The Joplin Eagles handed McDonald County High School its fifth consecutive loss by claiming a 12-4 decision on April 22 at Joplin High School. The game was originally scheduled to be played at MCHS but was moved to the turf field at Joplin due to wet grounds at McDonald County High School.
Joplin took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a hit, two walks and a hit batter off Mustangs starter Jaime Hanke.
McDonald County answered in the top of the second with two runs on just one hit, a two-out, bases-loaded double by Emmanuel Baisch. McDonald County took advantage of walks to Oakley Roessler, James King and Ty Shaver to set the stage for Baisch's double.
But Joplin came right back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring seven runs on three hits. The Mustangs committed two errors, issued two walks and hit a batter in the inning. Tyler Sellers relieved Hanke with one out to finish the inning.
Hanke was charged with five runs in an inning and a third while Sellers allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Brandon Burton worked a scoreless third and fourth inning for the Mustangs before Joplin stretched its lead to 11-2 with three runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth.
McDonald County scored its final two runs in the sixth on three walks and a single by Roessler.
Joplin made the final score 12-4 with a run on the bottom half of the inning on a pair of hits off of A.J. Madewell, the Mustangs' fourth pitcher of the day.
Roessler finished with two hits to lead McDonald County while Baisch, Jordan Platter and Mark Kaiborn added one hit each.
McDonald County falls to 6-13 heading into its April 24 and April 25 home games against Webb City and Monett. The Mustangs are at Mount Vernon on April 27 and at Carl Junction on April 29 for a doubleheader with the host Bulldogs and the Cassville Wildcats.
Aurora
Aurora's Zac Shoemaker pitched a perfect game to lead the Aurora Houn Dogs to an 11-0 win on April 20 at Aurora High School.
The Houn Dogs proved their number one state ranking is worthy, scoring 11 runs on 10 hits to go with Shoemaker's masterpiece. Shoemaker struck out eight and only went to three balls on a batter twice.
McDonald County's closet bid for a hit came off the bat of Roessler, whose line drive in the left-centerfield gap was ran down at the last instant.
Grant Cooper went the distance for the Mustangs, allowing 11 runs, seven earned, on 10 hits.
Sports on 04/27/2017