and giving up three runs on three hits, three walks and five strikeouts.

Chris Massey took a no-decision after giving up five runs in three innings on seven hits, two walks and five strikeouts. Tyler Graham took the loss for the Outlaws after giving up three runs in three innings of play on three hits, three walks and two strikeouts.

GAME ACTION

Jefferson City took the lead in the top of the second when Eli Hill sent one home with a single to right field.

The Renegades extended their lead in the next inning, tacking on four more runs. Justin Rivera earned an RBI after hitting single to left field with bases loaded. Next at the plate, Kam Durnin sent one home with a single to center field. Luke Matschine scored a run by stealing home. Kadyn Williams earned an RBI with a sac fly out to center field, bringing the score to 5-0 for Jefferson City.

The Outlaws scored their first run of the night in the bottom of the fifth inning when Nixon Brannan walked with the bases loaded. Next, Cole Hill and Byron Blaise scored runs after a Jefferson City error. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Blaise walked with the bases loaded and Hill was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Blaise walked again for an RBI in the seventh inning, bringing the score to 6-5 for Joplin.

The Outlaws lost their lead in the eighth inning. Williams earned an RBI for Jefferson City with a single to right field. Charlie Rogan hit a sac fly out to left field and sent one home. With the bases loaded, Luke Melton grounded out for an RBI. 

The Renegades secured their lead in the top of the ninth when Durnin hit a two-run homer.

“Offensively, on the mound and defensively, we just weren’t good enough today,” Coach Robl said. “That’s a good team on the other side. Jeff City flat out beat us today. We’ve got an off day tomorrow, so hopefully we can rest, reset and get back to work.”  

 

AT THE PLATE

Durnin earned three RBI for Jefferson City and scored three runs on four hits. Williams sent two home and scored once on a hit and three strikeouts. Rivera earned an RBI and scored two runs on a hit and a strikeout. Rogan earned an RBI on no hits, no walks and two strikeouts. Melton earned an RBI on a hit and a walk. Hill scored once and sent one home on two hits and a walk. 

For the Outlaws, Blaise earned two RBI and scored a run on a hit and two walks. Hill earned an RBI and scored once on one hit. Brannan earned an RBI on a walk. 

ON DECK

The Outlaws continue their homestand with a two-game series against the Carroll Merchants.

The first game will be played at 7 p.m. on Monday at Joe Becker Stadium, with another game to follow on Tuesday night.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — After a three-game winning streak to start the season, Joplin suffered its first loss of the season, 9-6, against St. Joseph on Thursday night at Phil Welch Stadium.
Joplin trailed  early but took the lead back in the fifth inning and held it until the seventh inning when St. Joe scored five to take control for good.

ON THE MOUND

Luke Shmedding earned the no-decision for Joplin after pitching four innings with two runs on two hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Logan Rains took the loss in relief after pitching one inning with two runs on no hits, three walks and no strikeouts.

Frank Gall earned the win for St. Joseph after giving up four runs on five hits, five walks, and five strikeouts in five innings of work.

GAME ACTION

The Mustangs took the lead in the bottom of the second after Noah Bodenhousen walked with the bases loaded to bring home a run. Trevor McCollum stepped up to the plate with bases still loaded and drove one home after being hit by a pitch, bringing the score to 2-0 for St. Joseph.

Joplin rallied with a strong fifth inning. Cole Hill flied out to center field and brought one home, bringing the score to 2-1. Jaret Nelson stepped up to the plate with runners on second and third andsent both home with a double to left field that pushed Joplin into the lead, 3-2. William Kelley brought Nelson home with a single to left field, pushing the Outlaws’ lead to 4-2.

Hill brought another run home for the Outlaws with a grounder to third base in the top of the sixth, bolstering  Joplin’s leadtot 5-2. 

St. Joseph scored in the bottom of the sixth after Dakota Spicer was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and McCollum singled to center field. 

Kolden Howerton added an insurance run for the Outlaws with a sacrifice fly to left field, with Joplin ending the top of the seventh in a 6-4 advantage. 

In the bottom of the seventh, William Dryburg was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and pushed one home. Michael Paule then scored on a wild pitch. Aron Harrington reached on a fielder’s choice, pushing another runhome for St. Joseph. The Mustangs wrapped up their scoring in the inning when Bodenhousen brought two home with a single to second base. 

AT THE PLATE

Hill had two hits and sent two home. Nelson had one hit, drove two home, and scored twice for Joplin. 

Bodenhousen led St. Joseph with one hit and three RBI. 

ON DECK

Joplin plays the Mustangs again at 7 p.m. Friday night at Phil Welch Stadium in St. Joseph.

