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SOFTBALL: Webb City falls short at Ozark 

Posted on by Jason Peake

OZARK, Mo. — The Webb City Cardinals were unable to hand Ozark its first conference loss.

Ozark improved to 17-7 overall and 7-0 in the Central Ozark Conference with a 9-0 win over Webb City on Tuesday.

Webb City slipped to 12-13 overall and 4-3 in conference action. 

Ozark took advantage of three Webb City errors to score two runs in the third inning.

The Tigers added a single tally in the fourth on Natalie Morgan’s RBI single into left. 

A two-run single by Brooklyn Hasler and an RBI single off the bat of Kelsie Batey made it 6-0 in the fifth.

The Tigers pushed across three more runs in the sixth for a nine-run cushion. 

Ozark’s Jordyn Foley was the winning pitcher. She allowed just three hits and struck out 13 in the complete-game victory. 

Offensively, the Cardinals were limited to a triple by Liz Rhuems and singles from Jensyn Pickett and Kenzie Wynn.

Laney Taylor was charged with the loss. However, she allowed no earned runs in four innings while scattering four hits. Karsyn Cahoon gave up four earned runs on seven hits in two innings.

Webb City made six costly errors in the field. 

Webb City hosts Branson at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.

SOFTBALL: Webb City goes 2-2 at UCM tourney

Posted on by Jason Peake

WARRENSBURG, Mo. — Webb City split four games at the UCM Tournament.

After going 0-2 in pool play on Friday, Webb City ended the tourney on a high note by winning both of its games on Saturday.

In Saturday’s consolation semifinals, Webb City defeated Knob Noster 9-0.

The Cardinals led 2-0 when they scored three runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth.

Lily Hall drove in three runs on two hits, while Liz Rhuems had two hits and scored three runs. Kenzie Wynn had two hits, while Kylee Sargent drove in two runs.

Laney Taylor was the winning pitcher. She tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. Karsyn Cahoon pitched a scoreless inning in relief, striking out two of the three batters she faced.

In the tourney finale, Webb City beat Putnam County 15-7.

The Cardinals led 4-3 when they plated five runs in the fourth and six in the fifth. Putnam County scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth for the final margin.

Webb City recorded 16 hits, with 10 players contributing. 

Rhuems had a big day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two doubles, five RBI and three runs scored. 

Dawsyn Decker, Maddie Barchak and Sargent contributed two hits apiece, while Jensyn Pickett and Barchak drove in two runs apiece.

Rylynn McFarland, Sydney Strickland and Hall also drove in runs. 

Cahoon was the winning pitcher. She allowed four runs on five hits in three innings. Taylor pitched two innings and gave up one earned run on four hits. 

On Friday, Belton defeated Webb City 6-0 and Holden beat the Cardinals 11-0.

The Cardinals managed just one hit against Belton, a single off the bat off Hall. 

Taylor took the loss, but she allowed only three earned runs in seven innings in the circle while striking out seven. 

Holden used a pair of five-run innings to beat the Cardinals in five innings.

Webb City’s lone hit against Holden was a double by Rhuems. 

Cahoon and Jo Jarmin handled the pitching duties, with Cahoon taking the loss. She allowed six earned runs in 2 2/3 innings while striking out five. 

Webb City (12-11) travels to Lebanon on Monday.

 

MCDONALD COUNTY SPLITS 

McDonald County split four games at the tourney. 

On Saturday, the Mustangs defeated Belton 9-8 and suffered a 2-1 setback to Blair Oaks. 

On Friday, McDonald County beat Knob Noster 17-1 and suffered a 1-0 loss to Sherwood.

Blair Oaks went on to win the tournament championship with a win over Sherwood.

 

SOFTBALL ROUNDUP: Carl Junction falls to Glendale; Carthage splits non-conference twinbill

Posted on by Jason Peake

GLENDALE 3, CARL JUNCTION 1

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Glendale rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh inning to earn a 3-1 win at Carl Junction on Saturday afternoon.

After the Falcons scored a run in the second, Madi Olds drove in CJ’s lone run in the third inning. 

In the top of the seventh, with the game deadlocked, Glendale’s Raegan Randall singled and then went to second on a sac bunt. 

Two errors in the field allowed the go-ahead run to score before a wild pitch gave Glendale a 3-1 lead. 

The Bulldogs were unable to rally in the bottom half of the seventh. 

The Bulldogs were limited to five hits. Sammie Sims went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Hannah Cantrell, Olds and Georgia Arnold had one hit apiece.

Kiley Spencer was charged with the loss, but she allowed just one earned run on six hits while striking out six. 

Zoe Denny earned the pitching win after limiting the Bulldogs to one run on five hits and two walks. She struck out two.

Carl Junction (7-10) is at Carthage on Tuesday. 

 

CARTHAGE SPLITS TWINBILL

ROGERSVILLE, Mo. — The Carthage Tigers split a pair of non-conference games on Saturday at Logan-Rogersville High School.

Carthage beat Rogersville 17-0 in four innings and the Tigers suffered a 7-2 loss to Camdenton.

Against Rogersville, Carthage scored eight runs in the first inning, six in the third and three more in the fourth.

Jenna Calhoon drove in four runs on three hits, including a homer, while Ashlyn Brust and Alexis Smith had two hits and two RBI apiece.

Aven Willis and Brust scored three runs apiece, while Calhoon, Landry Cochran, Lexa Youngblood, Smith and Shelby Hegwer all scored two runs apiece.

Camdenton defeated Carthage 7-2.

The Tigers managed single tallies in the first and fourth innings. Carthage had five hits, one apiece by Brust, Calhoon, Youngblood, Avery Smith and Brooklyn Dolon-Main.

Addison Wallace went 6 1/3 innings in the circle, allowing seven runs on 12 hits with four strikeouts.

Ashlynn Jackson recorded two outs, striking out one.

