Baseball

Host sites and classification are set for spring sports. --- Baseball districts are slated to begin May 15. Host Cooter will compete with Naylor, Richland, Risco, and Southland in Class 1, District 1. Cooter is ranked No. 3 in Class 1 Host Bell City will compete with Advance, Delta, Leopold, Oak Rige, and Oran in Class 1, District 2. Oran is ranked No. 1, Advance is ranked No. 7, and Bell City is ranked No. 9 in Class 1...

The Cape Central Tigers returned to .500 after defeating St. Pius X 5-2 on Friday at Capaha Field. Ty Thatcher pitched his first complete game, allowing two runs, none earned, on two hits, two walks with four strikeouts. “I was throwing a lot of fastballs, curveball through the second time around the lineup,” Thatcher said. “I’ve been working on [the curveball] since the eighth grade.”...

The Saxony Lutheran Crusaders defeated Jefferson (Festus) Friday, 5-1, at home to start the season 9-0, their best start in the history of the program. Saxony Lutheran head coach Paul Sander went with senior Eli Brown on the mound, and Brown did not disappoint...

MALDEN - South Pemiscot junior right-hander Steven Henley is emerging as one of the top strike out machines in the region. Henley entered Thursday having struck out 26 in 14 2/3 innings of work this spring. “He’s been our No. 1 all spring,” South Pemiscot coach Jason House said. “He’s struggled a little bit finding the zone in the past but he’s starting to figure things out. We’ve transformed him into our ace. He’s a pretty dominant arm that’s going to be tough to beat.”...

Don’t look now but Saxony Lutheran is starting the baseball season on a hot streak. The Crusaders dominated Delta 13-2 in six innings on Thursday at Capaha Field to start the season at 8-0. Tanner King went 2 for 2 at the plate Thursday, including a triple that scored three runs, and also walked. He has driven in a run for the Crusaders in seven of their last eight games...

The Oran offense exploded for a season-high 16 runs on Wednesday as the Eagles drilled 15 hits to shutout Scott City, 16-0. Sophomore Kolton Payne led the show, going 3 for 4 at the plate, including a double that drove in a run in the first inning. Payne also scored two runs...

NEELYVILLE — Lane Crosswhite delivered a two-run, game-winning hit that bounced high off the mound, past a drawn-in infield, sending Neelyville to 4-3 a comeback win Thursday. “I knew as soon as Christian (Hefner), our nine-hole (hitter) got on base that things were going to line up,” Crosswhite said. “I knew after that the guys before me were going to be perfect, they’re going to get on base and I could rely on them, they could rely on me...

The Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association released its first state rankings for the 2021 season earlier this week. Oran and Kennett are favored to win state titles in their respective classes. Oran is ranked No. 1 in Class 1 and Kennett is ranked No. 1 in Class 4...

DYER, Tenn. - The Kennett Indians baseball squad hit a pair of home runs in the third inning as it slugged its way past Jackson South Side 5-1 Wednesday at the Mid-Season Classic Wednesday. Kennett jumped out to 1-0 lead when Brooks Nigut drove home a run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning. Kobe Gates and Reese Robinett followed with solo home runs in the third frame to pad the Indians' lead to 3-0...

Conner Wissinger blasted a home run for the second consecutive game to lead Notre Dame to a dominating 9-2 win over Dexter on Wednesday to extend its winning streak to six games. “It’s awesome,” Ben Pearson said of Wissinger. “We’re all super happy for him and it really gets us fired up to go do some damage too.”...

SIKESTON —After watching Farmington erase an early 6-1 deficit with a seven-run third inning, Sikeston could have wilted under the adversity. Instead, they rallied for a 19-9 win over the Knights. Taking advantage of the strong wind blowing out of VFW Stadium, Sikeston hit four home runs, including two grand slams, and set a season-high for runs against district foe Farmington, who came in as the sixth-ranked team in Class 5...

SIKESTON — It was a quick turnaround for the Sikeston baseball team on Tuesday, and one that the Bulldogs felt couldn't end quick enough. Twenty-four hours removed from a 13-4 victory over New Madrid County Central, Sikeston (4-8) returned to VFW Stadium for its second-straight SEMO Conference matchup — this against Poplar Bluff...

CARUTHERSVILLE - The Senath-Hornersville Lions baseball squad fell behind 1-0 in the first inning but responded with 12 unanswered as it beat the host Caruthersville Tigers 12-1 in five innings Monday. It was Tigers' first game of the season and the Lions' first contest since Mar. 22 when it won at Gideon 18-0...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Returning to the field against a familiar rival is what the Sikeston baseball team desperately needed. After a 10-game gauntlet against the likes of DeSmet and Francis Howell — among others — the Bulldogs found themselves with a 3-7 record...

JACKSON, Tenn. - The Kennett Indians baseball squad collected a split for a second straight day Saturday at the Easter Slam in Jackson, Tennessee. Kennett rallied to beat the University School of Jackson 7-5 in six innings in its first game Saturday...