SEDALIA, Mo. — After starting their season with two victories at home Joplin faced Sedalia on the road Wednesday night and came home victorious, thanks in part to a first-inning grand slam. 

After taking an early lead with an incredible grand slam by Landon Meyer, the Outlaws fought through five scoreless innings pitched by Sedalia Bombers pitcher Reid Plum. The Bombers seemed to pick up some momentum with a run in the fifth inning and again in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough to overtake the Outlaws’ lead. After adding an insurance run in the sixth, Joplin ended their first away game of the season with a 5-2 victory. 

ON THE MOUND

Caden Bressler started and earned the no-decision for Joplin after pitching four scoreless innings on four hits, three walks and eight strikeouts. Chris Massey earned the win in relief after a scoreless inning on one hit, two walks and two strikeouts.

Sedalia starter Reid Plum took the loss for the Bombers after giving up four runs on two hits, five walks and ten strikeouts in X innings.

GAME ACTION

Joplin’s top of the first took the lead in the top of the first. The inning began with a walk for Cole Hill before he advanced to second after Jaret Nelson was hit by a pitch. The pair then stole third and second base before Kolden Howeton walked to first to load the bases. Meyer stepped up to the plate and cleared the bases with one swing to make with bases loaded. Meyer brought everybody home with a grand slam that brought the score to 4-0.

After an exciting start, the Outlaws were silent at the plate after facing four scoreless innings pitched by Sedalia’s Plum. After a tough first inning, Plum gave up only one hit for the rest of his time on the mound. 

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Grant Lambeth hit a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing the lone run home for the Bombers. 

Joplin’s Byron Blaise answered with an insurance run in the top of the sixth, bringing the score to 5-1. 

Sedalia’s Nic Beech hit another sacrifice fly to center field in the bottom of the sixth, but the Bombers Sedalia just couldn’t catch up with Joplin. 

AT THE PLATE

Meyer had two hits, scored one run, and drove four home. Blaise had a hit and scored one run. 

Beech and Lambeth each had one hit and drove one home, leading Sedalia at the plate. 

ON DECK

Joplin remains on the road to face off against the St. Joseph Mustangs in a 7 p.m. game on Thursday at St. Joseph’s Phil Welch Stadium

 

What better way for the Joplin Outlaws to open MINK League baseball action than with a walk-off win in front of a packed home crowd on Thursday at Joe Becker Stadium?

After Joplin took an initial 3-0 lead, Des Moines fought back to tie things up twice and ultimately sent the game into the last of the ninth inning all tied at 4s. After Karson Green led off the inning reaching on an error, he moved to second when Caden Bressler was hit by a pitch two batters later to put runners on first and second with two outs in the inning. Kolton Reynolds, a Crowder Roughrider, came up with the big swing, ripping a single to left field to plate Green and send Joplin home with a 5-4 victory on opening night.

“Welcome back to Joplin, Missouri,” returning Joplin manager Chris Dawson said after the win. “It’s another all-team win. We have to clean some things up defensively, but it’s the first time—the first time guys are playing together, the first time seeing balls across the diamond, the first time hitting live pitching in a couple weeks for a lot of these guys and the first time using a wooden bat in a year. It was a lot of firsts, but we just have to get the hang of it. 

“We had the guy up that we wanted. I was just praying for Bress to get on so Reynolds could get up. If you go look at his numbers at Crowder this year, they were incredible. … We were in the right part of the order and they just came through for us.”

ON THE MOUND 

Steen Lane, a righty for Missouri Southern, earned the no-decision for Joplin after pitching five scoreless innings on five hits, two walks and four strikeouts. Will Isaly earned the win in relief for Joplin after walking one in one scoreless inning. 

Doc Fullbright started and took the no-decision for Des Moines after allowing three runs, one earned, on two hits, four walks and five strikeouts in five innings of work. Parker Stewart took the loss in relief after allowing one unearned run on two hits in 2 2/3 of an inning.

GAME ACTION

Joplin took the initial lead with three runs scoring in the bottom of the first. The Outlaws’ first run came home on an RBI single to center field by William Kelley before a second run came home on a Peak Prospects’ error. The third run scored on a balk. 

Des Moines threatened with a runner in scoring position in the second and two runners in scoring position in the third inning but came away empty handed. The Peak Prospects had runners on first and second with no outs in the fourth inning before Lane induced a 4-6-3 double play and a groundout to get out of the jam.

“Hats off to Steen Lane,” Dawson said. “That’s why we gave him the ball. He doesn’t do what he did for Missouri Southern a couple of weeks ago if he’s not that guy. He pitched around baserunners all night long and put up zero after zero when our offense stopped.”

