Boys tennis squads from Joplin and Neosho suffered Central Ozark Conference setbacks on Thursday.
OZARK 8, JOPLIN 1
OZARK, Mo. — Joplin coach Aaron Stump noted his team continues to make positive strides.
“Last year against Ozark, we didn’t win any matches and won a total of 16 games,” Stump said. “This year, we won a match at No. 3 singles and got 42 games on their team. We’re having stronger matches as our season progresses, especially when compared to last year, and I’m proud of the development I’m seeing in our players.”
Joplin’s lone win came at No. 3 singles, where Leif Garrity defeated Nathaniel Bottarel 8-6.
“Leif had an impressive match,” Stump said. “He played long rallies on repeat, keeping the ball in play until he won the point.”
At No. 1 singles, Ozark’s Connor Kitchin defeated Adam Badr 8-5, while Stephen Metcalf topped Josiah Hazlewood 8-1 at No. 2 singles.
At No. 4 singles, Ozark’s Ethan Fast edged Hunter Merkley 8-6.
“Hunter held steady most of his match,” Stump commented. “He played some really good points and kept pace throughout the match.”
At No. 5 singles, Benjamin Romano defeated Joplin’s Roman Venturella 8-5 and Coltyn Boyer beat Chapel Braman 8-3 at No. 6 singles.
In doubles, Kitchin-Metcalf defeated Badr-Hazlewood 8-4, Bottarel-Romano beat Michael Mancipe-Merkley 8-3 and Fast-Boyer edged Garrity-Venturella 9-7.
“Our No. 3 doubles team started off strong, but lost their momentum later in the match,” Stump noted.
Joplin is at the Truman Tournament on Saturday.
WILLARD 9, NEOSHO 0
WILLARD, Mo. — Willard swept all six singles matches and all three doubles matches against the Wildcats.
In singles, Willard’s Caden Lingenfelser beat Christian Williams 8-0, Dawson Amstutz topped Willis Jarvis 8-2, Seth Miller beat Reid Snyder 8-3, Gabriel Hernandez defeated Peyton Williams 8-2, Christian Ryan beat Breckin McAffrey 8-3 and Jonathan Lupescu topped Noah Schade 8-0.
In doubles, Amstutz-Miller defeated C. Williams-Schade 8-0, Lingenfelser-Luke Taylor beat Jarvis-McAffrey 8-0 and Lupescu-Ryan edged Snyder-P. Williams 8-6.
Neosho (2-7) hosts Aurora on Monday and Nixa on Tuesday.
GRANBY, Mo. — Neosho and McDonald County were among the schools competing at the East Newton Invitational on Thursday.
Lamar’s boys and Bolivar’s girls won the team championships. Neosho’s girls were second in the standings, while the Neosho boys finished fifth.
The McDonald County girls finished seventh and the MCHS boys were eighth. There were 11 full teams competing.
NEOSHO HIGHLIGHTS
Leading the way for the Neosho boys, Brice Warren took second in the discus, Collyn Kivett was the runner-up in the javelin and William Ebbinghaus finished second in the 400.
Colton Burr placed third in both the 100 and 200, while Lathan Cote (long jump) and Tyrone Harris (triple jump) both finished fourth. Finishing fifth in their events were Cade Camerer (long jump), Nicolas Olivares (shot put), Harris (100) and Adam Farrell (3200).
Finishing sixth were Gabriel Mabrey (800), Levi Dennison (110 H), Konnor Payton (300 H) and Carter Baslee (discus, shot put).
The Wildcats took third in the 4×800 relay, with William Ebbinghaus, Mabrey, Corbin Ables and Carson Newell.
Neosho’s 4×100 relay team of Bentlee Farley, Michael Day, Cote and Harris finished fifth.
For the Neosho girls, Claire Burghart was the runner-up in the triple jump.
Taking third in their events were Jazmyn Washington (high jump, 100 hurdles), Kaylee Schibi (discus) and Riley Kemna (3200), while Kali House (400) and Chloe Wood (3200) finished fourth and Miranda Wennhold (long jump) and Raine Harris (100 H) earned fifth-place finishes.
Finishing sixth were Ebbinghaus (200), Kemna (1600), Washington (300 H), Harris (LJ), Wennhold (TJ) and Kinley Wilson (pole vault).
Neosho’s 4×800 relay finished third, with Wood, Burghart, Carley Lane and Kemna competing.
The team of Rylyn Moritz, Regan Weber, Kendra Clark and Madilyn Ebbinghaus finished third in the 4×200 relay. Moritz, Weber, Kali House and Ebbinghaus finished third in the 4×100 relay.
The Wildcats were fifth in the 4×400, with House, Burghart, Olivia Emery and Lane running.
MCDONALD COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS
McDonald County’s Toby Moore placed third in the shot put and fourth in the discus, while Caleb Garvin finished third in the 3200 and Andrew Moritz took fourth in the javelin.
The Mustangs finished fifth in the 4×200 relay, with Eli Jordan, Samuel Barton, Julio Rosiles and Aidrian Short competing.
Mac County was also fifth in the 4×400, with Dominic Cervantes, Jordan, Short and Hunter Leach running.
The McDonald County girls won the 4×400 relay in 4:23, with Clara Horton, Corina Holland, Ireona Nirka and Anna Price competing.
Anissa Ramirez and Analisa Ramirez finished second and fourth, respectively, in the javelin.
Savannah Leib (high jump), Lacey Nix (pole vault), Malia Diaz (shot put) and Holland (200) all finished fourth in their respective events, while Dallie Racher was fifth in the 400. Taking sixth were Price (800) and Gia Coffel (HJ).
LOCAL EVENT WINNERS
Local event winners in the boys meet were Aurora’s Daunte Floyd (high jump), Lamar’s Ian Ngugi (100, 400), Terrill Davis (long jump) and Cameron Sturgell (javelin), East Newton’s Chase Sorrell (800, 1600), River Enlow (triple jump) and Dominic Shaw (shot put), Jasper’s Noah Neher (discus) and Mitchel Avalos (200) and Diamond’s Zachary Roughton (110 H, 300 H).
Local event winners in the girls meet were Jasper’s Crystal Smith (high jump, 100 H, 300 H, 200), Cassville’s Annie Moore (pole vault), Aurora’s Makena Hall (long jump), Mount Vernon’s Nina Cowherd (100) and Lamar’s Kiersten Potter (1600, 3200).
East Newton Invitational
Boys team scores: Lamar 114.5, Bolivar 101, Cassville 85, East Newton 68, Neosho 67, Jasper 40, Aurora 39, McDonald County 26, Diamond 24, Pierce City 16, Mount Vernon 8.5.
Girls team scores: Bolivar 149, Neosho 68.33, Cassville 60, Mount Vernon 58, Lamar 55, Aurora 53.33, McDonald County 44.33, Jasper 43, Pierce City 38, East Newton 18, Diamond 2.
NIXA, Mo. — The Neosho High School boys track and field squad finished fifth in the team standings at Tuesday’s Nixa Invitational.