Camdenton’s Cayden VonSande was the winning pitcher. She struck out 11 and walked three in seven frames. 

Carthage (12-12) is at Nevada at 5 on Monday night.

SOFTBALL ROUNDUP: Webb City wins slugfest at Republic; Joplin falls to Willard; Carthage suffers loss at Nixa; Carl Junction earns COC win

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

WEBB CITY 18, REPUBLIC 17 (10 INNINGS)

REPUBLIC, Mo. — In a marathon slugfest, Webb City scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning to take the lead for good against the Tigers to earn a hard-fought Central Ozark Conference victory.

Down 18-15, the Tigers rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 10th and had the tying run at second when the Cardinals recorded the final out.

Webb City improved to 10-9 and 4-2 in the COC.

The game took more than three and a half hours to complete. There were 35 combined runs and 44 combined hits.

Webb City recorded 21 hits, with eight different players contributing a hit.

Jensyn Pickett had a night to remember. The junior shortstop drove in seven runs on four hits and hit a pair of three-run home runs.

Kylee Sargent drove in six runs on four hits, including a homer, and scored three runs.

Lily Hall and Sydney Strickland each contributed three hits, while Liz Rhuems, Addi Brown and Rylynn McFarland all had two hits apiece. Hall scored four runs.

Laney Taylor started and finished the game in the circle, earning the win. Jo Jarmin went 6 1/3 innings.

Republic’s Emi Essary drove in five runs on four hits and scored four times, while Gracie Woods had five hits and scored three runs. 

The Cardinals plated five runs in the first, seven in the second, two in the fourth and one in the sixth for a 15-12 lead.

The Tigers rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. 

In the 10th, Webb City’s Pickett hit a go-ahead RBI single into left before Sargent added a two-run bloop single.

The Tigers scored twice in the bottom half, and they had the tying run at second before Taylor induced a pop out to end the game. 

Webb City will compete at this weekend’s UCM Tournament. 

 

WILLARD 10, JOPLIN 4

WILLARD, Mo. — Willard scored eight runs in the second inning to fuel a Central Ozark Conference win over Joplin on Thursday.

The loss sends the Eagles to a 20-6, 4-2 COC.

Abigail McMillin earned the win in the circle for Willard after allowing four runs on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts in seven innings.

Ava Wolf took the loss after allowing 10 runs, two earned, on 10 hits, three walks and five strikeouts in six innings.

Joplin’s Jadyn Pankow doubled and homered in the loss, finishing with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Abby Lowery had two hits, including a home run, an RBI and scored twice. Riley Kelly also had a hit and an RBI.

Joplin is at Kickapoo on Monday.

 

NIXA 5, CARTHAGE 2

NIXA, Mo. — The Carthage Tigers couldn’t generate much offense against Nixa’s Maddy Meierer on Thursday.

Meierer limited the Tigers to four hits and she struck out 10 in a complete-game pitching victory, as the Eagles beat the Tigers 5-2. 

Nixa led 5-0 when Carthage got on the board in the sixth inning on Lexa Youngblood’s two-run single.

Ashlyn Brust had two of Carthage’s four hits, while Youngblood and Brooklyn Dolon-Main had one hit apiece.

Brust and Jenna Calhoon scored the runs. 

Ashlynn Jackson allowed four runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings. She struck out three and walked two. Addison Wallace pitched 2 2/3 inning and gave up a run on three hits. 

Nixa’s Chloe Krans homered and Phoebe Gardner drove in two runs. 

Carthage (11-11, 2-4 COC) has two non-conference games at Rogersville on Saturday. The Tigers take on Camdenton at noon and the host Wildcats at 2. 

 

CARL JUNCTION 6, BRANSON 3

BRANSON, Mo. — Hannah Cantrell went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored for the Bulldogs, while Sammie Sims contributed three hits.

Kiley Spencer was the winning pitcher. 

Carl Junction (7-9, 1-5 COC) hosts Glendale at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

 

SENECA 7, MONETT 3

The game was tied 3-3 when the Indians pushed across four runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Daylin McKnight had three hits, including a double and a triple, for Seneca, while Callie Rhoades and Maci Brown both drove in two runs on two hits. Kahli Fields scored twice. 

Abby Jamros earned the complete-game win. She allowed just three runs on eight hits in seven innings, striking out five.

Monett’s Kilee Wilson took the loss after allowing seven earned runs, but she struck out 11.

Seneca hosts Aurora on Tuesday.

 

SOFTBALL: Neosho extends winning streak to 10 with lopsided victory

Posted on by Jason Peake

MONETT, Mo. — Neosho’s winning streak is up to 10. 

Neosho scored multiple runs in five innings en route to a 16-3 non-conference softball victory at Monett on Wednesday.

The Wildcats improved to 16-3 overall with their 10th straight win.

With the game tied at one after the opening frame, the Wildcats scored three runs in both the second and third innings before adding two in the fourth and three more in the fifth for a comfortable 12-3 lead.

The Wildcats added four runs in the top of the seventh inning for the final margin.

Neosho recorded 19 hits, with 10 different players contributing.

Grace Johnson went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBI, while Beclynn Garrett went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

McKaylie Forrest, Carleigh Kinnaird, Baylie Bowers and Maelynn Garrett all contributed two hits apiece for Neosho.

Autumn Kinnaird and Forrest had two RBI apiece. Kaylynn Pruitt and Maelynn Garrett each scored two runs. 

Chloe Patterson went two innings in the circle, allowing three earned runs on six hits. 

Carleigh Kinnaird tossed five scoreless innings, striking out eight and giving up just one hit. 

Jenna Herald and Madeline Mettlach had two hits apiece for the Cubs. Mettlach, Halle Schoen and Kailyn Cendroski each had one RBI.

Neosho is at Ozark on Thursday.