Chaffee head baseball coach Brian Horrell got 6 1/3 innings from senior starting pitcher Alec Brown, who only gave up two earned runs, striking out 12 batters and scattering five hits, shutting down East Prairie Monday, 6-2. Brown was very solid in his start, throwing 70 of his 106 pitches for strikes...

ST. LOUIS — Poplar Bluff finished off the Midwest Classic Tournament with a win. After losing both games Tuesday, the Mules beat Francis Howell North 9-5 on Friday. In an up and down game; the Mules had highlight-reel defensive plays while committing four errors along the way...

JACKSON, Tenn. — The Kennett Indians baseball squad opened the Easter Slam with a split Friday in Jackson, Tennessee. Kennett won Game 1 on Friday against Creekwood, Tennessee, 11-0 in five innings. Kennett scored a run in the bottom of the first inning, eight runs in the fourth frame, and two more in the fifth for its 11-run total...

Following a year of missing out on gathering with friends and family due to the COVID pandemic, everyone, including sports fans, is anxious to spend time with those closest to us once again.

KENNETT - The Charleston Bluejays provided the Kennett Indians baseball squad with a final tune-up opportunity Wednesday afternoon before the start of the Easter Slam in Jackson, Tennessee, this weekend. Kennett returned to the mound for the first time in a week to edge visiting Charleston 4-2 at Indian Park...

The Oran offense pounded out 10 runs on 12 hits Thursday, including shortstop Ty Johnson going 3 for 3 at the plate, as the Eagles shut out Delta, 10-0, to win their fifth game in six attempts. Johnson also drove in two RBIs in the contest. Two other Eagles (Kaden Hargrove and Nicolas Massey) drove in two RBIs as well to tie Johnson for the game lead in runs driven in...

Normally Senior Day is a special time to show appreciation for athletes who have spent their entire time with the school playing the sport they love. It's going to feel different for Justin Moses when the Indians take on Ste. Genevieve on Wednesday. The shortstop is in his first and only season in Jackson after transferring from Poplar Bluff...

Bell City scored two runs in the first inning, and three more runs in the second inning to take an early lead, but lengthened that lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring eight runs, to put the game away Monday, winning 14-4 at home. Nate Stone recorded three hits in three at-bats, one of those being the long ball variety, as the senior drove in a run and scored four runs, leading the Cubs (2-1) offensively...

POPLAR BLUFF — Before the Farmington baseball team broke open a tight game with a five-run seventh, the Knights caught a break. With the game tied in the fourth, the Mules put their first two on base before a hard-hit line drive was snared by the Farmington third basemen leading to an inning-ending double play...

The Senath-Hornersville Lions baseball squad continues to focus on the little things as it prepares to return to action on Apr. 5 following a 13-day layoff due to weather and spring break. “I think a big key for us is playing fundamentally-sound, making routine plays, and putting the ball in play,” Senath-Hornersville coach Chris McLain said. “When we do those things and throw strikes we can compete with anyone.”...

If you see Saxony Lutheran senior Eli Brown manning first base, you’ll most likely see him doing the spits to extend himself further to make the catch before the runner reaches the base in time. It has been the benefit of having his hips surgically repaired when he was a sophomore...

Third place hitting Andrew Enderle went 5 for 5 against Bernie Monday, driving in seven RBIs, hitting three home runs, to lead Scott City past the Mules, 19-10. Enderle homered in the first inning, singled in the third, singled in the fourth, homered again early in the sixth inning, and finally wrapping up his day with another home run of the grand slam variety, later in the same inning...

The Advance baseball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit, tying the score in the sixth inning and going ahead in the seventh of a 4-2 victory over Charleston on Saturday at Rent One Park in Marion, Illinois. Charleston (1-2) scored two runs in the first inning, but Jed Garner settled down to earn the victory. He allowed two runs — one earned — on four hits with 11 strikeouts and two walks in seven innings...

BENTON, Mo. — Through three games this season, the Kelly baseball team has shown that it can put crooked numbers on the scoreboard at any point. On Friday, they made it four games in-a-row, defeating East Prairie 8-5 at Thomas W. Kelly High School in Benton. The Hawks tallied five runs over two innings to edge a gritty Eagles' bunch and remain undefeated on the year...

Scott City fell behind early, giving up a run in the first inning, and couldn't get anything going offensively, as Farmington shut out the Rams, Friday, 8-0. Scott City starting pitcher Nick Hillman gave up a double to lead-off hitter Jeremiah Cunningham, who would advance to second after a walk by Hillman, then would steal third base a batter later...

SIKESTON — Behind a strong outing on the mound from sophomore Trace Sullivan and added run support, the Sikeston baseball team snapped its two-game losing skid on Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs defeated Salem 8-0 at VFW Stadium — in a game that was apart of the Four Rivers Tournament — and Sullivan was one reason why. Over his four innings of work, he did not allow one hit while striking out seven and walking two...

Saxony Lutheran earned their second win of the season Wednesday, defeating Meadow Heights, 7-3.