The top five teams were Waynesville (138), Nixa (101), Kickapoo (90), Ozark (67) and Neosho (65). There were 13 full teams competing.
Neosho’s Tyrese Hill won the 200-meter dash in 22.3 seconds, while Izaiah Hill took first in the 400 with a time of 49.93 seconds.
The Wildcats took first in the 4×200 relay in 1:31 and Jared Siler won the high jump by clearing 6-4.75.
Neosho’s Collyn Kivett was the runner-up in the javelin with a school record toss of 156-0.
Also for the Wildcats, Isaiah Green finished third in the long jump, Tyrone Harris took fourth in the triple jump, Konnor Siler and Jared Siler finished seventh and eighth in the 100-meter dash, while Isaiah Keezer and Green finished seventh and eighth in the 400.
For the Neosho girls, Madilyn Ebbinghaus finished eighth in the 200.
MONETT HIGHLIGHTS
Monett’s Konner Poynter won the 100 in 11.48 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 40.26 seconds. A senior, Poynter took second in two events, the 200 and the 110 hurdles.
The Joplin Eagles’ aggressiveness on the offensive end finally paid dividends with three second-half goals on their way to a 4-1 win against the visiting Neosho Wildcats in Central Ozark Conference action on Tuesday at Joplin High School.
Joplin senior midfielder Paisley Parker scored all four Eagle goals for a haul (a lesser known relative of the hat trick), while Neosho junior Eva Maldonado scored her first goal of the season and the Wildcats’ only goal Tuesday on a penalty kick that cut Neosho’s deficit to 2-1 with 33 minutes and 25 seconds remaining in regulation.
“We for sure put a lot of pressure on goal,” Joplin coach Josh Thompson said. “Their keeper made some good saves, and we did a good job of giving ourselves scoring opportunities tonight. … Our halftime talk was I think what we’re doing is working, we’ve got to be persistent and keep firing off shots and we’re going to be able to get some of those in.”
“We made improvements in every area that we talked with them about making improvements on,” Neosho coach Steve Schnackenberg said. “We had some breakdowns, and the Joplin girls took advantage of them. We were in the game right until the end. I thought we played hard, and they capitalized on a few of our mistakes. The improvements are coming, and that’s what we can do. We’ve got girls playing next to each other that haven’t played before together, so we’re still getting that stuff sorted out and the more opportunities that we have the better we’re going to see them play.”
Parker became the center of the post-win celebration for the Eagles on Tuesday.
“I brought out a hat I owed her for hat tricks in the past,” Thompson said. “Maybe it was good motivation tonight and so maybe that’s our good luck charm, I’ll start bringing hat trick hats.”
Neosho sophomore goalkeeper Yaretzl Parker and the Wildcats defense limited Joplin to a 1-0 halftime lead and Paisley Parker’s first goal occurred in the first three minutes of the match.
“We just had a really hard time getting the ball out on defense,” Schnackenberg said. “Yaretzl did a nice job in goal and made some great saves. I thought our defense was pretty solid. We just couldn’t get the ball out, so I think we’ve got an idea of what we can do to take care of it.”
Maldonado’s goal provided the Wildcats their greatest moment for hope on Tuesday.
“It was a good moment,” Schnackenberg said. “It was her first PK, I know that, and she hit it well. She’s been hitting them in practice really well. It was good to get her on the score sheet.”
Joplin improved to 3-1 overall and 1-1 COC, and the Eagles are back in action Friday and Saturday in the Branson Invitational.
“First conference win and then a district win for us as well,” Thompson said. “It ought to be good motivation for us going forward and it helps us at the end of the season.”
Neosho dropped to 1-4 overall and 0-1 COC, and the Wildcats hit the road Thursday for a conference match with Ozark and then play Friday and Saturday in the Willard Tournament.
NEOSHO, Mo. — With runners on first and second and one out in the last of the eighth inning, Neosho’s Eli Zar came up clutch, delivering a sharp line drive to center field that was misplayed to plate Finn Versluis, who was the runner for Colton Southern after he singled to lead off the inning, and send the Wildcats to a 1-0 walk-off Central Ozark Conference win over Joplin at Roy B. Shaver Field on Tuesday.
Neosho’s Kael Smith delivers to home during the Wildcats’ conference win in extra innings over Joplin on Tuesday. Photo by Israel Perez.
“Everytime I step in the box, I know it’s just me and the pitcher and nobody else,” Zar said after the win. “I just want to put the ball in play as hard as I can. … I was thinking either offspeed, something middle away, or fastball and just take it right up the middle and I did just that.”
Neosho’s hot start to the 2023 season continues with the win as the Wildcats improve to 11-3, 1-1 in conference play.
“This win is massive,” Neosho coach Bo Helsel said. “These kids have grinded for two years, preparing to win these big conference games. Last year, we couldn’t get any of them. We were in a lot of them. This year, this is how the team is. The mentality has flipped. We expect to win. We scored when we needed to and Kael threw a hell of a game. And of course, Eli, Mr. Clutch, comes through for us again. … He just takes good swings. He hits it hard and on a line and is able to see pitches really well. He is the one guy I want up there with the game on the line and he came through for us today.”
With the loss, Joplin falls to 4-9, 1-1 in the COC.
“That was a tough one to swallow,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said after the loss. “We did so many things right throughout the course of that game to put ourselves in a position to tack on some runs throughout the game and just not get to that point. … We just needed a ball put in play a couple of times to give ourselves an opportunity to score some runs and didn’t get it done. We have to find a way to scratch some runs across when we have chances.”
It was a conference pitcher’s duel in every sense of the phrase between Neosho’s Kael Smith and Joplin’s Justin McReynolds, who each ultimately took a no-decision.
Smith dazzled on the bump, allowing two hits, a pair of walks while striking out seven in 6 2/3 scoreless innings.
“Kael should be discussed with the top of the pitchers in the conference,” Helsel said. “Game in and game out, he is a grinder for us. He didn’t have his offspeed as well as he has had in the past, but he filled it up. That’s what he does. He doesn’t walk a lot of guys and keeps his pitch count low so he can go 6 2/3 innings. … He just competes for us. It showed today and it will show the rest of the year, I have no doubt.”
The only time Smith found himself under duress came in the top of the fourth inning when Joplin used a leadoff single from Byler Reither and a walk from McReynolds to eventually put runners on second and third with one out after a sacrifice bunt from Landon Maples. Smith promptly got out of the jam with a strikeout before inducing a fly out to end the inning.
“I honestly don’t really worry too much with runners on with him,” Helsel said. “His mentality doesn’t change. He expects to get every hitter out. He doesn’t really fall behind in counts and that helped him today.”
Joplin’s Justin McReynolds delivers to home during the Eagles’ extra-inning loss to Neosho in conference action on Tuesday. Photo by Israel Perez.
For the Eagles, McReynolds’ string of dominant starts continued as he allowed three hits, walked one and struck out eight over seven innings of scoreless baseball.