SOFTBALL: McDonald County earns walk-off win over Nixa

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

ANDERSON, Mo. — McDonald County improved to 12-4 on the season with a 3-2 win over Nixa on Monday in non-conference softball action.

The Mustangs won in walk-off fashion.

Nixa led 2-1 as the bottom of the seventh inning began, but the Mustangs took advantage of several miscues in the field.

In the final frame, Mac County’s Analisa Ramirez singled up the middle before Reagan Myrick and Maggie Pratt both reached on errors.

Next, Nevaeh Dodson hit a grounder to second base, and the throw home got past the catcher, with the tying and winning runs scoring on the play. 

McDonald County had five hits, two by Ramirez.

Dodson drove in two runs on one hit, while Jacie Frenken homered. 

Dodson was the winning pitcher. She allowed two earned runs on five hits and struck out seven.

Paige Garetson took the loss after allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out four. 

Sara Sweaney had two hits for Nixa (10-5). 

McDonald County hosts Nevada (14-7) on Thursday. 

SOFTBALL: Webb City goes 2-2 at Park Hill South tourney

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The Webb City Cardinals split four games at the Park Hill South Softball Tournament over the weekend.

On Saturday, Webb City defeated Willard 9-7 and also suffered a 13-6 loss to St. Joseph Central.

The Cardinals went 1-1 on Friday, beating Smithville 12-2 and falling 4-0 to Liberty North. 

 

WEBB CITY 9, WILLARD 7

Webb City’s Kylee Sargent went 3-for-3 with a home run, a triple and a double. Sargent drove in three runs and scored twice.

Dawsyn Decker and Alex Maturino had two hits apiece for the Cardinals. 

Laney Taylor was the winning pitcher. She gave up three earned runs on six hits in three innings. Karsyn Cahoon pitched two innings, allowing four runs on five hits. 

 

CENTRAL 13, WEBB CITY 6

The Cardinals led 5-4 when Central plated five runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth. The Cardinals got a run back in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough. 

Decker had a big day at the plate for the Cardinals. She hit two home runs and drove in three runs. 

Liz Rhuems went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, while Maturino had two hits, including a homer. Sargent and Sydney Strickland also had two hits apiece.

Taylor was charged with the loss after she allowed five earned runs on nine hits in four innings. Cahoon went two innings, allowing one earned run while striking out four. 

 

LIBERTY NORTH 4, WEBB CITY 0

Liberty North’s Kiana McDowell tossed five scoreless innings, striking out eight and giving up just five hits. 

Sargent had two of Webb City’s five hits. Jensyn Pickett, Kenzie Wynn and Maturino each had one hit for the Cards.

Cahoon took the loss, but she only allowed two earned runs on two hits in three innings. Taylor pitched a scoreless frame.

 

WEBB CITY 12, SMITHVILLE 2

The Cardinals recorded 16 hits in the lopsided win.

Sargent, Strickland and Maturino all had three hits apiece. Sargent and Rhuems drove in two runs apiece for the Cardinals, who put up eight runs in the fifth inning.

Lily Hall, Maddie Barchak, Pickett, Strickland and Maturino had one RBI apiece. 

Taylor was the winning pitcher. She allowed two earned runs on four hits in five innings.

 

COC PLAY RESUMES TUESDAY

Webb City (9-8, 3-1 COC) hosts Neosho (14-3, 3-1 COC) at 4:30 on Tuesday in a key Central Ozark Conference clash. 

 

SOFTBALL ROUNDUP:  Neosho rolls past Branson; Joplin falls to Ozark to snap streak; Carl Junction drops home game

Posted on by Jason Peake

NEOSHO CRUISES PAST BRANSON

NEOSHO, Mo. — Neosho scored nine runs in the first three innings on the way to a 9-2 win over Branson in Central Ozark Conference action on Thursday.

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 9-3, 3-1 COC on the season.

Olivia Emery earned the win in the circle for Neosho after allowing two runs on four hits, a walk and seven strikeouts in seven complete innings.

Sierra Dailey took the loss after allowing nine runs, six earned, on nine hits, two walks and a strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.

Beclynn Garrett highlighted the first inning with a two-run home run to left field to put Neosho in front before Baylie Bowers hit a solo homer in the second inning to make the score 4-0. The Wildcats added another run in the frame on an error. Bowers added a two-run double to highlight the four-run third inning.

Kinnaird had three hits and two runs scored, while Bowers had two hits and a run scored. Abbie Carpenter had two hits and scored a run. Garrett and Bowers had three RBI apiece. 

Neosho takes part in the Branson Lady Pirate Invitational over the weekend.

 

JOPLIN FALLS TO OZARK IN EXTRAS TO SNAP WINNING STREAK

OZARK, Mo. — Ozark rallied from an early deficit and held off Joplin for a 6-5 walk-off win in eight innings during Central Ozark Conference and district play on Thursday.

The Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the first inning before the Tigers rallied with five runs over the middle inning to build a three-run lead. Joplin scored two runs in the sixth before tying the game up in the top of the seventh to force extra innings. Ozark had runners on second and third with two outs in the last of the eighth when Kelsie Batey reached on an infield single to bring home the winning run.

The loss snaps Joplin’s 10-game winning streak and is the first conference loss of the season for the Eagles, who hold a 16-3, 3-1. Ozark improves to 11-4 on the season with a 4-0 record in conference play.

Jordyn Foley earned the complete-game win for Republic after allowing five runs, three earned, on 10 hits, two walks and five strikeouts in eight innings of work.

Jill McDaniel took the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, on 12 hits, a walk and seven strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.

Joplin had 10 hits in the loss, with Abby Lowery accounting for three of them. She also scored a team-high three runs. Izzy Yust had two hits, including a home run, a team-high three RBI and a run scored. Bailey Ledford had a hit, walked once and scored a run, while Riley Kelly had a hit and scored a run.