Des Moines finally reached the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning, tying the game with three runs scoring. The first run came home on an RBI double from Colin Evers before two more runs came home later in the inning on a throwing error with two outs to tie the game at 3-all. 

The momentum swing wasn’t permanent, as Joplin jumped back out in front in the bottom half of the sixth inning with Kelley coming home on a wild pitch for a 4-3 advantage. 

Des Moines refused to go away, again bringing the tying run home in the top of the eighth in the form of a broken-bat RBI double by Bubba Thompson with a runner on second base that one-hopped the wall to tie game at 4-4. 

AT THE PLATE 

Reynolds had two hits, scored a run and drove in one. Kelley had a hit, scored twice and added an RBI. Webb City product and MSSU Lion Treghan Parker also had a hit and scored a run.

Carter Thomas had two hits and two RBI to lead Des Moines at the plate.

ON DECK

Joplin and Des Moines continue their three-game set with a 7 p.m. matchup on Friday at Joe Becker Stadium. 

ST JOSEPH, Mo. — St. Joe broke a 1-1 tie with four runs scoring in the fourth inning of Game 3 before pushing across four more runs in the sixth, with two more touching the plate in the seventh frame to finish off an 11-1 over Joplin to win the 2022 MINK League Championship Series 2-1 on Saturday at Welch Stadium.

The win for St. Joe is the third straight MINK League title—the first time that has been accomplished in league history—and the eighth league title the Mustangs have captured in its history.

ON THE MOUND

Tyson Hilsabeck started and earned the win for St. Joe after allowing one run on six hits, three walks and four strikeouts in six innings of work. Jay Greco pitched a scoreless relief inning with a pair of strikeouts.

Jack Kelley started and took the loss for Joplin after allowing five runs on six hits, four walks and five strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. Harold Baez allowed four runs on four hits, a walk and a strikeout in two relief innings. Connery O’Donnell and Justin Schrader also saw time in relief.

GAME ACTION

St. Joe took the early momentum in front of the home crowd with a single tally crossing home in the first inning. Noah Bodenhousen led off the game with a double to right field before moving to third on a fly out and scoring on a sacrifice fly to center field by Jack Wagner for a 1-0 lead.

Joplin rallied back in the top of the third inning when Max Bruff doubled down the line to right field with runners on the corners and one out to plate a run to tie the game at 1-1, with the go-ahead run being thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning.

After the Mustangs stranded the bases loaded in the bottom half of the third, St. Joe struck for four runs in the fourth inning to build a 5-1 advantage. Jack Wagner highlighted the inning with a two-run single for St. Joe. 

Wagner was also responsible for most of the damage two innings later, fueling the four-run sixth inning with a three-run home run.

The Mustangs evoked the run rule in the seventh with two more runs touching home off the bat of Wagner, who came up with a two-run single to total a game-high eight RBI.

IN THE BOX

Wagner had three hits and also scored a run to go along with his eight RBI. Bodenhousen had two hits and scored four runs, while Dylan Carry had two hits, scored a run and drove in one for St. Joe.

Caden Bressler and Matt Woodmansee each had two hits to lead Joplin at the plate.

In the final home game of the 2022 season, the Joplin Outlaws defeated the St. Joseph Mustangs 7-3 on Thursday night in the opener of the MINK League Championship Series.

Below are scenes from Thursday’s game at Joe Becker Stadium. All photos by Shawn Fowler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In search of their first MINK League Championship Series victory in program history, the Joplin Outlaws kicked off their title hopes with a 7-3 win over the St. Joe Mustangs in Game 1 on Thursday at Joe Becker Stadium.

Joplin—the MINK League South Division Champions—took a scoreless tie into the third inning before plating four runs to take a commanding lead over the North Division winner Mustangs. Joplin added three insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to push the lead to 7-0. St. Joe threatened with three runs in the eighth inning but got no closer before the final out was made.

“This was crucial,” first-year Joplin manager Gonzalo Gonzalez said about winning the opening game at home. “St. Joe is hard to beat at home and I have to give it to them because they have a great team over there. For us, it was key to be able to take this one at our place and stay alive in this to give ourselves a chance.”

“It’s unreal,” Gonzalez added about playing in front of the home crowd at Joe Becker for the last time this season. “To be able to do this for the city of Joplin is big. It just goes to show you how much they care about us and our organization. I am just happy they came out and supported us in mass tonight.”