“Justin, all year long, has been great and consistent,” Wolf said. “When he is on the mound, we know we have an opportunity to win a game and he gave us another one today. He pitched through a little traffic in the middle innings, but you felt like he was in control of the game the entire time. When you have him on the mound, finding a way to score one run is probably the difference. It has been twice. He gave us every opportunity and was really, really good for us.”
Joplin had the first chance to get on the scoreboard in the extra frame, loading the bases with one out after a walk from Brock Waghorn, an infield hit from Brady Mails and a walk by Caden Shoemaker.
Neosho’s River Brill ended the threat there, earning back-to-back strikeouts to send the game into the bottom half of the eighth.
“It’s something that we’ve talked about all year,” Wolf said when asked what he wants to see in his team’s approach at the plate in run-scoring opportunities. “We’ve put different things in in practice to get comfortable in those situations. Your approach just has to be to put a good swing on a ball and not try to do too much. I just felt like we were trying to do too much. In a lot of cases, just a ball in play was going to be a run. Just shorten it up and focus on getting the ball in play to give us an opportunity to score a run. In that game, that one run loomed really large.
“I feel bad for the guys because I know they’re trying. We just have to understand when we have those opportunities, we don’t have to do too much. We just have to do enough.”
Brill earned the win in relief, allowing one hit and walking two with a pair of strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings.
“River is our closer,” Helsel said. “He has the best velo on the team and it’s perfect for him to come in late because I don’t want to throw my shortstop in starts. He came in and struggled a little bit, but I don’t worry because he has been consistent all year. He will have a walk here or there, but he is a strikeout machine. His curveball was on today and they weren’t touching him.”
Reither took the loss in relief for Joplin after allowing one run on two hits and a walk in 1/3 of an inning.
Zar had two hits for Neosho, including a double in the fourth to go along with his walk-off single in the eighth. Southern had a hit and scored a run. Carter Fenske and Brody Crane registered hits for Neosho.
Maples doubled for Joplin, while Mails and Reither collected the other two hits.
DAY OFF
Zar got the rare day off behind the plate as the Wildcats’ mainstay at catcher. Sophomore Kanten Smith got the start behind the dish, catching his older brother, Kael, a senior, at the varsity level.
“It was spectacular to see,” Zar said. “I have worked with him for two years now and there is never a dull moment. It was really cool (for him to catch his brother). I know his mom really enjoyed that and his dad thought it was pretty cool.”
UP NEXT
Neosho hosts Ozark in conference play on Thursday, while Joplin hosts Nixa.
NEOSHO, Mo. — Neosho senior defender Gissele Vargas struck a perfect ball on a free kick from about 45 yards out to break a scoreless tie late in the second half and give the host Wildcats their first win of the season in dramatic 1-0 fashion on Thursday night against rival McDonald County at historic Bob Anderson Stadium.
“It was smart of her,” Neosho coach Steve Schnackenberg said. “She steps up a lot for us. That was a big play.”
Neosho and McDonald County played a match Thursday reflective of two rivals each vying for that so far elusive first win of the season.
“We really needed it,” Schnackenberg said. “We played a lot better than we’ve been playing, so they deserved it. I think Mac played well, but it’s nice to see us get that (first win).”
The Mustangs had multiple scoring opportunities in the second half, but the Wildcats and their sophomore goalkeeper Yaretzi Parker were up to every challenge from McDonald County players like Alexis Abbott and Anna Clarkson.
“Yaretzi had a really good game again today,” Schnackenberg said. “She’s been stepping up big for us. That one goes through the defense, and she still gets it and makes that save. She had three or four just really nice saves.”
Neosho improved to 1-3 on the season and the Wildcats play next with their Central Ozark Conference opener on the road against Joplin, an opponent the Wildcats are 5-17 against over their last 22 meetings with a current three-match losing streak against the Eagles.
“We’re going in the right direction,” Schnackenberg said. “We’re getting better every day and we looked a lot better tonight than we have been. Obviously, we’re looking to continue to grow and get better and we’re optimistic. The girls are starting to come together and we’re starting to figure them out as coaches. We’re making some progress.”
McDonald County dropped to 0-6 on the season and the Mustangs next strive for their first win of the season Monday on the road against Greenwood.
Joplin’s boys tennis team suffered a Central Ozark Conference setback to the Nixa Eagles on Thursday at the JHS Athletic Complex.
“Even though we lost the match, the improvement compared to last year is significant,” Joplin coach Aaron Stump said. “We went from winning 10 games total last season to 38 games, including a match win for Leif Garrity at No. 3 singles. With Nixa’s top eight players being seniors, we’re going in the right direction.”
As Stump noted, Joplin’s lone win of the dual came at No. 3 singles, where Garrity defeated Nixa’s James Harris 8-5.
“Leif consistently kept the ball in play and took advantage of short shots from his opponent to close out points,” Stump said.
At No. 1 singles, Nixa’s Carson Palmer edged Joplin’s Adam Badr 8-6.
“Adam started off strong, but was outplayed in a few key points,” Stump said.
In other singles matches, Nixa’s Mason Murray defeated Josiah Hazlewood 8-4, Liam Dalton beat Chapel Braman 8-1, Tyler Upton-Rowley topped Hunter Merkley 8-2 and Tyler Neal edged Roman Venturella 8-6.
“Roman played a great match,” Stump commented. “When he kept the ball deep in play, he was winning games.”
At No. 1 doubles, Palmer-Murray defeated Badr-Hazlewood 8-4, while Harris-Dalton beat Michael Mancipe-Merkley 8-2 and Upton-Rowley-Neal defeated Garrity-Venturella 8-5.
“We changed up our No. 3 doubles team for this match,” Stump noted. “This duo communicated well and played quite a few good points.”
Joplin will compete in Branson on Friday.
OZARK 8, NEOSHO 1
NEOSHO, Mo. — The Neosho Wildcats suffered a COC loss to the Ozark Tigers on Thursday.
Neosho’s lone win of the match came at No. 4 singles, where Peyton Williams defeated Ben Romano 8-6.
In other singles matches, Ozark’s Connor Kitchin beat Christian Williams 8-4, Stephen Metcalf topped Willis Jarvis 8-1, Ethan Fast edged Reid Snyder 8-6, Coltyn Boyer handled Breckin McAffrey 8-1 and Luke Morris edged Wes Williams 8-6.
In doubles, Neosho’s Christian Williams and Peyton Williams suffered an 8-0 loss to Kitchin-Metcalf, Jarvis-McAffrey fell short, 8-6, to Fast-Boyer and Snyder-Noah Schade lost 8-3 to Romano-Nicholas Psarev 8-3.
Neosho is at Thomas Jefferson on Monday.
THOMAS JEFFERSON 6, MONETT 3
MONETT, Mo. — The Thomas Jefferson Cavaliers improved to 4-0 by beating Monett on Thursday.
The Cavaliers won all three doubles matches.