 

REPUBLIC 20, CARL JUNCTION 7

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Up 10-7 after four innings, Republic erupted for 10 late runs to knock off the Bulldogs in COC action on Thursday.

The Tigers (9-5, 2-2 COC) pushed across four runs in the sixth and added six more in the seventh. 

The Bulldogs scored their seven runs on eight hits. 

Hannah Cantrell went 3-for-4 for Carl Junction, while Madi Olds drove in two runs on two hits. Sammie Sims and Kiley Spencer scored two runs apiece.

Spencer allowed two earned runs in six innings in the circle, striking out three and walking two. Hannah Cole allowed six runs.

Kara Goeke was the winning pitcher. She limited the Bulldogs to one earned run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings. 

Republic’s Addison Walker and Addie Brown homered. The Tigers pounded out 19 hits and took advantage of nine Carl Junction errors. 

Carl Junction (4-7, 0-4 COC) hosts North County and Summit Christian Academy at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively, on Saturday.

SOFTBALL: Carthage’s offense muted in 3-0 loss to Willard

Posted on by Jason Peake

CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Carthage Tigers put at least one runner on board in six consecutive innings during their 3-0 loss to their Central Ozark Conference foe Willard on Thursday at the Fair Acres Sports Complex.

Willard scored all three runs in the second inning, but otherwise Carthage pitchers Ashlynn Jackson and Addison Wallace matched zeroes against Willard’s Hannah Burks.

“We played seven innings tonight and in only one inning did we get our leadoff batter on,” Carthage coach Stephanie Ray said. “For us all season, we get a leadoff batter on, we know we’re going to score. We get a leadoff batter on (Thursday), girl makes a great play at second, doesn’t give up on a ball, and it shuts us down right there. We had only three hits, and I think that’s the least amount of hits we’ve had in a game. This is the first time we’ve been shut out (this season). If our sticks aren’t going, it’s going to be a tough game for us.”

Jackson singled to left and Brooklynn Dolon-Main reached on a fielder’s choice in the second, Jenna Calhoon hit a two-out double in the third, Alexis Smith reached on an error and stole second in the fourth, Ashlyn Brust worked a two-out walk in the fifth, Landry Cochran hit a leadoff single in the sixth, and Aven Willis reached on a two-out hit-by-pitch in the seventh.

The home Tigers left six runners behind, and Carthage was shut out for the first time in 23 games since a 5-0 loss last Oct. 9 against McDonald County.

Jackson took the loss, and she allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and no walks over 5 2/3 innings. Wallace retired all four batters she faced in relief with three 5-3 groundouts and one strikeout during her 12 total pitches.

Dolon-Main provided one of the defensive highlights when she gunned down a Willard runner attempting to steal third to end the fifth.

“Once we got out of that second inning, we did everything good,” Ray said. “We made the plays we needed, our pitcher threw strikes, got flyball outs, and they definitely kept us in the game. Just take away that second inning, it’s a scoreless ballgame.”

Carthage dropped to 10-10 overall and 1-3 COC after the loss.

“We have the rest of the weekend off,” Ray said. “Next week, we go to Branson (Tuesday, Sept. 20) and Nixa (Thursday, Sept. 22). Then on Saturday, we’re at Rogersville to play a doubleheader against Rogersville and Camdenton.”

SOFTBALL: Webb City earns signature win over Nixa

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

WEBB CITY, Mo. — Outstanding defense, a stellar pitching performance and just enough offense gave the Webb City Cardinals a signature win.

With a solid overall performance, Webb City edged Nixa 2-1 on Thursday in Central Ozark Conference softball action.

It’s safe to say the Cardinals were playing with some extra motivation following a disappointing 12-1 loss at Carthage on Tuesday. 

“This is a huge win,” Cardinals coach Shauna Friend said. “We definitely needed that performance after the Carthage game. We needed to come back and play solid defense, which we did. We made some fantastic defensive plays. And Laney Taylor came out and threw a great game. It was just great to see us come out and respond like that after Tuesday’s game.”  

The Cardinals improved to 3-1 in the Central Ozark Conference and 7-6 overall.

“I’m really proud of them because this is a big conference win,” Friend said. “I know they’re excited about this one, too.” 

The COC clash was a classic pitcher’s duel between Webb City’s Taylor and Nixa’s Maddy Meierer. 

The game was scoreless until the Cardinals broke through with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. 

With one out, freshman catcher Liz Rhuems singled to right before freshman second baseman Lily Hall followed with a single to right, with Rhuems beating the throw to third on the play. 

As Hall looked to advance on the basepaths, the Eagles threw to second, with the runner safe. As the Eagles held the ball, Rhuems then took off for home to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. 

“That was just heads-up baserunning,” Friend said. “Liz was being aggressive and that was great to see. It paid off.”

Hall, who made a diving stop in the field early in the game, advanced to third on a wild pitch before pinch runner Kyley Senter scored on Jensyn Pickett’s RBI groundout to right for a 2-0 cushion.

The Eagles cut their deficit in half in the sixth — and they nearly went ahead.

With one out, Paige Garetson and Phoebe Gardner hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners.

Next, Chloe Krans hit a fly ball to deep center field, and Webb City junior Dawsyn Decker made a crucial catch against the fence, robbing Krans of a go-ahead home run.

Garetson scored on the sacrifice fly to cut Webb City’s lead to 2-1 before Taylor retired the side.

“Dawsyn robbing that home run was huge,” Friend noted. 

Nixa threatened in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Lauren Loney doubled and then took third on a wild pitch before Harper Jane-Simpson walked to put runners on first and third. 

Webb City’s defense came through one final time, as junior first baseman Sydney Strickland hauled in Taylor Melton’s pop up near the screen in foul territory to secure the win.

