Stellar pitching performances by Grant Cooper and Jaime Hanke allowed the McDonald County Mustangs to bounce back from an opening-round loss to take third place in the 2017 Mickey Mantle Wood Bat Tournament held last week in Commerce, Okla.
Cooper tossed a three-hit shutout to lead McDonald County to a 12-0 win over Locust Grove on April 6 to give the Mustangs a split of their two pool games.
Cooper struck out five and walked two in six innings. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second with a ground out and allowed a runner to reach second base just one other time.
"Grant threw very well," said coach Nick Martin. "He has been very consistent all season. He changed speed and threw strikes. The defense played well behind him. James King came in and played third base for the first time this year and made several good plays."
McDonald County scored all the runs it would need with a three-run first. Jordan Platter, Jamie Hanke and Tyler Stoutsenberger singled to load the bases with one out. Oakley Roessler walked to drive in a run before Boston Dowd drove in the final two runs with a two-out single.
McDonald County added a run in the second, three in the fifth and then ended the game early with a five-run sixth. Roessler had a two-run double in the fifth and Jon Martin, Dowd, James King, Emanuel Baisch and Ty Shaver each drove a run in the sixth.
"We are starting to swing the bats a little better," Martin said. "We have won three of our last four games and scored 32 runs in the three wins. Our younger guys are getting some experience and gaining confidence at the plate."
Hanke finished with three hits while Platter and Shaver had two each to lead McDonald County. Baisch, Stoutsenberger, Roessler, Martin, Dowd and King all had one hit each.
The third of those three wins Martin referred to was a 9-1 win over Miami in Saturday's third place game.
Hanke picked up the win, allowing an unearned run on just two hits while striking out nine and walking two.
"Jaime threw another good game and finally has something to show for it," Martin said. "Jordan Platter had a great day at the plate and we executed very well. We took advantage of our speed on the bases today (nine stolen bases)."
McDonald County scored a run in the first and third innings and then broke the game open with five runs in the fourth before ending the game on the run-rule with two runs in the fifth.
Hanke drove in a run in the first with a single and added a two-run hit in the fourth and a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Stoutsenberger drove in runs in the third and fourth with singles while Platter set the table with three singles. Dowd and Baisch had the other two Mustang hits.
Wyandotte claimed a 10-2 win in the Mustangs' tournament opener. Tyler Sellers took the loss, allowing nine runs on just four hits in three and two-thirds innings. Sellers struck out four and walked four before A.J. Madewell and Brandon Burt finished. Madewell allowed three hits and one run in a third of an inning while Burt worked a scoreless fifth.
McDonald County scored its only runs on Roessler's two-run homer in the fourth. Platter had two hits and Baisch one for the only other Mustang safeties.
Cooper, Hanke, Baisch and Roessler received all-tournament honors at a banquet held Saturday night. Guest speaker was Bret Saberhagen, the 1985 World Series MVP as a member of the Kansas City Royals.
McDonald County improves to 5-7 heading into its Big 8 Conference opener against East Newton on April 11. The Mustangs continue Big 8 play on April 13 at Cassville. Game time is 5 p.m.
Sports on 04/13/2017