Thomas Jefferson’s Prithvi Nagarajan and Tyler Brouhard beat Ethan Kutz-Heisman Welch 8-4, while Chengle Qian and Jack Goodhue defeated Elijah Ridenour-Logan Kutz 8-5 and Sam Li and Nathaniel Curtis topped Caden Szydloski-Riley Dierker 8-4.
In singles, TJ’s Nagarajan beat Ethan Kutz 8-4, Qian edged Welch 9-7 and Goodhue defeated Logan Kutz 8-3.
Monett’s Ridenour earned the win over Brouhard by default.
Szydloski defeated Li 8-4 and Dierker edged Curtis 8-6.
NEOSHO, Mo. — On a day where runs were at a premium, Webb City rallied late to earn a 4-1 victory over Neosho in the Central Ozark Conference opener on Thursday at Roy B. Shaver Field.
Webb City improved to 7-5 overall and 1-0 in the COC after snapping Neosho’s seven-game winning streak.
The Wildcats are now 8-2 overall and 0-1 in the COC.
The conference opener was a classic pitcher’s duel between Neosho’s Kael Smith and Webb City’s Landon Fletcher.
A sophomore right-hander, Fletcher earned the win after striking out 10 and limiting the Wildcats to three hits and two walks. He only threw 81 pitches.
A senior right-hander who no-hit Webb City last season, Smith took the loss but only allowed four runs. He scattered 11 hits and struck out two on 89 pitches.
Neither team made an error in the field.
The Wildcats manufactured a run in the second inning without a hit. Wyatt Shadwick walked, stole second and later scored from third on a dropped third strike.
The Cardinals tied it up in the fourth. Shaun Hunt singled to left, with Eli Miller pinch-running. Miller took second on a wild pitch, went to third on Drew Vonder Haar’s ground out and scored on Kenley Hood’s grounder to short.
Webb City scored the go-ahead run in the sixth.
Kaylor Darnell singled to center and went to second on a wild pitch. After an out, Vonder Haar lined a run-scoring single into right-center to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
The Cardinals added two key insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
Cy Darnell reached on a fielder’s choice before Kaylor Darnell singled to put runners on the corners. With two outs, Shaun Hunt ripped an RBI single into left for a two-run cushion.
Next, Vonder Haar singled to load the bases before Hood drove in a run with a fielder’s choice.
Fletcher gave up a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh before the Cardinals recorded the final three outs, with a nifty play at shortstop by Cy Darnell key to retiring the side without any damage.
Three players recorded two hits apiece for the Cardinals — Kaylor Darnell, Hunt and Vonder Haar. Gage Chapman had the game’s lone extra-base hit, a double.
Neosho’s three hits, all singles, were recorded by Shadwick, Carter Fenske and Colton Southern.
Webb City hosts Glendale at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Neosho meets Miami (Oklahoma) at 10 a.m. and Carthage at noon at the Mickey Mantle Classic. Both games will be played at Miami High School.
Joplin’s Harry Satterlee carded a 4-under-par 68 to capture medalist honors at Thursday’s Joplin Invitational at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club.
A junior, Satterlee shot an even-par 36 on the front nine and fired an impressive 32 (4-under) on the back nine to finish in first place individually.
Carthage senior Max Templeman was the runner-up with a 1-over-par 73 (35-38).
Carl Junction sophomore Jack Spencer finished third with a 75 (39-36) and Carthage senior Britt Coy took fourth with a 77 (38-39).
Recording identical scores of 79 were Neosho’s Collier Hendricks and Webb City’s Braxten Cahoon and Cooper Forth.
Tying for eighth place were Carl Junction’s Tommy Walker (80) and Webb City’s Levi Lassiter (80) and Joplin’s Hobbs Campbell (81) took 10th.
Rounding out the top 15 individuals were Carl Junction’s Jacob Teeter (82), Carthage’s Owen Derryberry (83), Seneca’s Eli Olson (84), Carl Junction’s Logan Lowry (85) and Carthage’s Colson Brust (87).
Joplin’s Ian Surbrugg (88) and Dylan Bozarth (88) and Seneca’s Jace Wilson (88) tied for 16th place, while Lamar’s Koen Littlejohn (92) was 19th. Carl Junction’s Austin Baker (93), Carthage’s Ben Nicholas (93) and Webb City’s Jack Good (93) tied for 20th place.
Carthage won the team championship with a four-person score of 320.
Carl Junction (322) and Joplin (325) were a close second and third in the team standings and Webb City was fourth with a 331.
Rounding out the team standings were Seneca (373), Neosho (377), Clever (396), Joplin JV (425), Nevada (431) and Lamar (438). Purdy had three golfers competing.
It was the first 18-hole event for most of the local teams.
Joplin will host the Horton Smith Tournament on Monday at Schifferdecker Golf Course.
NEOSHO, Mo. — Rallying after dropping two of three doubles matches, Joplin’s boys tennis team earned a 5-4 win over Neosho on Tuesday in Central Ozark Conference action.
“Our doubles matches were close,” Joplin coach Aaron Stump said. “We were up in all three but fell behind late. The guys regrouped going into singles competition to fight back and win the match with their consistent play. It’s a great start for our season to begin conference matchups with a win this year.”
The Wildcats won two of three doubles matches to start the dual.
Neosho’s Christian Williams and Reid Snyder edged Adam Badr and Josiah Hazlewood 9-8 (8-6) and Willis Jarvis and Peyton Williams nipped Michael Mancipe and Hunter Merkley 9-7.
Joplin’s duo of Leif Garrity-Chapel Braman defeated Breckin McAffrey-Wes Williams 8-5.
The Eagles won four of the six singles matches.
Badr defeated Christian Williams 8-1, Garrity beat Snyder 8-4, Merkley topped McAffrey 8-5 and Roman Venturella defeated Wes Williams 8-3.
“Adam’s singles play demonstrates how much he’s developed since last season,” Stump said. “Lief showed grit, coming from behind to clinch the dual with his singles match win. Hunter hit his serves in pretty well today and had good rallies in his match.”
Neosho’s Jarvis beat Hazlewood 8-6 and Peyton Williams edged Braman 8-6.
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Joplin’s boys and Carthage’s girls captured the team championships at the 39th Carthage Track and Field Invitational on Friday at David Haffner Stadium.
Joplin’s boys won six events and finished with 177 points. Webb City (98), Willard (79) and Carthage (72.5) finished second, third and fourth. There were 14 teams in attendance.
Carthage’s girls compiled 100 points to take the team crown. Riverton (91), Joplin (89) and Webb City (85.27) were the second, third and fourth place teams. There were 15 girls teams competing.
The meet began on Thursday, was postponed due to the weather and was finished up on Friday.
JOPLIN HIGHLIGHTS
Joplin’s Tayshaun Palmer is pictured at the start of the 4×200 relay. The Eagles won the team championship at the meet. Photo by Darris Strickland.
In addition to winning six events, the Eagles were second in five events, third in five events and fourth in four others. With that, the Eagles had 20 top-four finishes.
Joplin senior standout Hobbs Campbell won two events. A future Kansas Jayhawk, Campbell won the 800 in 1:58 and the 1600 in 4:29.