A sophomore right-hander, Taylor earned the pitching victory. Taylor allowed just one run and scattered seven hits in the complete-game effort. She walked one and struck out one.

“She was hitting her spots,” Friend said. “She kept them off-balance. Her changeup was looking good. She had a good game.”

Rhuems had two of Webb City’s three hits.

“We didn’t hit, but we made things happen when we needed to,” Friend said. “Nixa out-hit us and they’re a good team. And Nixa’s pitcher Maddy is a top of the line pitcher in this conference.”

Nixa’s Meierer pitched well in defeat. She struck out 11, walked none and gave up just two runs on three hits. Garetson and Gardner had two hits apiece for Nixa (8-4, 1-3 COC). 

Neither team made an error in the field in the game that took less than an hour and a half to complete.

Webb City will travel to this weekend’s Park Hill South Tournament in Kansas City.

The Cardinals will return to COC action on Tuesday at home against Neosho. 

“Hopefully we can continue this trend,” Friend said.

 

FULL STATS: Webb City HS (webbcitycardinals.com)

SOFTBALL: Mustangs top Tigers in walk-off fashion

Posted on by Jason Peake

ANDERSON, Mo. — McDonald County rallied in the bottom of the seventh to earn a 4-3 walk-off win over Carthage on Wednesday in a non-conference softball contest.

The game was deadlocked when McDonald County’s Amanda Pacheco stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. Pacheco delivered the game-ending single, with Jacie Frencken scoring the winning run.

The Mustangs improved to 10-4, while the Tigers fell to 10-9.

Nevaeh Dodson was the winning pitcher. She struck out 10, scattered eight hits and gave up three runs.

Carthage’s Ashlynn Jackson took the loss, but she only allowed three earned runs. 

Frencken went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored for the Mustangs.   

Aven Willis went 3-for-3 for the Tigers, while Alexis Smith had two hits and two RBI. 

After the Tigers plated a run in the top of the first inning on Smith’s RBI single, McDonald County’s Frencken hit a two-run home run in the bottom half. 

Frencken hit an RBI single in the second inning to give the Mustangs a 3-1 lead.

In the third, Carthage’s Landry Cochran singled and later scored on Smith’s RBI single into left, cutting her team’s deficit to 3-2.

The score held up until the top of the seventh, when Carthage tied it up on Jenna Calhoon’s run-scoring double.

The Mustangs rallied with one out in the bottom half, as Frencken singled, Katelynn Townsend was hit by a pitch and Natalie Gillming singled to load the bases for Pacheco, who gave Mac County a walk-off victory with her clutch hit. 

Carthage hosts Willard on Thursday. McDonald County hosts Cassville on Thursday.

SOFTBALL: Big innings lead Carthage past Webb City

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

CARTHAGE, Mo. — A pair of big innings propelled the Carthage Tigers to a 12-1 run-rule win over the rival Webb City Cardinals on Tuesday in Central Ozark Conference softball action.

Carthage pushed across six runs in the third inning and five more in the fourth. 

The Tigers improved to 10-8 overall and 1-2 in the COC, while the Cardinals fell to 5-6 and 2-1 in conference play.

The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on Landry Cochran’s RBI single to left, but the Cardinals tied it up in the top of the second on Alex Maturino’s bloop RBI single into left.

Carthage scored six times in the third inning. 

After two hits, the Cardinals failed to corral Jenna Calhoon’s squeeze bunt, allowing Aven Willis to score. An RBI groundout off the bat of Cochran made it 3-1. 

Webb City’s third error of the frame allowed Carthage to take a three-run advantage before Ashlynn Jackson delivered an RBI single for a 5-1 cushion.  

Later in the inning, Shelby Hegwer’s two-run single extended Carthage’s lead to 7-1. 

In the fourth, Jackson and Brooklyn Dolon-Main hit RBI singles before Hegwer launched a three-run home run for a 12-1 lead.

The game ended after the Cardinals failed to score in the top of the fifth. 

The loss snapped Webb City’s five-game winning streak. 

Carthage’s Ashlyn Brust, Lexa Youngblood, Dolon-Main, Cochran, Jackson and Hegwer all had two hits apiece, while Hegwer drove in five runs. 

Six different players had one hit apiece for the Cardinals, with Maturino recording the lone RBI and Lily Hall scoring the run. 

Jackson was the winning pitcher. She limited the Cardinals to one run on six hits and struck out two in five innings. 

Karsyn Cahoon was charged with the loss after allowing two earned runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. Laney Taylor gave up five earned runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings. 

Carthage is at McDonald County on Thursday, while Webb City hosts Nixa on Thursday. 

 

SOFTBALL: Neosho rolls over New Covenant in three innings

Posted on by Jason Peake

NEOSHO, Mo. — The Neosho Wildcats improved to 6-2 overall and won their third straight game with a 15-0 victory in three innings on Wednesday against the New Covenant Academy Warriors at the Neosho Athletic Complex.

Senior pitcher Chloe Patterson tossed a perfect game and the Wildcats plated three runs in the first, four in the second, and eight in the third during a game that lasted just under an hour.

Neosho returned home Wednesday for a non-conference game between Central Ozark Conference road games Tuesday (Nixa) and Thursday (Republic).

“You throw a perfect game and run-rule them in three innings, it’s the shortest amount that you can play,” Neosho coach Catie Cummins said. “You hope to feel pretty good. … We feel good. I just felt like we did not hit the ball as hard as we could, and there were just a few things. I realize we got the outs available, and Chloe had a great game, but we need to be a little bit sharper with our effort in other areas.

“It’s hard when you play a big game the night before and win and come home and it’s not the same caliber of team. I understand that, but we got the win and got the job done. I sound a little nitpicky, but with great teams, you’ve got to be a little nitpicky.”

Patterson struck out seven Warrior hitters and Grace Johnson’s two-run triple in the third highlighted Neosho’s offensive production.

