Baseball Takes Third At Ozarks Classic

RICK PECK/SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS McDonald County catcher Joe Brown tags out a West Plains runner during the Mustangs' 5-1 loss in the Ozarks Classic High School Baseball Tournament in Harrison, Ark.
RICK PECK/SPECIAL TO MCDONALD COUNTY PRESS McDonald County catcher Joe Brown tags out a West Plains runner during the Mustangs' 5-1 loss in the Ozarks Classic High School Baseball Tournament in Harrison, Ark.

McDonald County scored five runs in the top of the seventh to beat Grove, 7-6, on March 17 in the third-place game of the Ozarks Classic High School Baseball Tournament in Harrison, Ark.

The Mustangs trailed 3-2 entering the top of the seventh but scored five runs on two hits, three errors and a walk before holding on in the bottom half of the frame for the win.

Tyler Stoutsenberger led off the seventh inning with a walk. Oakley Roessler and Izak Johnson then reached on errors with Stoutsenberger scoring the tying run on Johnson's slow roller in front of the plate.

Ty Shaver drove in a run on a fielder's choice before Boston Dowd drove in a pair of runs with a single. Joe Brown then singled in a run and came all the way around to score on a pair of Grove throwing errors.

Dowd got the win, allowing four runs on four hits. Raygan Bradley relieved Dowd in the seventh after the junior right-hander walked the leadoff batter. Bradley hit the first batter he faced and allowed a pair of doubles before getting the final out on a ground ball to third.

McDonald County took a 2-0 lead in the first on an error and singles by Brown and Charlie Moore.

Grove tied the game in the fourth on two hits and two errors and took the lead in the fifth on two hits and an error.

Brown had two hits, while Dowd and Moore both had one each.

McDonald County is at Neosho on March 22 and hosts Grove on March 24 at MCHS.

Mammoth Springs

McDonald County opened its season with an 11-1 win on March 16 over Mammoth Springs, Ark., in the tournament opener.

Moore went the distance, allowing one run on four hits while striking out eight.

McDonald County scored single runs in the second and third innings and then broke the game open with four runs in the fourth and three in the fifth before scoring two runs in the sixth to end the game on the 10-run rule.

Micah Burkholder and Brown had three hits each to lead the Mustangs' offense. Jordan Platter, Dowd and Stoutsenberger added two hits each. The Mustangs stole eight bases in the game, including three by Platter.

West Plains

West Plains handed McDonald County a 5-1 loss on March 17 in the tournament semifinals. Austin Wood held McDonald County hitless through four and two-thirds innings before Cam Murphy allowed a run on two hits in two and a third innings of relief.

Grant Cooper was the hard-luck loser, allowing four runs on seven hits, including a three-run homer by Tyler Wheeler. Cade Smith worked the final two innings, allowing a run on three hits.

McDonald County scored its lone run in the sixth inning on a singles by Johnson and Platter and a double steal with two outs.

"This was a great way to start the season," said coach Nick Martin. "The kids competed all weekend. We didn't swing the bats very well against West Plains, but we battled back to score a run late. Against Grove, we found a way to win. Overall, our pitching was pretty good. I think our bats will come around the more we play."

Sports on 03/22/2018