ON THE MOUND

Ethan Sally started for the Outlaws and took a no-decision after holding St. Joe scoreless over four innings without allowing a hit, walking four and striking out one. Cole White earned the win in relief after allowing three runs on three hits, four walks and four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. Connery O’Donnell pitched 1/3 of an inning in relief before Justin Schrader finished the game out with a scoreless ninth inning.

“To see our pitchers come out and do what they did today was amazing,” Gonzalez said. “Especially with the lulls we have had this year. For those guys to step up and do a job for us is big.”
Braden Berry started and took the loss for St. Joe after allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits, a walk and three strikeouts in three innings. Tanner Schmidt allowed three runs on two hits, two walks and two strikeouts, while Michael Infranca and Tanner Lukowski combined for three scoreless innings.

GAME ACTION

The third inning was kind to the Outlaws, who crossed home four times in the frame to take a commanding lead in Game 1. After Sam Fagan led off the frame with a hit-by-pitch, Cade Lott singled, with Korrey Siracusa reaching on an error to load the bases without an out. 

Caden Bressler singled to center field in the next at-bat to plate a pair of runs and break the scoreless tie. Two batters later, Max Bruff doubled the lead with a one-out single to center to score two more runs, pushing the advantage to 4-0.

“I saw a lot of patient at-bats, guys taking pitches and hunting that fastball when it was time,” Gonzalez said of the offensive output. “That was clutch for our guys to keep their heads down, grind out at-bats and do the right thing when they were in plus-counts.”

The Outlaws added insurance to their lead in the last of the fifth inning when Fagan drew a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to force in a run and push the margin to 5-0. Cade Lott followed with a two-run single to left to extend the lead to 7-0.

“That was it right there,” Gonzalez said about the insurance runs. “They threatened there at the end, so to be able to take advantage with this couple of insurance runs was big.”

St. Joe, which didn’t record a hit until the fifth inning, got on the scoreboard in the top of the eighth inning when three runs came home via walks with the bases loaded.

ON DECK

The Outlaws travel to St. Joseph to take on the Mustangs at 7 p.m. on Friday at Phil Welch Stadium. Game 3 is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. at Welsh Stadium.

“Pitching,” Gonzalez said when asked what it would take for the Outlaws to finish off this championship series with a win. “Pitching is going to be big. We are going to hit and play solid defense. It is going to come down to whether or not we show up on the mound.” 

 

The Joplin Outlaws are headed to the MINK League’s championship series. 

With the South Division championship on the line, the Outlaws upended the Jefferson City Renegades 4-2 on Tuesday night in front of a large crowd at Joe Becker Stadium.

With the win, the Outlaws (24-21) advance to the league’s championship series against the St. Joseph Mustangs (35-14), the champions of the North Division.

“To be able to do this for the city of Joplin feels phenomenal,” Outlaws manager Gonzalo Gonzalez said after his squad captured the franchise’s first-ever South Division crown. “This is just great. This city has supported us all the way through. To be able to do it for the fans really means a lot. It took a full team effort tonight. Our offense started off slow, but we adjusted to the off-speed pitches later in the game. That allowed us to come out with the win.” 

The opener of the best-of-three championship series is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday at Joe Becker Stadium. The final two games of the series (if both are necessary) will be played at St. Joseph’s Phil Welch Stadium.

GAME RECAP

Runs were at a premium in the win or go home contest.

The Renegades had the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the third, but Outlaws starting pitcher A.J. Moreno maneuvered out of trouble by recording a pair of strikeouts before inducing an inning-ending fly ball. 

After the visitors stranded two more on-base in the fifth, the hosts finally broke through in the bottom half of the inning. 

Tyler Davis singled and went to second on a balk. With two outs, Carl Junction product Carson Johnson delivered an RBI single up the middle, giving the Outlaws a 1-0 cushion. 

“I was just looking for a fastball in the zone,” said Johnson, a third baseman. “I wanted to jump on whatever I could get. It came in, I put a good swing in on it and it ended up being the first RBI of the night.”

Gonzalez noted the former Carl Junction Bulldog came through in the clutch.

“His ability to stay on that pitch a little longer was the difference right there,” Gonzalez said. 

Joplin extended its lead with two key insurance runs in the sixth. 

Caden Bressler singled and Joe Ricchio was hit by a pitch, putting two on with no outs. Jakob Machuca followed with a three-run homer to make it 4-0.

“I’ve been watching him do that for years,” Gonzalez said, noting Machuca played for him at Fort Scott CC. “That guy is tough to get out.” 

Jefferson City plated two runs in the seventh against Outlaws reliever Edrian Rangel, cutting Joplin’s lead in the half.