The Wildcats recorded 13 hits—two apiece from Autumn Kinnaird, Beclynn Garrett, Abbie Carpenter and Olivia Emery. 

Carpenter drove in three runs, while Kinnaird scored three times. 

Neosho vies for a 2-0 start in conference play when the Wildcats visit Republic on Thursday.

“Another big game,” Cummins said. “If we go in and get that game, we’re up 2-0 in conference and sitting pretty good after playing two of the toughest teams in the conference. I’m excited to go on the road again and play well. I think we should win that game and continue on a roll.”

Additionally, the win against Nixa and the potential win against Republic would also benefit Neosho in district seeding because they are three of the six COC schools in the eight-team Class 5 District 5.

Neosho defeated Nixa 2-1 on Tuesday in a game that will be remembered for the duel between Neosho freshman Olivia Emery and Nixa senior Madison Meierer in the circle.

“I can’t say we’re surprised by that (win), because we know what we’re capable of, but I know when that score was tweeted, others were surprised,” Cummins said. “It was huge for us, huge for our program. Our seniors, they wanted that one and they went and got it. Olivia was nails on the mound. We had some diving plays. We had line drives caught that could have easily been hits. We played very well, and I was so pleased. We got a lot of messages from other coaches around Neosho, a lot of teachers, so it was nice for them to realize how big of a win it was, as well.”

SOFTBALL: Webb City finishes strong, knocks off Carl Junction in COC opener

Posted on by Jason Peake

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The home Carl Junction Bulldogs and the visiting Webb City Cardinals battled scoreless through the first four innings before erupting for a combined 14 runs in a 10-4 victory Tuesday for the Cardinals against their conference and district rival.

The Cardinals broke through and scored first with three runs in the fifth, then plated two more in the sixth and five more in the seventh for a commanding eight-run advantage.

Carl Junction scored two in the fifth and two in the seventh.

The Bulldogs missed their opportunities to score first Tuesday — Hannah Cantrell was called out for interference in the first negating a run, Kiley Spencer was picked off at first after reaching on an error to start the second, a Hannah Cole bunt turned into a double play in the third, and Carl Junction left the bases loaded in the fourth.

Webb City’s Joleesa Jarmin started in the circle against Carl Junction. All photos by Jessica Greninger.

Webb City sophomore Rylynn McFarland made one of the biggest plays in the game when her strong throw home from right field kept Sammie Sims at third in the fourth.

The Cardinals then never looked back after they started the scoring the next half-inning.

“Overall, defensively, we did a good job of keeping them in check and keeping their runners from scoring,” Webb City coach Shauna Friend said. “We still have a lot of work to do, both offensively and defensively. It was good to see the bats get going the last couple innings. That’s good motivation for us going into the rest of the season. This being the first conference game, it was good to come out with a win. Just keep getting better every day is our goal.”

Webb City improved to 4-5 overall and 1-0 in the Central Ozark Conference. The Cardinals return to action Thursday on the road against conference and district foe Willard.

Webb City enters Willard on a three-game winning streak, and the Cardinals, who have a starting lineup featuring four juniors, two sophomores and four freshmen, are making strides early in the season.

“A lot of the girls are getting some confidence, since basically nobody’s been a starting varsity player until our first game of the season,” Friend said. “It’s going to take them a little time to get the experience they need to be confident on the field and at the plate, but they’re doing a great job. Very pleased with the conference win, and just ready to keep playing and improving throughout the year.”

Dawsyn Decker and Sydney Strickland each led Webb City’s 14-hit attack Tuesday with three, Kylee Sargent, Liz Rhuems and Jensyn Pickett each had two, and Lily Hall and Alex Maturino each added one.

Decker drove in four runs, Sargent added three RBI and three runs scored, and Strickland also scored three runs.

Carl Junction dropped to 3-3 overall and 0-1 COC. The Bulldogs return to the field Wednesday on the road against Big 8 school Cassville.

“I was telling the girls afterwards that it could have gone one way or the other it seemed like early,” Carl Junction coach Zak Petty said. “We left too many people on base. We made a couple untimely errors. That’s not like us. We kept chipping away and coming back but missing that first run and getting it called back on an interference call, that’s a tough break.

“We battled well. Again, that’s a learning experience and it’s tough. When it’s a rival, you’ve got a little more emotion going on. Overall, pretty happy with it and there’s some things we can definitely clean up, for sure.”

Cantrell and Ryleigh Palmer each led Carl Junction with three hits, Sims and Madi Olds each had two, and Spencer and Izzie Southern each added one.

Spencer drove in two runs, Palmer and Southern each picked up RBI, and Sims scored twice and Cantrell and Palmer once each.

The teams, which only included one senior among their 20 varsity contributors Tuesday, combined for 26 hits.

 

Carl Junction’s Kiley Spencer delivers a pitch to the plate against Webb City on Tuesday. All photos by Jessica Greninger.

 

 

 

 

SOFTBALL: Emery’s gem, Garrett’s RBI double lift Neosho past Nixa

Posted on by Jason Peake

NIXA, Mo. — Olivia Emery tossed a complete-game gem and Neosho generated just enough offense to earn a 2-1 victory over Nixa on Tuesday in a Central Ozark Conference pitcher’s duel.

A freshman right-hander, Emery was stellar in the circle. She allowed just one run on three hits and three walks while striking out seven in seven innings to earn the pitching victory. 

Nixa’s Madison Meierer threw well in defeat. She allowed one earned run on six hits in seven innings with 10 strikeouts and one walk. 

In the COC opener for both teams, the Wildcats plated a single tally in the second inning when Abbie Carpenter singled and later scored on an error. 

The Eagles tied it up in the bottom half on Sara Sweaney’s home run to left field. 

Neosho took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on Maelynn Garrett’s RBI double to right field, with Autumn Kinnaird scoring the go-ahead run. 