Joplin sophomore sprinter Noah Soriano won two events, the 100-meter dash in 11.47 seconds and the 200 in 23.1 seconds. Soriano also finished fifth in two other events, the long jump and pole vault.
JHS senior Orion Norris crossed the line first in the 400 in 54.23 seconds and took third in the 200, while sophomore Avarus Kuhn-Wofford won the 300 hurdles in 43.2 seconds.
Joplin’s boys were second in all four relays.
The team of Tayshaun Palmer, Fredy Cerrato-Martinez, Norris and Davin Thomas took second in the 4×100, while the team of Palmer, Norris, Aidan Sampson and Thomas finished second in the 4×200.
The Eagles were also second in the 4×800 relay, with Ian Horton, Grey Edwards, Chance Tindall and Parker Durham competing. The 4×400 featuring Cerrato-Martinez, Jamohn Smith, Kuhn-Wofford and Campbell also took second.
In the field events, Dontrell Holt placed third in the shot put, while Drew and Draven VanGilder finished third and fourth, respectively, in the javelin, while Cordell Washington was third in the high jump and Neil Barstow placed third in the discus.
The Eagles showed off their depth on the track, as Horton was the runner-up in the 3200, Thomas took fourth in the 100 and sixth in the 200, Aiden Scourten took fourth in the 400, Tindall was fourth in the 3200, Edwards finished sixth in the 800 and Washington was seventh in the 300 hurdles.
Joplin’s girls won the 4×200 relay in 1:48, with Phia Vogel, Abigail Eckert, Abigayle Lowery and Brylee Strickland competing.
A freshman, Strickland won the 400 with a time of 1:02. She was also the runner-up in both the 100 and 200.
Also for the JHS girls, Allie Keizer finished third in the 800 and fourth in the 1600, Annabelle Rutledge took third in the 3200 and Kirsten Thom was fourth in the 300 hurdles.
Joplin’s Maria Loum placed fourth in the pole vault, Aubrey Strickland took fifth in the 100 hurdles and seventh in the 300 hurdles, Lowery finished fifth in the 200, Mairi Beranek took fifth in the 3200 and Claire Jasper finished seventh in the shot put.
The JHS girls finished third in the 4×400 and were sixth in the 4×100.
CARTHAGE HIGHLIGHTS
Carthage’s Katy Witherspoon hands off the baton to Maggie Boyd during the 4×800 relay. The Tigers took first place in the event and also won the meet. Photo by Jason Peake.
Carthage’s girls won three events, including two relays. The Tigers were second in three events and took fourth in five other events for 11 top-four finishes.
The invite hosts won the 4×800 relay in 11:12, with Lauren Choate, Grace Brown, Katy Witherspoon and Maggie Boyd competing.
Carthage’s 4×400 relay team of Aven Willis, Evelyn Carrol, Boyd and Lexa Youngblood took first in 4:25.
The team of Ashlyn Brust, Youngblood, Willis and Joey Hettinger finished fourth in the 4×100 relay, while the Tigers were fifth in the 4×200, with Willis, Ashleigh Rowden, Brust and Ada Roughton competing.
Carthage’s Karlie Nichols won the discus and took fourth in the shot put, while Hettinger took second in the high jump and Lilly Holmes was the runner-up in the shot put.
Youngblood took second in the 400 and also placed fourth in the 100, Witherspoon was fourth in the 3200, Boyd finished fourth in the 800, Roughton was fourth in the triple jump, Jaidyn Brunnert was seventh in the 100 hurdles, Willis was seventh in the 200 and Hettinger was seventh in the long jump.
Carthage’s boys won the 4×400 relay in 3:35, with Braxton McBride, Miguel Solano, Daryl Martin and Joseph Childs competing.
Martin and Trenton Yates placed second and third in the 110 hurdles. Martin was also the runner-up in the 300 hurdles. Solano took second in the 800 and was fourth in the 1600.
Micah Lindsey finished fourth in the shot put and the discus, with Neil Barstow seventh in the same event. Caleb Fewin placed sixth in the 3200 and Yates tied for seventh in the high jump.
The CHS boys finished fifth in the 4×100 relay.
WEBB CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Webb City’s boys won four events.
Webb City senior Abi Street won two events at the Carthage Invitational, the 1600 and the 3200. Photo by Darris Strickland.
Justin Allen and Grayson Smith finished first and second in the pole vault, with Jadon Brisco fourth in the same event.
Trey Roets won the javelin, while Evan Stevens took first in the 3200 and was also third in the 1600.
Webb City’s 4×100 relay featuring Jordan Thornburg, William Headrick, Joseph DeGraffenreid and Breckin Galardo took first in 44.44 seconds.
Also for the Cardinals, Mason Hedger placed third in the 3200, Noah Moss finished fourth in the 110 hurdles and fifth in the 300 hurdles, while DeGraffenreid took fourth in the high jump, Gabe Johnson was fifth in the 100 and Joshua White was seventh in the 200.
The Cardinals were fourth in the 4×400.
For the Webb City girls, senior standout distance runner Abi Street won a pair of events, the 1600 with a time of 5:36 and the 3200 in 11:53.
Dawsyn Decker won the javelin and was fifth in the shot put, while Brooke Hedger took second in the 800 and was sixth in the 1600 and Emily Countryman was the runner-up in the 3200.
Also, Essence Robinson took second in the long jump and finished third in the 400, Chase Stilley placed fourth in the 200 and Bryleigh Webb was sixth in the javelin.
Carl Junction’s Sydney Ward wins the 100-meter dash on Thursday at the Carthage Invitational. Also pictured is Joplin’s Brylee Strickland, who took second. Photo by Darris Strickland.
CARL JUNCTION HIGHLIGHTS
Carl Junction sophomore sprinter Sydney Ward won two events, the 100-meter dash in 12.64 seconds and the 200 in 26.35.
Madilyn Olds was the runner-up in the javelin, Brooke Jasperson and Acadia Badgley were second and third in the pole vault and Sloan Uebinger placed third in the 100 hurdles.
Carl Junction’s 4×100 relay took third and featured Olivia Battagler, Mya Thomure, Hannah Cantrell and Ward. The team of Battagler, Zoie Weibel, Mya Thomure and Ward finished fourth in the 4×200.
Carl Junction’s boys were seventh in the 4×100, with Colton Talken, Ryder Pyles, Dexter Merrell and Jaxton Wobken competing.
NEOSHO HIGHLIGHTS
Neosho senior Jared Siler won the high jump and the long jump. In fact, Siler and teammate Isaiah Green finished first and second in the long jump, and Siler and Green were also second and third in the triple jump.
Tyrese Hill was the runner-up in the 100. Carter Baslee finished fifth in the discus and Cade Camerer tied for seventh in the high jump.
For the Neosho girls, Riley Kemna and Chloe Wood finished third and fifth, respectively, in the 1600, Jazmyn Washington was third in the high jump, Kaylee Schibi finished fourth in the discus and Kailyn Daniels placed sixth in the pole vault.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Monett’s Konner Poynter won the 110 hurdles and Lamar’s Tyson Williams won the discus.