But the Outlaws kept the Renegades off the scoreboard in the eighth and ninth innings to secure the historic win. 

“This is pretty amazing,” Johnson said. “We all had the same idea tonight. We were just going to come out and play baseball and have a good time regardless of the outcome. You can really tell how far we’ve come from the start of the season. It’s been amazing. The atmosphere here tonight was awesome.” 

Moreno, a right-hander from Cal Poly-Pomona, was the winning pitcher. Moreno tossed six scoreless innings, limiting the Renegades to seven hits and two walks while striking out three. 

“That was unreal,” Gonzalez said of Moreno’s performance. “He kept his pitch count low. When they had the bases loaded there (in the third) he was able to get two punchouts and a pop-up. That shows the maturity he has as a pitcher. He has the ability to throw everything for a strike. That guy is one to watch in the future.” 

Rangel went two innings, striking out three and scattering four hits. Justin Schrader pitched a scoreless ninth, fanning two. 

The Outlaws won the game despite recording just five hits. Davis was the lone Outlaws to have two hits. 

Braden Maltbie took the loss for Jefferson City. He gave up four runs on five hits in six innings. Xander Lovin pitched two scoreless frames in relief. 

Adonis Forte had four of Jeff City’s 11 hits. Cole Wagner had the lone RBI. 

“Jeff City is a class act team,” Gonzalez said. “They’re tenacious. They’re hard to put away and there’s a reason they made it this far.” 

 

HOME GAME THURSDAY

After surviving and advancing, the Outlaws will have one final home game of the summer—Thursday against the St. Joseph Mustangs in the opener of the league’s championship series. 

Johnson noted the Outlaws are looking forward to another game inside the friendly confines of Joe Becker Stadium.

“We play really well at home,” Johnson said. “We have to protect our home territory. We just have to come out and play our best baseball.”

Gonzalez said the Outlaws hope to see another big crowd on Thursday night.

“I think being at home is big for us,” he said. “I hope the whole city of Joplin comes out and supports us. We really need to take that first win.”

 

BOX SCORE: Mink Baseball League (minkleaguebaseball.com)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joplin’s Garrett Chun had three hits, including two doubles, a team-high four RBI and scored a pair of runs at the plate to lead the Outlaws past Sedalia 10-4 on Saturday at Joe Becker Stadium.

The win for the Outlaws is the team’s sixth straight and gives Joplin sole possession of first place in the MINK League South Division with a 20-18 record. The Bombers, who came into the matchup tied with the Outlaws for first, fall to 19-19.

“These guys are playing selfless baseball and really playing for each other,” Joplin manager Gonzalo Gonzalez said about his team’s six-game win streak. “That is something you don’t really see in summer baseball. They are coming together and having team at-bats while the guys on the mound are picking each other up. To see the guys buy into the process is a beautiful thing.”

“From the first day he got here with that home run and double, he has been a spark plug for this team,” Gonzalez added about Chun’s impact. “He has definitely picked it up over the last couple of games, but for him to do what he did for our team—it wasn’t just his ability to get hits, but to hold other guys accountable and really be a good teammate on and off the field—he is just a great caliber of kid. We are going to miss him. He is leaving us on the 18th and there is no way we will be able to replace his bat.”

ON THE MOUND

Edrian Rangel started and took a no-decision for Joplin after allowing one run on two hits, two walks and three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Brett Graham allowed two runs on two hits in 2/3 of an inning. Cole White earned the win after allowing one run on three hits and three strikeouts in two relief innings. Connery O’Donnell and Justin Schrader each pitched a scoreless relief inning, with Schrader striking out two.

Toby Scheidt started and took a no-decision for the Bombers after allowing three runs on four hits and two walks in four innings of work. Parker Wright pitched one scoreless relief inning, walking one and allowing one hit. Austin Droege took the loss after allowing four runs on three hits, two walks and a strikeout in one relief inning. Hunter Tennison allowed three runs on one hit and two walks in 1 2/3 relief innings, while Zach Hillman did not allow a run while surrendering two hits in 1/3 of an inning.

GAME ACTION

Joplin opened the game with the first run touching the plate in the last of the first inning when Chun doubled to left field to score Liam Bailey, who walked with one out before stealing second, to give the Outlaws an early 1-0 advantage.

The Bombers knotted things back up with the Outlaws in the top of the third inning when Will Menendez hit a solo home run with one out.

Joplin got the run back in the bottom half of the inning when Caden Bressler walked to lead off the third before moving to second on a wild pitch and to third on a groundout to get within 90 feet of home. Chun came through once again, this time with a one-out RBI single to center field to put the Outlaws on top 2-1.

