Mustang Boys Baseball Suffers Losses

Rick Peck/Special to McDonald County Press McDonald County second baseman Jorden Platter makes the turn as the Mustangs record a double play during a 9-8 loss on May 4 at Bentonville West High School.
Rick Peck/Special to McDonald County Press McDonald County second baseman Jorden Platter makes the turn as the Mustangs record a double play during a 9-8 loss on May 4 at Bentonville West High School.

Bentonville West took advantage of seven McDonald County errors, including three in the bottom of the seventh to score the winning run, to claim an 8-7 decision on May 4 in Bentonville.

McDonald County rallied from an early 5-0 deficit to tie the game at 8-8 in the sixth only to see any chance of victory go out the door in the seventh when Bentonville scored the winning run on a hit and three McDonald County errors.

Cade Smith took the loss, allowing one run in two-thirds of an inning of relief of Charlie Moore.

Moore went the first five and two-thirds innings, allowing eight runs, four earned, on nine hits, while striking out five and walking three.

Bentonville scored two runs in the first on an error, a passed ball and two hits. The Wolverines added two more in the second on a hit batter, a hit, a passed ball and an error.

The Wolverines made it 5-0 in the third on a walk, an error and a hit.

McDonald County began its comeback with two runs in the fourth. Joe Brown walked to lead off the inning. With two outs, Jorden Platter tripled in a run and scored on a single off the bat of Omar Manuel.

The Mustangs took a 6-5 lead with four runs in the fifth. Ty Shaver reached and stole second. With two outs, Brown reached on an error. Moore then drove in both runners with a double. Tyler Stoutsenberger tied the game with an RBI double before scoring the going-ahead run on an error.

Bentonville answered in the bottom half of the inning with three runs on a walk, three hits and an error to take an 8-6 lead.

McDonald County tied the game in the top of the sixth, setting up the Wolverines' walk-off win. Izak Johnson walked before Ty Shaver reached on an error and stole his second base to put runners on second and third. Brown then singled in a run before Shaver scored to tie the game when Brown's hit got by the left-fielder for a two-base error.

Stoutsenberger, Platter and Manuel had two hits each to lead McDonald County while Brown and Moore had one each.

Seneca

Seneca scored three runs in the first and cruised to a 6-1 win on May 1 in Seneca.

Boston Dowd took the loss, allowing six runs, two earned, on seven hits in five and two-thirds innings while striking out six and walking two. Oakley Roessler allowed two hits and struck out one in a third of an inning.

The Indians increased their lead to 7-0 after six innings, scoring a single run in the fifth and two more in the sixth before McDonald County got on the board.

Stoutsenberger doubled and scored on an error for the Mustangs' only run.

Seneca's Gavin Clouse held McDonald County to four hits, including two by James King. Stoutsenbeger and Brown had the only other two Mustang safeties.

Mount Vernon

Will Boswell tossed a two-hitter to lead the Mount Vernon Mountaineers to a 4-1 win on Monday night at MCHS in the Mustangs' final home game of the season.

Boswell struck out 10 and walked five, allowing a single to Joe Brown in the fourth when McDonald County scored its lone run on Brown's hit and three walks, including one to Omar Manuel with the bases loaded and a double to Ty Shaver in the seventh.

Grant Cooper took the loss for the Mustangs, allowing three runs on four hits in four and two-thirds innings. Jorge Ruiz walked one and gave up a run on one hit before Boston Dowd worked two perfect innings. Raygan Bradley got the final out in the seventh after giving up one hit.

Following the game, McDonald County honored nine senior players and two senior Diamond Dolls in their final home game.

Seniors players honored include Jorge Ruiz, James King, Ty Shaver, Tyler Stoutsenberger, Trey Black, Raygan Bradley, Grant Cooper, David Roark and Caleb Curtis. Senior Diamond Dolls honored were Chloe McCool and Hannah Leonard.

McDonald County begins play in the Missouri Class 5 District 12 Tournament at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, in Carthage against the host Tigers.

The winner advances to face Neosho at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 14, also in Carthage.

Sports on 05/10/2018