Nixa threatened in the seventh, as Harper Simpson doubled to lead off the inning. But Emery retired the side to secure the win.

She struck out Natalia Pharris for the first out and induced a ground out off the bat of Paige Garetson. 

The Eagles had the tying run on third in the bottom of the seventh, but Phoebe Gardner lined out to Neosho second baseman Grace Johnson to end the game. 

The Wildcats recorded six hits. McKaylie Forrest went 2-for-3 and was the lone player with multiple hits. Forrest and Garrett recorded doubles.

Neosho (5-2) hosts New Covenant Academy at 4:30 on Wednesday. 

SOFTBALL: Carthage suffers pair of losses on final day of Joplin tourney

Posted on by Jason Peake

Carthage suffered a pair of one-run losses on the final day of the Paige Neal/Christina Freeman Softball Tournament at the Joplin Athletic Complex.

Competing in the Bronze Bracket on Saturday, Carthage dropped a 3-2 decision to Staley before Park Hill South edged the Tigers 9-8.

Against Staley, the Tigers plated single tallies in the first and third innings. 

Landry Cochran went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Jenna Calhoon had the lone RBI.

Ashlyn Brust and Cochran both doubled. 

Ashlynn Jackson took the loss after allowing two earned runs on two hits and four walks in six innings. 

Hailey Herman was the winning pitcher. She struck out seven and gave up one earned run in the complete game effort. 

Staley’s Rian Martin homered. 

In the tourney finale, Park Hill South plated the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to earn a walk-off victory. 

Carthage used a three-run seventh inning to tie the game at 8-8.

Lexa Youngblood led the Tigers at the plate by going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. 

Brooklynn Dolon-Main and Shelby Hegwer had two hits apiece. Dolon-Main drove in two runs, while Jackson, Youngblood and Aven Willis had one RBI apiece.

Cochran doubled and scored a run.

Addison Wallace allowed six runs on seven hits in two innings, while Jackson gave up one earned run on seven hits in five frames. Jackson fanned four.  

Park Hill South’s Erin Stewart drove in three runs on three hits. Stewart hit the game-ending double in the eighth inning. 

The Tigers went 1-4 at the Joplin tourney, beating Monett 8-3 on Friday. 

Carthage (5-5) is at Joplin (10-2) at 4:30 on Tuesday for the Central Ozark Conference opener. 

SOFTBALL: Neosho ends Joplin tourney with win over Nevada, Wildcats go 3-2 at event

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The Neosho Wildcats ended the Paige Neal/Christina Freeman Softball Tournament with a convincing 11-3 win over Nevada on Saturday at the Joplin Athletic Complex.

Neosho went 3-2 at the two-day tourney, with the victory over the Nevada Tigers capping a solid weekend for the Wildcats.

In the finale, Neosho led 5-3 before a six-run sixth inning blew the game open.

The Wildcats recorded 13 hits in the game, with six different players contributing.

Beclynn Garrett and Olivia Emery each had three hits to lead Neosho’s offensive attack, while Autumn Kinnaird, Grace Johnson and Carleigh Kinnaird had two hits apiece. 

Garrett homered, Autumn Kinnaird tripled and Addysan Hart doubled. 

Garrett, Emery and Autumn Kinnaird all had two RBI apiece, while Johnson and Carleigh Kinnaird both drove in one run apiece.

Garrett scored three runs, while Johnson and Autumn Kinnaird scored two runs apiece.

Emery was the winning pitcher. She did not allow an earned run in six innings in the circle. She struck out nine, walked one and scattered seven hits.

On Friday, Neosho earned a 14-0 win over Monett, beat Carthage 9-4 and dropped a 6-0 decision to eventual tourney champ Blue Springs.

On Saturday, Joplin defeated Neosho 15-8 (see related story) before the Wildcats ended the event by beating Nevada. 

Neosho (4-2) is at Nixa on Tuesday in Central Ozark Conference action. The Wildcats will be at home one day later, hosting New Covenant Academy on Sept. 7.

 

SOFTBALL: Webb City earns two wins at Joplin tourney 

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The Webb City Cardinals ended Joplin High School’s Paige Neal/Christina Freeman Softball Tournament on a positive note. 

After going 0-3 at the event on Friday, the Cardinals earned two wins on Saturday in consolation bracket play.

Webb City beat Monett 7-5 and the Cardinals defeated Seneca 12-5. 

Against the Cubs, the Cardinals scored four runs in the third inning and led 7-2 after five frames. 

Sydney Strickland went 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Liz Rhuems went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Kylee Sargent had two hits, a home run and a double, while Alex Maturino drove in two runs.

Karsyn Cahoon was the winning pitcher. She went seven innings and gave up just one earned run on five hits while striking out two. 

Monett’s Jenna Herald took the loss after allowing six earned runs on nine hits in six innings. She struck out four.

Allyson Inman had two hits for Monett.

The Cardinals used a pair of big innings to take control against Seneca, a six-run fourth and a five-run fifth. 

Webb City’s Rilley Hanes went 4-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored, while Rhuems drove in three runs on two hits. 

Sargent went 2-for-3 with two doubles and scored twice. 

Laney Taylor was the winning pitcher against Seneca. She went six innings and allowed one earned run on four hits and struck out four. Addison Brown allowed one earned run on two hits. 

Seneca’s Callie Rhoades took the loss. Rhoades had two of Seneca’s six hits and drove in two runs. Abby Jamros had the other RBI for the Indians. 

Webb City (2-5) is at Carl Junction on Tuesday for a COC clash.

SOFTBALL: Joplin wins four straight, places fourth in home tourney

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The Joplin Eagles reached 10 wins on the season, extended their winning streak to four games, and placed fourth overall in the 18th annual Paige Neal/Christina Freeman Softball Tournament after recording a pair of wins on Saturday— 15-8 against Neosho and 12-8 against Nevada.