Bailey drew a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the last of the fourth inning to give Joplin insurance and a 3-1 advantage.

Sedalia swung the momentum in its favor with one swing of the bat in the top of the sixth. After back to back singles to start the frame, Brayden McGinnis launched a three-run home run to give the Bombers a 4-3 lead.

Joplin rallied back in the bottom half of the sixth to tie the game when Bailey doubled to left field to score Carson Johnson, who walked to lead off the inning before advancing to second on a single from Bressler. Chun followed with a go-ahead two-run double to left field to put the Outlaws back on top, 6-3. Matt Campbell brought home Chun later in the inning with a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 7-4.

“Garrett’s double was huge, especially after giving up that three spot,” Gonzalez said. “Every time they scored, we were able to respond and in the next inning we were able to put up a zero. That’s good baseball right there.”

Joplin added three more insurance runs in the eighth highlighted by RBI singles from Carson Carpenter and Tyler Davis.

ON DECK

Joplin hosts Jeff City at 7 p.m. on Sunday at Joe Becker Stadium before welcoming Carrol for a two-game series on Monday and Tuesday.

Sedalia scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning and added insurance in the ninth on the way to a 4-1 win in a pitcher’s duel over Joplin on Thursday in MINK League action at Joe Becker Stadium.

“I think for me, the best thing I saw today was just better baseball,” Joplin manager Gonzalo Gonzalez said. “Top to bottom, 1 through 9. We played better baseball, clean baseball. The game didn’t go our way, but the process of getting there was better.”

ON THE MOUND

Peyton Messer earned the win after allowing one run on four hits, four walks and six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings pitched. Carter Degonia allowed one hit, walked one and struck out four in 3 1/3 scoreless relief innings.

Ethan Sally started and took the loss for Joplin after allowing two runs on six hits, a walk and three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Gavin Stowell and Andrew Sumner combined for three scoreless relief innings, while Brett Graham and Cole White each allowed a run in a combined one inning of work.

“It goes back a couple of days, our pitching has been keeping us in games,” Gonzalez said. “Our offense needs to pick it up a little bit. We need to make sure our approach is there, and today it was. It was better than it has been. If we keep getting this from our pitching, and our offense comes back around, we’re going to be alright.” 

The Bombers and Outlaws took a scoreless game into the fifth before Sedalia’s Kayden Williams singled to right field with one out and runners at the corners to plate the first run of the inning. Cade Shupe followed with a pinch-hit RBI single to right to bring home the second run for a 2-0 lead.

Joplin cut the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth inning when Sam Fagan singled to left field to score Liam Bailey, who walked earlier in the frame.

The Bombers added two insurance runs in the ninth inning an RBI double from Williams and four walks in the inning, the last of which forced in a run.

AT THE PLATE

Williams had three hits, two RBI and scored a run to lead Sedalia in the box. Duffin Makings and Brayden McGinnis each had two hits.

Caden Bressler, Carson Johnson, Carson Carpenter and Michael Long all had hits for the Outlaws.

ON DECK

Joplin gets a chance for instant revenge as the Outlaws host Sedalia once again for a 7 p.m. matchup on Friday at Joe Becker Stadium.

A two-out error in the first inning gave Jeff City a lead it would never relinquish in a 4-3 win over Joplin on Monday in MINK League action at Joe Becker Stadium.

It looked to be a clean 1-2-3 top of the first for the Outlaws before an error with two outs opened the door for a pair of Renegade runs to score to swing the momentum early. Jeff City added a run in the second before Joplin cut into the lead with single tallies scoring in the fourth and fifth innings. Jeff City added insurance with a run in the seventh, which was needed because Joplin rallied for a run in the ninth inning and saw the comeback attempt come up just short after leaving runners on first and second when the final out was made.

“We gave that game away—plain and simple,” Joplin manager Gonzalo Gonzalez said. “We made our guy throw 20-plus more pitches (and they scored two runs) in the first inning after we made that error. That changed the game for us. When you start behind the 8-ball, it’s hard to come back from that.”

ON THE MOUND

Ty Wilmsmeyer started and earned the win for Jeff City after allowing two runs on four hits,  a walk and four strikeouts in five innings. Wyatt Fischer walked one in a scoreless relief inning. Tanner Schmitz pitched three relief innings, allowing one run on four hits. Fischer earned the save without allowing an earned run in the ninth.
AJ Moreno started for Joplin and took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits, a walk and seven strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Jordan Sheridan worked a scoreless 1/3 inning in relief. Joplin product Kohl Cooper came on in relief and allowed one run on two hits, two walks and a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings. Connor Peck pitched 2/3 of a scoreless inning, while Jared Wells and Webb City product Gavin Stowell each pitched a scoreless inning in relief. 

