Team Goes From Thoroughbred To Plow Horse

RICK PECK/SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS McDonald County third baseman Izak Johnson puts the tag on a Neosho runner during McDonald County's 4-2 win on June 2 in the Carl Junction 18U Baseball Tournament.

RICK PECK/SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS McDonald County third baseman Izak Johnson puts the tag on a Neosho runner during McDonald County's 4-2 win on June 2 in the Carl Junction 18U Baseball Tournament.

Thursday, June 7, 2018

The McDonald County 18U baseball team opened the Carl Junction tournament like a thoroughbred but finished up like a plow horse.

McDonald County won both of its games on June 2 but lost a pair of blowouts on June 3.

Cade Smith led McDonald County to a 4-2 win over Neosho in the opener. Smith went the distance on the mound, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out three.

McDonald County took a 1-0 lead in the first on a walk to Omar Manuel and an RBI single by Izak Johnson.

After Neosho tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a walk, a stolen base and two wild pitches, McDonald County scored three runs in the third inning to take a 4-1 lead.

Ty Shaver was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Manuel singled before Joe Brown singled in a run. Manuel then scored on a wild pitch before Nevin Price's two-out single drove in the final run of the inning.

Neosho put together three singles in the bottom of the third for a run, but Smith shut out his opponent over the final four innings.

Smith finished with two hits while Manuel, Brown, Price and Shaver had one each.

El Dorado Springs

McDonald County followed up its opening game win with an 8-2 win over El Dorado Springs, keyed by the pitching performance of Johnson.

Johnson struck out 10 in going the distance for the win.

McDonald County was led at the plate by Brown, with two hits, and Boles, who added a bases-loaded double to drive in three runs.

Carl Junction

After a pair of wins on Saturday, it was just the opposite on Sunday.

Carl Junction scored 11 runs in the first inning and rolled to a 14-4 win. Grant Cooper allowed 10 runs and couldn't get out of the first inning to take the loss.

Manuel led the offense with two hits while Brown had one.

Lamar

Lamar piled on with a 12-4 win in Sunday's second game.

Brown took the loss on the mound. Shaver and Micah Burkholder both had two hits to lead the offense.

McDonald County, 2-3 for the season, hosted Neosho on June 5 and Seneca on June 6. McDonald County is at Carthage on June 7.

Sports on 06/07/2018