East Newton’s Chase Sorrell was the runner-up in the 1600.
McDonald County’s Joshua Pacheco took third in the 100, while Andrew Moritz finished sixth in the javelin.
The Mustangs were fifth in both the 4×800 (Hunter Leach, Dalton McClain, Devon Hickman and Tyler Rothrock) and the 4×200 (Dominic Cervantes, Aidrian Short, McClain, Esteban Martinez-Olvera).
McDonald County’s girls finished third in the 4×800 relay, with Clara Horton, Madison Burton, Kate Cheney and Anna Price running. Mac County’s Anissa Ramirez took fifth in the girls javelin.
RECOGNITION
Carthage took a moment at the meet to recognize Roger Kirby on 40 years of officiating track meets in Carthage.
Carthage Invitational
Boys team scores: Joplin 177, Webb City 98, Willard 79, Carthage 72.5, Lamar 68, Neosho 62.5, Marshfield 47, Nevada 25, Grove 25, Riverton 20, McDonald County 19, East Newton 16, Monett 13, Carl Junction 8.
Girls team scores: Carthage 100, Riverton 91, Joplin 89, Webb City 85.27, Marshfield 80.53, Carl Junction 64, Willard 49, Grove 46, Lamar 31, Neosho 29, Nevada 14.54, McDonald County 11.54, Pittsburg 11.27, Monett 8.81, East Newton 1.
Above and below, runners compete in the 4×800 relay on Thursday at the Carthage Invitational. Photo by Jason Peake.
The Carthage Invitational track meet was held Thursday and Friday at David Haffner Stadium. Pictured above is the girls 100-meter dash, which was won by Carl Junction’s Sydney Ward. Carthage’s Lexa Youngblood (far left) finished fifth, while Joplin’s Brylee Strickland (second from left) took second and Joplin’s Abigayle Lowery (far right) took eighth. Photo by Jason Peake.
Carl Junction’s Sloan Uebinger finished third in the 100 hurdles. Photo by Darris Strickland.
Joplin’s boys track team won the Carthage Invitational. The Eagles are pictured above competing in the 4×800 relay.
NEOSHO, Mo. — The Neosho High School boys tennis team suffered a 7-2 loss to Mount Vernon on Thursday.
The Wildcats are now 2-2 on the season.
Neosho’s Christian Williams and Peyton Williams defeated Tyler Moore and Gabriel Newman 8-4 at No. 1 doubles.
Mount Vernon’s Malachi Hennum-Austin Robison beat Willis Jarvis-Reid Snyder 8-4 at No. 2 doubles, while Payton West-Charles Robins edged Neosho’s Breckin McAffrey-Noah Schade 9-7 at No. 3 doubles.
In singles, Neosho’s lone win came at No. 4, as Peyton Williams defeated Robison 9-8 (7-3).
In other singles matches, Mount Vernon’s Moore defeated Christian Williams 8-6, Newman beat Jarvis 8-5, Hennum edged Snyder 8-6, West topped McAffrey 8-5 and Robins beat Schade 8-3.
MONETT, Mo. — The Neosho High School boys tennis team suffered an 8-1 loss to Monett on Tuesday.
The Cubs swept all three doubles matches.
At No. 1 doubles, Monett’s Ethan Kutz-Heisman Welch defeated Christian Williams-Willis Jarvis 8-4. Elijah Ridenour-Logan Kutz edged Reid Snyder-Peyton Williams 8-6 at No. 2 doubles and Caden Szydloski-Riley Dierker nipped Breckin McAffrey-Noah Schade 8-6 at No. 3 doubles.
Neosho’s Schade defeated Dierker 8-6 at No. 6 singles.
In other singles matches, Monett’s Ethan Kutz defeated Christian Williams 8-0, Welch beat Jarvis 8-1, Ridenour topped Snyder 8-5, Logan Kutz defeated Peyton Williams 8-2 and Szydloski beat McAffrey 8-1.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Neosho High School boys tennis team earned a pair of victories on Monday at the Perry Courts.
Neosho defeated Parkview 6-3 and Hillcrest 5-0.
In the match with Parkview, the Wildcats won five singles matches and one doubles contest.
At No. 1 singles, Parkview’s Iosif Musiyenko defeated Christian Williams 8-6.
Neosho’s Willis Jarvis defeated Ralph Johnson 8-2, Reid Snyder beat Joseph Woods 8-6, Peyton Williams topped Gavin Stevenson-Compton 8-2, Breckin McAffrey edged Christopher Rubio 8-6 and Noah Schade defeated Kirven Moon 9-7.
In doubles, Parkview’s Musieynko-Rubio edged Williams-Williams 9-7, while Johnson-Moon defeated Jarvis-Snyder 8-3.
At No. 3 doubles, Neosho’s McAffrey-Schade defeated Woods-Stevenson-Compton 9-7.
The dual with Hillcrest ended after the Wildcats reached five wins due to the fact the Hornets forfeited at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles.
In doubles, Neosho’s Christian Williams-Willis Jarvis defeated Ting Juan and Luke Collier 8-1, while Snyder and Peyton Williams beat Eli Birman and Parker Elkin 8-1.
In singles, Neosho’s McAffrey defeated Chris Meyer 8-0.
NEOSHO, Mo. — Neosho’s boys and girls track squads swept the team titles at their own Harry Lineberry Open House on Saturday at Bob Anderson Stadium.
The Neosho boys compiled 345.5 points to top the team standings. Bolivar was a distant second with 124 points.
Neosho’s girls compiled 283 points and Bolivar was second with 188.
Thomas Jefferson, Seneca, Springfield Central and Exeter also competed at the invite.
The Wildcats won 12 events in the boys meet.
Winning individual events for the Neosho boys were Tyrese Hill (100-meter dash, 200), Izaiah Hill (400), Isaiah Green (long jump), Cade Camerer (high jump), Jared Siler (triple jump), Carter Baslee (shot put) and Collyn Kivett (javelin). Kivett set a school record with his toss of 155-7.
Neosho’s boys won all four relays. The 4×100 relay featured Brock Franklin, Konnor Siler, Jared Siler and Tyrese Hill, while the 4×200 featured Franklin, Konnor Siler, Isaiah Rhone and Isaiah Keezer.
The 4×400 consisted of Izaiah Hill, Keezer, Green and Tyrese Hill, while the 4×800 featured Corbin Ables, Izaiah Hill, Adam Farrell and William Ebbinghaus.
Finishing second in their events were Konnor Siler (100), Keezer (200, 400), Carson Newell (3200), Konnor Payton (110 hurdles), Green (triple jump), Nico Olivares (shot put, discus), Baslee (javelin) and Jared Siler (high jump, long jump).
Third-place finishers were Traven Suldan (javelin), Jackson Smith (triple jump), Newell (1600), Green (300 hurdles), Levi Denison (110 H) and Gabriel Mabrey (800).
Neosho’s girls won nine events.
