Joplin Trims MCHS To End Mustangs' Season

RICK PECK MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS McDonald County second baseman Jake Wilkie is waiting to put the tag on Joplin’s Spencer Newell during the Mustangs 4-2 loss Saturday in the opening round of the Missouri Class 5 District 12 Baseball Tournament.
RICK PECK MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS McDonald County second baseman Jake Wilkie is waiting to put the tag on Joplin’s Spencer Newell during the Mustangs 4-2 loss Saturday in the opening round of the Missouri Class 5 District 12 Baseball Tournament.

The Joplin Eagles ended the 2015 baseball season for the McDonald County Mustangs with a 4-2 win Saturday in the Missouri Class 5 District 12 Baseball Tournament in Carthage.

Joplin's Austin Zerkel picked up the win, allowing just four hits in seven innings.

But despite's Zerkel's efforts on the mound, Joplin had to come from behind to pull out the win.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first, McDonald County took a 2-1 lead in the third when it picked up two of its four hits.

Jarrett Sanny drew a one-out walk to start the rally. Donovan Taylor and Emitt Dalton followed with singles to drive in the first run of the inning. Dalton then scored on a fielder's choice ground out by Jake Wilkie.

Joplin answered in the bottom half of the inning off McDonald County starter Jamie Hanke with what proved to be the winning run, scoring twice on a pair of doubles and a bunt single on a suicide squeeze play.

Hanke finished by allowing three runs on five hits.

"Hanke threw well and we played good defense behind him," coach Nick Martin said. "It was a well-payed game by both teams. We just couldn't get a timely hit when we needed it."

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a walk and a triple by Tyler McGrew. Joplin added an insurance run off McDonald County reliever D.J. Madewell in the fifth on a single and a fielder's choice.

McDonald County threatened in the top of the seventh when Jake Wood singled and Dagan Stites walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. But Zerkel was able escape the jam with a strike out and a pair of pop-ups.

The loss ended the McDonald County's season with an overall record of 14-15 for the season, including a 3-5 record in the Mustangs' first season of play in the Big 8 Conference.

The game was the end of their McDonald County playing days for seniors Wood, Wilkie, Madewell, Ethan Eads, Dillion Lance, Lakota Rose and Josh Kinser.

"This is my fourth year in the program and this group had more wins every year," Martin said. "They have the laid the foundation for a successful program."

Sports on 05/23/2015