“I have no complaints about the pitching tonight,” Gonzalez said. “AJ Moreno fought his heart out. He could have easily given up on himself, but he did not. He gave us a quality start. We kind of stacked it today and every guy that came in entered in pretty high-leverage situations and they all did a good job for the most part. I can’t complain about pitching at all, we just need to play better defense.”

GAME ACTION

Jeff City didn’t take long to reach the scoreboard. Taking advantage of a two-out error by Joplin, Jack Matousek yanked a ball down the first-base line with a runner on second for a standup two-out RBI triple and a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. TJ Racherbaumer followed with a flare to right-center for an RBI to push the lead to 2-0 in favor of the Renegades.

Jackson Lovich tripled led off the top of the second with a triple to left-center field and was driven on an RBI groundout from Cole Wagner to give the Renegades a 3-0 advantage.

The Outlaws cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Garrett Chun hit a sacrifice fly to left field with runners on second and third to make the score 3-1.

The Outlaws cut the deficit to one run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Caden Bressler grounded out to score Cody Min.

Jeff City got the run back in the top of the sixth inning when Luc Fuller was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run. 

Joplin put the rally caps on in the bottom of the ninth inning, when Chun singled to left to lead off the inning before Casey Yamauchi reached on an infield two batters later to put runners on the corners with one out. Webb City product Matt Woodmansee picked up an RBI with a groundout before Korrey Siracusa reached on a hit-by-pitch to put the tying run on second and go-ahead run on first. A groundout in the next at-bat ended the threat and the game.

“They didn’t give up, especially in the back half of the game,” Gonzalez said. “We went into a little bit of a lull, but we turned it around at the end and put together some good stuff. But, it can’t take that long for us to want to pull the trigger and make an adjustment because then you are pressuring yourself into making something happen instead of slowly working our way into it.”

IN THE BOX

Lovich had two hits and scored a run, while Matousek, Wagner and Fuller each had a hit, scored a run and drove in one to lead the Renegades at the plate.

Chun had a hit, scored a run and drove in one, while Bressler and Woodmansee each had base hits and added an RBI apiece to lead Joplin. Min had a hit and scored a run.

ON DECK

Joplin hits the road for the next seven games in eight days, starting with a 7 p.m. matchup at Des Moines on Tuesday.

Joplin started fast with the bats and got a dominant pitching performance on the way to, perhaps, its most-complete win of the season—a 14-2 victory over Nevada on Friday night in MINK League action at Joe Becker Stadium.

The Outlaws’ offense hung crooked numbers on the scoreboard in the first three innings and ultimately scored runs in the first four frames, while the Joplin pitcher Jack Kelley limited the Griffons to one run over five innings. After Nevada pushed across two unanswered, Joplin put the finishing touches on the win with a six-run sixth inning.

“Absolutely,” first-year Joplin manager Gonzalo Gonzalez said when asked if this was one of his team’s best performances of the season. “We played good defense, guys put together good at-bats and fought through adversity. That was huge for us.”

ON THE MOUND

Kelley started for Joplin and earned the win after allowing one run on six hits, three walks and five strikeouts in five innings of work. Harold Baez allowed one run on two hits in one inning of relief work. Eduardo Ojeda walked two and struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief.

“The biggest thing for Jack was his fastball command,” Gonzalez said. “And his changeup is starting to come around. He was able to pull the string a little more and not rely on his breaking ball as much. It has become a true out pitch for him.”

Houston Fogelstrom started and took the loss for Nevada after allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks in three innings pitched. Caleb Chance allowed a run in relief, while Conner Culp pitched one scoreless inning in relief. Jackson Walker allowed six runs on one hit and four walks in 1/3 of an inning.

GAME ACTION

Joplin wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as Caden Bressler led the bottom of the first off with a triple to left field before coming home on a wild pitch in the next at-bat for a 1-0 lead. Korrey Siracusa followed with a double to right field before coming around to score two batters later on an RBI groundout from Max Bruff for a 2-0 lead.

The Outlaws added to the lead an inning later when Cody Min singled home a run and advanced to second on the play. Carl Junction product Carson Johnson followed with a single to center field to plate Min, pushing the lead to 4-0.

Joplin made it three straight innings with a crooked number coming across the plate when Min drew a bases-loaded walk in the last of the third to extend the lead to five runs. Sam Fagan, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning to get on base, straight stole home in the next at-bat for a 6-0 lead. Johnson followed with a sacrifice fly to center to bring the Outlaws’ lead to 7-0.