Neosho freshman Jazmyn Washington won three individual events—the 300 hurdles, the 100 hurdles and the high jump.
Also winning events for the Neosho girls were Chloe Wood (3200), Madilyn Ebbinghaus (200), Claire Burghart (pole vault) and Raine Harris (long jump).
The NHS girls won the 4×100 relay (Olivia Emery, Miranda Wennhold, Autumn Kinnaird, Ebbinghuas) and the 4×200 relay (Kinley Wilson, Carley Lane, Kinnaird, Washington) and were second in the 4×400 (Riley Kemna, Burghart, Wood, Ebbinghaus).
Taking second in their events were Kemna (3200), Rylyn Moritz (100), Kali House (400), Harris (100 hurdles), Lauren Sullivan (high jump, shot put) and Wennhold (long jump, triple jump).
Teammates Wilson and Kailyn Daniels tied for second in the pole vault.
Finishing third for the Neosho girls were Burghart (TJ), Katelyn Mahurin (shot put), Regan Weber (100), Hannah Fehring (100 hurdles), Kemna (1600) and Wood (800).
THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGHLIGHTS
Thomas Jefferson senior Kip Atteberry won the 3200 with a time of 10:25.
Atteberry finished second in both the 1600 and the 800. Bolivar’s Gavin Crawford-Yates edged Atteberry in both races.
Cavaliers sophomore Sheraz Anis won the 110-hurdles with a time of 17.99 seconds.
Jay Ball placed fifth in the shot put.
For the TJ girls, Macie Shifferd placed third in the 3200 and fifth in the 1600, while Sarah Mueller finished third in the 400 and fourth in the 800.
Lannah Grigg placed third in the discus and also took fourth in the shot put. Avery Hocker placed fourth in the 100 hurdles and Gabbi Hiebert was fourth in the high jump.
SENECA HIGHLIGHTS
Seneca’s Cambry Long won the girls 400 and also took second in the 200.
Also for the Seneca girls, Parker Long was the runner-up in the javelin. Anna Adkins was third in the high jump, Caroline Leonard placed third in the javelin and Savannah Johnson placed fourth in the 100. The Seneca girls were third in three relays, the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400.
Seneca’s Brodie Probert took third in the boys 400 and Brock Pendergraft was third in the discus.
The Indians were second in the 4×100 and third in the 4×200.
Neosho Harry Lineberry Open House
Boys team scores: Neosho 345.5, Bolivar 124, Central 56, Thomas Jefferson 50, Seneca 45.5, Exeter 10.
Girls team scores: Neosho 283, Bolivar 188, Seneca 79.5, Thomas Jefferson 57.5, Central 44, Exeter 8.
NEOSHO, Mo. — The Neosho Wildcats won their home tournament in thrilling fashion with a 4-3 win in nine innings over defending champion Strafford on Saturday in the second edition of the Roy B. Shaver Classic.
Wyatt Shadwick hit a single to center, advanced to second on a passed ball, and scored the winning run on pinch hitter Kael Smith’s single to center.
River Brill earned the win in relief with three scoreless innings after he surrendered two runs in the sixth for a 3-2 Neosho deficit.
Neosho’s Kael Smith delivers a pitch during the Roy B. Shaver Classic on Saturday. Smith also delivered the game-winning hit against Strafford. Photo by Israel Perez.
The Wildcats scored their first three runs with one each in the fourth through sixth, on a Colton Southern sacrifice fly in the fourth, an Austin Rodriguez RBI single in the fifth, and a Brill RBI single in the sixth.
The Wildcats earned four wins in the tournament — outscoring their opponents 39-5 and defeating Reeds Spring 11-1 and Hillcrest 10-0 on Wednesday and Diamond 14-1 on Saturday — and finished 5-1 overall during their first week of play.
Strafford defeated Neosho 8-5 in 12 innings for the inaugural Shaver Classic title last year.
For a time, it almost looked as if Neosho and Strafford could match that length of game.
“A great week,” Neosho coach Bo Helsel said. “Five wins against good competition. Strafford’s a great team, well-coached, they play hard, and they do things the right way, but we do too, and we were able to execute pitches late in the game. We were able to finally get that one hit that we needed to get that last run in, and that’s this team this year so I’m excited about them.”
The Wildcats left at least one runner behind in the first eight innings, including the bases loaded in the fourth and the eighth.
“We had a few innings there where we just couldn’t get one across,” Helsel said. “That’s been our M.O this year. We’ve had the bases loaded a lot and haven’t been getting that big hit. We keep grinding, though, and this team doesn’t give up. The dugout was great all day.
“We were able to get that hit with Shadwick in the last inning, then the passed ball to get him to second, and then with two outs, Kael Smith hadn’t had an at-bat all day. He’s pitched, he’s had some back problems so I’ve tried to keep him rested, but he’s a senior and I trust him more than anybody else with the bat. He came in with a big hit there at the end.”
Smith and Brill contributed to a Neosho pitching staff that allowed five runs over four games in the Shaver Classic.
“Kael started that game (Saturday),” Helsel said. “Like I said, he’s had some back stuff going on, but I know he’s going to give me four, five, sometimes maybe even six good innings. He did. Still, sometimes he walks too many guys, but River, man, that kid, he’s been playing varsity since he was a freshman. He’s not had a lot of time on the mound, but he’s one of our harder throwers and I trust him. He gave up the two-run double (in the sixth), but he put up three zeros in a row and that’s what I expect. He deserves all the credit for that win.”
River Brill is pictured during Saturday’s Roy B. Shaver Classic.
The Wildcats mobbed Smith around first base after his game-winning hit.
“Second year we’ve had it and last year we lost in extra innings to Strafford,” Helsel said. “Today, we beat them in extra innings. It’s exciting. When I got this job, I wanted to do something for the community and start a home tournament with our old superintendent’s name plastered all over it. It’s good to get that first tournament championship, and I hope that in the future we can continue to do this thing and get good solid competition in here.”
In the 14-1 win in five innings earlier Saturday against Diamond, Hudson Williams allowed no earned runs in his five innings of time on the mound, Rodriguez had two hits with a triple and Eli Zar two hits with a pair of RBI, and Brill, Quenton Hughes, Shadwick, and Southern each had a hit.
Neosho (5-1) returns home Tuesday for a game against St. Mary’s Colgan (Kansas).
Purdy defeated Diamond 11-1 for third place in the game immediately before Neosho and Strafford battled into extra innings in the championship game for the second year in a row.
Roy B. Shaver Classic
Saturday’s results
(At Marion Sports Complex, Neosho)
Neosho 14, Diamond 1
Strafford 10, Purdy 9
Purdy 11, Diamond 1
Neosho 4, Strafford 3 (9 inn.)
(At Aurora High School)
Aurora 14, Carthage 4
Aurora 10, Hillcrest 7
Hillcrest 4, Reeds Spring 3
Neosho’s Quenton Hughes corrals a grounder on Saturday during the Roy B. Shaver Classic. Photos by Israel Perez.