The Campbell Camels baseball squad outlasted Holcomb 2-1 in 13 innings Wednesday. Campbell (2-0) scored the winning run when Kaden Siebert scored from third base on a passed ball in the top of the 13th inning. Skylar Morrison drove home Campbell’s other run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning...

BENTON, Mo. — It took longer than expected for the Kelly baseball team to find its rhythm. The Hawks mustered three of their six hits through the first four innings but could never plate one run across during that stretch. However, the bats woke up late, and the runs followed suit, as Kelly (3-0) defeated New Madrid County Central (0-1) 9-3 at Thomas W. Kelly High School in Benton on Monday...

Charleston couldn’t start the baseball season any better than its 15-0 win over Herculaneum in five innings on Monday at Capaha Park. The game was called after the fifth inning due to a mercy rule. Both senior pitchers Dawson Crawford and Luke Nichols combined to throw five no-hit innings...

The Zalma baseball team won their season opener Monday at home off of a Trey Clark walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh, beating Puxico 4-3. Clark recorded two RBIs in the game, but none was as important as the one in the seventh. Nate Ware started on the mound for the Bulldogs, throwing 4 1/3 innings, striking out 10 Indians...

The Bell City Cubs opened their 2021 Baseball campaign with a lopsided home win Monday, beating Leopold, 10-0. The story of the game was the pitching of Bell City starter Austin Hunt, who totally shut down the Wildcats offense, limiting them to just three hits the entire six-inning contest...

BONNE TERRE, Mo. — A two-out double broke a fifth-inning tie Monday as the Poplar Bluff baseball team lost 2-1 at North County. The Mules committed three errors and struck out nine times, losing for the third straight game. “There’s a lot of positives I can point out, we just got to clean it up,” Mules coach Steven Edwards said...

Expectations are sky high for a senior-heavy Campbell Camels baseball squad following an extremely successful fall campaign. Campbell is coming off a fall season in which it went 13-2 and won its own end-of-the-season tournament. “We are getting ramped up and ready to go,” Campbell coach Joe Campbell said. “Hopefully we can keep things rolling and continue to enjoy success like they did on the baseball diamond in the fall and more recently on the basketball court.”...

SIKESTON — Starting the season with the lightest competition is not what the Sikeston baseball team had in mind. Head coach Brett Kolons wanted his team to overcome a challenge heading into Saturday's opener, and they would get two opportunities to do that...

Coach: Joe Bickings What are your expectations for this season? “We hope to compete for a district championship and advance in the playoffs.” After a year-long layoff, how eager are you and the team to get back on the field and compete? “The team and I are very eager to get back out there and compete. We had a very successful fall season, and we hope that will better prepare us for this upcoming spring.”...

Advance senior Layton Keith drove in two runs and struck out four batters in 2.1 innings to help lead the Hornets to an 11-1 win against Delta to open the season on Friday at Advance. Jed Garner started the game and struck out eight batters through the first four innings. He also had three hits and two runs batted in...

POTOSI, Mo. — Jadarius Pigg won all four of his events Friday, sweeping the hurdles and beating a teammate in the long jump, as the Poplar Bluff track and field team won 11 in all to claim the Trojan Invitational. The Mules took the top two spots in five events, winning the team title by 73 points in the season-opening meet...

SEMO catcher Wade Strauss had a hit and two RBIs while relief pitcher Austin Williams slammed the door on Austin Peay, pitching two scoreless innings, to give the Redhawks a 6-3 win, Friday. Strauss found a fourth- inning pitch to his liking and drove the ball to right field, plating both his younger brother Ty Strauss and infielder Conner Basler to extend the SEMO lead to 4-1...

SIKESTON — When the Sikeston baseball team lost to St. Francis Borgia in a Class 4 Quarterfinal on May 24, 2019, no one envisioned that the Bulldogs’ next game wouldn’t be for another two years. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic canceling all fall sports in Missouri for 2020, Sikeston fans had to wait...

WILLARD - The Kennett Indians baseball team fell behind 2-1 but still found a way to win at Willard 7-3 in its season-opener Friday night near Springfield. Willard lifted its starting pitcher, Gunner Wildermuth, after the fourth inning and Kennett capitalized immediately with a five-hit, five-run top of the fifth frame...

Holcomb Hornets baseball coach Darrin Shipman is preaching flexibility to his players as they prepare to begin their spring season. “We have some guys who can play as many as four different positions depending on who is pitching,” Shipman said. “We’ve told them when your numbers are down at a small school you are going to have to be flexible and play different positions. We’ve got to find a way for our guys to play different positions and play them well this spring.”...

The Malden Green Wave baseball program enters its spring campaign hoping for continued success after compiling a 13-4 record in its inaugural fall season. “There are some unknowns after nobody got to play last spring,” Malden coach Tim Harmon said. “Fortunately, we were able to play 17 games in the fall. ...

Following the lost baseball season of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, every team enters this spring with a lot of question marks. “There’s a little bit of adjustment this year,” Poplar Bluff Mules coach Steven Edwards said. “We have a lot younger guys out here. We lost a big senior class last year, and of course not getting on the field to get to play kind of hurt.”...