The Outlaws made it four straight innings with a run as Siracusa walked before advancing to second and third on wild pitches before scoring on a passed ball for an 8-0 lead through four innings.

“That was big for us,” Gonzalez said of the early-and-often run support. “It took the pressure off (Kelley) and allowed him to pitch free and easy. It allowed him to attack the zone and not try to put too much pressure on himself to have to do it all.”

Nevada reached the scoreboard for the first time on a two-out RBI single flared to center field by Andrew Pickering to bring the Griffons’ deficit to 8-1.

The Griffons scored a second run in the top of the sixth off an RBI single to shallow center field from Jacob Strobel.

The Outlaws pushed the lead to 12 with a six-run sixth inning highlighted by a sac fly from Joe Ricchio and an RBI singles from Webb City product Matt Woodmansee and Siracusa.

“We have talked about it in the past, but when it’s time to put teams away, you have to put them away,” Gonzalez said of the late offensive output. “You can’t let them hang around because that usually ends up bad for us. … It was nice to see these guys put it away.”

IN THE BOX

Siracusa had two hits, an RBI and scored three times, while Bressler had two hits and scored once. Johnson had a hit and led the team with three RBI and added a run scored, while Min registered a hit, two runs scored and two RBI.

ON DECK

The Outlaws host the Joplin Playmakers in an exhibition on Saturday at Joe Becker Stadium.

Jefferson City scored five runs in the second and five more runs in the fourth inning to build an insurmountable lead over Joplin before going on to a 15-10 win on Thursday in MINK League action at Joe Becker Stadium.

The Renegades (4-4) used a pair of long balls in the third inning to take a five-run cushion before the Outlaws (4-7) answered with three two-out runs touching home in the last of the third inning before Jeff City responded with five more runs in the top of the fourth inning to separate from Joplin further. The Renegades added a run in the sixth and another in the seventh to cushion the lead before Joplin scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to keep the deficit at 12-6. Jeff City put the finishing touches on the win with a three-run ninth inning, though the Outlaws were able to plate four in the last of the ninth to cut the lead to five.

ON THE MOUND

Caleb Caraker started and earned the win for Jeff City after allowing five runs on five hits, five walks and two strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings of work. Tanner Schmitz allowed one run on two hits and two walks in 1 2/3 relief innings. Grayson Eierman allowed four runs on three hits and four walks in 1 1/3 relief innings, while Ian Nolph pitched 2/3 of an inning of scoreless baseball.

James Yamasaki started on the bump for Joplin and took the loss after allowing five runs on four hits, a walk and two strikeouts in two innings of work. George Fisher worked 1 2/3 innings in relief and allowed five runs on five hits, three walks and a strikeout. Michel Kinson and Brett Graham each allowed a run in relief. Joplin product Josh Harryman walked one in 1/3 of a relief inning. Jared Wells allowed three runs on four hits and a walk in two innings.

GAME ACTION

Jeff City got on the board first with a run in the top of the second running off an RBI groundout from TJ Racherbaumer before Levi Masloski followed up with a two-out, two-run into the bleachers in left-center field to give the Renegades a 3-0 advantage. Two batters later, Ross Lovich launched a two-run blast over the wall in right-center to push the lead to 5-0.
Joplin cut into the lead when Garrett Chun singled to right field with two outs to plate Max Bruff to trim the deficit to 5-1. Sam Fagan followed up with a two-run triple to left-center with two outs to make the score 5-3.

Jeff City answered back in the top of the fourth inning when Lovich yanked a ball over the wall in right field for a two-run home run, his second of the game, for a 7-3 advantage. The eighth run for the Renegades came home on a bases-loaded walk with two outs by Taylor Hopkins. Racherbaumer added a two-out, two-run single later in the inning to extend the advantage to 10-3.

The Renegades added a run in the top of the sixth on an RBI groundout from Lovich, while Joplin scored twice in the bottom half after a run came home on a bases-loaded walk and a balk to make the score 11-5. Jeff City added to the lead with a two-out run in the top of the seventh to push the lead to 12-5.

Joplin product Kohl Cooper came through with an RBI single to left in the bottom of the seventh to cut Joplin’s deficit to 12-6.

Jeff City pushed across a run in the ninth on a Joplin throwing error before a second came home on a second throwing error. A third run came home on a Caleb Ott RBI single.

Michael Long highlighted the four-run bottom of the ninth with an RBI single. 

ON DECK

Nevada is back in Joplin to take on the Outlaws with a 7 p.m. start time on Friday at Joe Becker Stadium.