Blue Springs won the tournament behind a perfect 5-0 record and Broken Arrow (Okla.) finished second.

Kickapoo was third, while Neosho finished fifth and Nevada was sixth. Park Hill South, Staley, Carthage, Webb City, Monett, and Seneca rounded out the tourney field.

Joplin (10-2 overall and 4-1 in the tournament) brought out the bats early and often in their opening win against Neosho, plating six runs in the first, three in the second, two in the third, three in the fifth, and one in the sixth.

The Eagles drove Neosho sophomore Carleigh Kinnaird, who threw a perfect game on Friday against Monett, out in the first with two outs and six runs scored.

Joplin pitcher Jill McDaniel delivered the decisive blow, a three-run home run.

The Eagles seemed to have their momentum carry over from Friday’s 8-7 win over Staley that saw them erase a six-run deficit and win in thrilling fashion.

“When you come out and score all those runs in the first inning, it’s really nice to get all that momentum right away,” Joplin coach Brenden Schneider said. “Neosho’s a good team. Obviously, they’ve got a potent lineup as well, and they put up runs just as much as we did almost. We’re happy about the good momentum for us.

“Getting those six runs and to find a way to win it in extras, it is huge momentum coming into today. Credit to Jill McDaniel on the pitching side. She’s thrown a lot for us, and she’s being a warrior for us in the circle, grinding it out. For our girls in the lineup to know that we’re going to help you out here, too, it’s a nice balance and there’s a lot of trust being developed.”

Abby Lowery and Izzy Yust each led the Eagles with four hits and three RBI, while Lowery scored four runs and doubled twice. Lowery also worked a walk, proving to be a thorn in the side of the Wildcats all day.

Lowery also denied Neosho’s Abbie Carpenter a hit with a diving catch in center in the fourth.

McDaniel and Jadyn Pankow each also had two hits and three RBI, and 10 different Eagles players scored at least one run.

McDaniel earned the win, and she allowed six runs (five earned) on five hits with two strikeouts and three walks over 2 2/3 innings.

Caelyn Bobski came on in relief and she finished with two runs allowed (both earned) on five hits with two strikeouts and one walk in 3 1/3 innings.

Beclynn Garrett led Neosho with three hits, older sister Maelynn Garrett had two, and Autumn Kinnaird, Carpenter, Carleigh Kinnaird, Chloe Patterson, and Grace Johnson each had one.

Maelynn Garrett scored three runs and drove in two, while Beclynn Garrett scored two and drove in two.

Joplin scored seven unearned against Neosho pitchers Carleigh Kinnaird and Patterson.

The Eagles scored four in the first and two in four different innings during their tournament finale against Nevada.

Libby Munn hit a pair of home runs and drove in three, while Pankow led the way with four hits. Riley Kelly added three hits, and Bailey Ledford and Maria Loum each contributed two.

Ledford, Pankow, Kelly, and Yust each drove in two, while Taryn Casey scored three runs and Lowery, Munn, and Loum two each.

Ava Wolf earned the win in relief with her one recorded out and McDaniel pitched three scoreless as the Eagles closed out the scoring in the fourth and sixth.

Coming out of the Labor Day holiday, Joplin returns to action on Tuesday with the Central Ozark Conference opener against district foe Carthage.

“We’d love to go into Carthage and snag a win,” Schneider said. “Big conference game for us. Coach (Stephanie) Ray always does a nice job. Carthage is always tough, especially playing at their field makes it a little more difficult. Hopefully, our momentum carries into Tuesday.

“Right now, other than the hitting, which is more of a physical thing, it’s our grit and our toughness. Being down six runs going into the bottom of the inning vs. Staley and then we come out and carry that over (Saturday) with six in the first, that’s awesome. Just impressed with the ability of us to grind through things.”

 

Paige Neal/Christina Freeman Softball Tournament

Saturday’s results

(At Joplin Athletic Complex)

Gold Bracket 

Blue Springs 9, Broken Arrow 3

Blue Springs 11, Kickapoo 3

Broken Arrow 12, Kickapoo 3

 

Silver Bracket 

Joplin 15, Neosho 8

Neosho 11, Nevada 3

Joplin 12, Nevada 8

 

Bronze Bracket 

Staley 3, Carthage 2

Park Hill South 9, Carthage 8

Park Hill South 9, Staley 8

 

Consolation Bracket 

Monett 8, Seneca 0

Webb City 7, Monett 5

Webb City 12, Seneca 5

 

Tournament Records

Blue Springs 5-0

Broken Arrow 4-1

Joplin 4-1

Kickapoo 3-2

Neosho 3-2

Park Hill South 3-2

Nevada 2-3

Staley 2-3

Webb City 2-3

Carthage 1-4

Monett 1-4

Seneca 0-5

SOFTBALL: Joplin tourney concludes; Blue Springs claims championship

Posted on by Jason Peake

 

The 18th annual Joplin High School Paige Neal/Christina Freeman Softball Tournament wrapped up on Saturday at the Joplin Athletic Complex.

Blue Springs claimed the tourney championship.

Joplin went 4-1 on the weekend. 

Saturday’s scores are listed below. 

 

Paige Neal/Christina Freeman Softball Tournament

Saturday’s results

(At Joplin Athletic Complex)

Gold Bracket 

Blue Springs 9, Broken Arrow 3

Blue Springs 11, Kickapoo 3

Broken Arrow 12, Kickapoo 3

 

Silver Bracket 

Joplin 15, Neosho 8

Neosho 11, Nevada 3

Joplin 12, Nevada 8

 

Bronze Bracket 

Staley 3, Carthage 2

Park Hill South 9, Carthage 8

Park Hill South 9, Staley 8

 

Consolation Bracket 

Monett 8, Seneca 0

Webb City 7, Monett 5

Webb City 12, Seneca 5

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