Neosho’s Cade Spiva is safe at first against Strafford on Saturday.
Carter Fenske receives the throw at first base against Strafford on Saturday in Neosho. All photos by Israel Perez.
NEOSHO, Mo. — Neosho held a 4-2 lead before McDonald County scored seven runs in the sixth inning to fuel a 9-4 come-from-behind win on Tuesday.
With the win, McDonald County improves to 3-2, while Neosho falls to 1-1.
Cross Dowd earned the win after pitching 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking five and striking out two.
Austin Rodriguez took the loss for Neosho after allowing five runs on seven hits, four walks and five strikeouts in five innings.
Isaac Behm had three hits, drove in two and scored one run for the Mustangs. T Walters had two hits, scoring twice and drove in a run. Jack Parnell had two hits and scored a run. Weston Gordon had a hit, scored a run and drove in a run. Jacob Gordon had a hit and an RBI.
Carter Fenske had two hits, including a double, and scored a run for Neosho. River Brill and Colton Southern had a hit, drove in one and scored one. Brody Crane had a hit and scored one run.
McDonald County hosts Carl Junction and Camdenton on Saturday.
Neosho hosts the Roy B. Shaver Classic on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
The Neosho High School boys tennis team returns seven players from last season’s squad that finished 0-13 overall and 0-9 in Central Ozark Conference competition.
Neosho won only 10 matches in their 13 duals last season and the Wildcats’ season ended on a 5-0 loss to West Plains in the Class 2 District 6 tournament.
The Wildcats’ returning players are Christian Williams, Peyton Williams, Noah Schade, Wes Williams, Omar Lemus, Wes McKay and Aidan Long.
“We would like to pick up some victories,” Neosho coach Nick Hays said. “For this season, we have a lot of depth and experience. We did not graduate many players, so hopefully this will help in our efforts this year. I believe if we play with some confidence, then that should help us build our skills to have some more success this season.
“We have added some good, new players that will be contributing on varsity. This will be exciting to see if this will lead to some out of conference victories and some in conference as well.”
Hays said the new varsity contributors this season will be senior Willis Jarvis, junior Breckin McAffrey and junior Reid Snyder. Jarvis and Snyder are slated for the No. 2 and No. 3 spots in the lineup.
The Wildcats will build around one of their three Williams on the team.
“Christian Williams was our No. 1 last year and is again this year,” Hays said. “He has done a great job with helping other players get better in the offseason and being a role model during the season in terms of effort and attitude.”
Neosho opens the season March 27 against Parkview and Hillcrest, and the Wildcats’ schedule features away duals against Monett (March 28), Thomas Jefferson (April 10), Carl Junction (April 11), Willard (April 13), Carthage (April 25), and Republic (April 27) and home against Mount Vernon (March 30), Joplin (April 4), Ozark (April 6), Aurora (April 17), Nixa (April 18), Branson (April 20), and Webb City (May 2).
The Wildcats also have the Republic Invitational (April 28) and they are the host school for the conference tournament played May 3 at the Joplin Athletic Complex.
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The Neosho Wildcats opened their 2023 season with a 4-1 win in eight innings on Monday against the Carl Junction Bulldogs.
In the top of the eighth, Neosho top-of-the-order hitters River Brill and Quenton Hughes worked consecutive walks to start the frame against Carl Junction’s Lucas Vanlanduit, who entered in the seventh in relief of starter Logan Eck.
Neosho senior catcher Eli Zar then delivered the go-ahead RBI single and fellow seniors Austin Rodriguez and Carter Fenske later came through with critical insurance RBI singles for a three-run lead entering the bottom half of the eighth.
“We had baserunners all game long, just couldn’t get that one big hit,” Neosho coach Bo Helsel said. “We got thrown out at home twice, which is okay because I want us to be aggressive on the bases. It’s first and second and nobody out and most coaches are going to bunt there to get second and third to have a chance, but it’s my best hitter—Eli Zar—and he was an all-conference player for me last year, so I’m going to let him swing the bat. He produced and we just kept it rolling from there, it usually just takes one and the floodgates open.”
Neosho pitchers Kael Smith, Hughes and Brill combined on a one-hitter on Monday, with Vanlanduit reaching on a single in the third.
“One hit and it was a little blooper,” Helsel said. “We had too many walks and that’s why the game was close, but our guys battled out there. Kael Smith, he’s been battling a back injury and threw five innings for me. Quenton Hughes came in with the bases loaded and two outs and got a strikeout (in the fifth). River Brill is our closer and that’s what I expect him to do. He scared me a little bit with that four-pitch walk and a couple balls after that, but he’s a grinder.
“We’ve got a lot of senior leaders and they’ve been through this. We lost a game to CJ last year at this place with Quenton on the mound and they walked us off. This year, with a little bit more experience, we came away with a 4-1 win.”
Neosho lost several close games last season, including a 5-4 loss in Central Ozark Conference play against Carl Junction, a team the Wildcats defeated 8-6 earlier that season.
Run production sometimes proved a big challenge for Neosho last season.
“We found a way all day,” Helsel said. “We hit the ball hard. We had eight hits as a team. Credit to them. Their pitchers threw a lot of strikes. We have good hitters. We’re strong one through nine this year, and I think we’re going to do great things offensively. We showed today that we can grind through a tough game and get a win.”
Neosho, 1-0 overall, returns to action Tuesday at home against traditional rival McDonald County, continuing a busy week of baseball for the Wildcats between games against CJ and McDonald County and hosting the second edition of the Roy B. Shaver Classic.
The Bulldogs also played their season opener and their first game under new head coach Phil Cook, the Carl Junction superintendent who returned to coach baseball this season after his previous reign at the school from 1997 to 2000.
Carl Junction scored first with a run in the fourth, after the Bulldogs started the inning with consecutive walks by catcher Bentley Rowden and starting pitcher Eck. Johnny Starks executed a sacrifice to move courtesy runners Mekhi McGarry and Alden Straight over 90 feet, then McGarry scored on a Wyatt McAfee fielder’s choice that eventually turned into the second and third outs on a play scored 5-2-6-2-4-5 with one runner safe at home and one thrown out at home and another thrown out at third.
“I thought we played well,” Cook said. “Hitting is so much a mental game. You have to hit good pitches, you have to be ready to hit, and you have to keep your hands. A lot of our guys really looked great in the cage during BP, but you get them in a game situation and everything changes. They lose their mind a little bit.
“Physically, we may have had an error or two there, but I thought we played good defense, the pitching was really good, and both teams I thought threw the ball well. At the plate, we’ve got to get better, and we will. We’ll talk through it and we’ll think hitting a little bit more. We’ll get there.”
Carl Junction, 0-1 overall, returns home and welcomes Hollister on Thursday.
“That was a good high school baseball game (Monday),” Cook said. “I don’t know what time it is, but it felt like it just kept moving at a good pace. Both teams fought hard, and they’re a nice team (Neosho). They’re going to win a lot of games this year, and so are we. We’re going to keep getting better every game, improving and learning, and that’s what it’s all about.”
