Holcomb

There are few businesses anywhere in the world that haven’t had to think differently over the past couple of years in this ever-changing environment that we are all immersed in, more than likely, forever. And Semoball.com is not immune to that. The website devoted to providing sports fans thorough coverage of sports throughout Southeast Missouri is still going to make that its mission on a daily basis, however, the internal pieces are going to be doing some shifting moving forward.

Prior to the MSHSAA Class 4 Boy’s Soccer state championship game last November in Springfield, Jackson senior goalkeeper Luke Mirly wasn’t exactly feeling great.

The Semoball Cup is presented to the school with the most successful season based on a formula that takes into account the combined winning percentage of all sports teams (WIN) plus bonus points for advancement in postseason play for both teams (POST) and individuals (IND). The bonus points are divided by the number of teams a school fields. Here are the standings with previous rankings from 2020:...

The best of the best will be recognized at the 2021 Semoball Awards presented by SoutheastHEALTH on July 10 at the Rock N’ Roll Drive-In in Chaffee.

Six finalists for the Semoball Cup from last year are once again in the running for the trophy given to the top sports program, including the top three from a pandemic-shortened year. The winner will be announced during the eighth annual Semoball Awards, which will be held July 10 at the Rock N’ Roll Drive-In in Chaffee...

State champions Oran and Kennett led all Semoball-area schools in all-state baseball selections with five apiece. In total, 36 athletes from the Semoball coverage area were named to all-state teams. The Eagles had three Class 1 first-team selections in senior Kaden Hargrove, senior Ty Johnson and sophomore Nic Massey. Oran senior Dawson Menz was named to the all-state second team, and sophomore Kolten Payne received an honorable mention...

The 2021 Tri-County Conference Baseball Awards have been released. Holcomb junior Nate Rhew is the Tri-County Conference Baseball Player of the Year. Rhew finished 6-2 with a 1.49 ERA while striking out 107 in 56 innings of work on the hill. He also batted .358 with four home runs and 32 RBIs...

OZARK – History was on the side of the Holcomb baseball program in Tuesday’s MSHSAA Class 2 Baseball State Final third-place game at US Ballpark in Ozark. The Hornets had played in the game three times earlier in program history and never lost.

OZARK – The Holcomb baseball team didn’t play its best game of the season in Monday’s MSHSAA Class 2 State Semifinal against East Buchanan, in fact, it was far from the Hornets’ best effort. However, it wasn’t as if Holcomb played poorly. “I thought we hit a lot of balls well,” Hornet coach Darin Shipman said. “But you have to hand it to (East Buchanan) they made plays.”

The 2021 Tri-County Conference all-conference softball awards have been released. Holcomb senior Hannah Burk and Holcomb junior Alyssa Brown have been selected Tri-County Co-Players of the Year. “Hannah led us in almost every offensive category and she plays first base about as good as anyone I’ve seen,” Holcomb coach Matt Casper said. “She’s just solid all the way around.”...

Holcomb Hornets baseball coach Darrin Shipman likes it when his pitchers challenge hitters. “I always tell our kids walks lead to runs,” Shipman said. “We like to limit walks and throw strikes. At the same time we don’t want to be predictable. We want to be able to throw any pitch at any time.”...

The all-state team has been released for spring softball. A total of 16 players in Class 1 and nine players in Class 2 from the Semoball coverage area have been selected all-state. Holcomb senior Hannah Burk, Holcomb freshman Maleigh Lemings, Holcomb senior Bailey Cupples, and Advance senior Danielle Markham have been selected as first-team all-state infielders in Class 1...

HOLCOMB - Holcomb Hornets baseball coach Darrin Shipman delivered a motivational speech after his squad suffered a 5-0 loss to Ellington on May 3. “We talked about competing and giving everything we’ve got every at-bat,” Shipman said. “I think we only had a couple hits that day. We just stressed the importance of grinding out every at-bat.”...

The Meadow Heights baseball team has already made history this week by winning its first-ever MSHSAA District and Sectional titles, and the Panthers will seek to continue that positive momentum in their quarterfinal test today at Holcomb at 4:30 p.m.

HOLCOMB — Nate Rhew and the Holcomb Hornets delayed their coach’s retirement again Monday. Rhew struck out 11 in tossing a three-hit gem against an Ellington offense that hammered its way to a district title after the Hornets scored in the first inning to beat the Whippets 8-1 in the MSHSAA Class 2 sectional playoff...

SPRINGFIELD - The Holcomb Hornets greatest softball season in school history concluded a victory shy of the ultimate prize Sunday at the Class 1 state softball tournament at Cooper Softball Complex in Springfield. Holcomb played Purdy to a 1-all stalemate for the first four innings of play. But Purdy broke a 1-all tie when Robyn Schad hit a sole homer in the bottom of the fifth inning and eventually beat Holcomb 4-1 in the Class 1 state title championship...

SPRINGFIELD - Holcomb Hornets left fielder Kelsi Tucker got a bit nervous when Wellington-Napoleon put the tying run on third base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday night. “My mind was just racing,” Tucker said. “I was just hoping we would get that third out some how some way."...

The schedule has once again been altered at the spring softball state tournament at Killian Softball Complex in Springfield. The Class 1 and Class 2 state semifinals were postponed Friday due to rain. The first Class 1 state semifinal between Advance and Purdy did start on time at 4 p.m. Thursday but was suspended with two outs in the top of the third inning. Purdy currently leads Advance 1-0. Weather permitting the Advance-Purdy game will resume Saturday at 2 p.m...

Holcomb stung Campbell with a two-out rally in the middle of a pitching duel Wednesday in MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 championship game. The Hornets put together three straight run-scoring hits to back Nate Rhew, who struck out a dozen and held off the Camels for a 5-3 win at Bernie High School...

HOLCOMB - Holcomb No. 9 hitter Allison Moody recognized the significance of the moment when she stepped to the plate with the go-ahead run at third base with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning Wednesday. “I was kind of scared at first,” Moody said. “I got down in the count 0-2. But I finally saw the pitch I wanted and swung at it.”...

HOLCOMB - The Holcomb Hornets softball squad is headed to the state playoffs for the first time in school history. No. 1 seeded Holcomb beat No. 2 seeded Gideon with Risco 10-0 Friday in the Class 1, District 1 final to secure its first district title ever...

HOLCOMB - There is a new baseball program with conference bragging rights following the completion of the Tri-County Conference Tournament. The Holcomb Hornets beat the seven-time defending champion Cooter Wildcats 5-1 to take home the top prize at its conference tournament for the first time since 2005 Wednesday evening...

No. 1 seeded Holcomb scored in every inning it batted as it beat No. 5 seeded Campbell 10-0 in a Class 1, District 1 softball semifinal Wednesday. Host Holcomb led 5-0 after one inning, 7-0 after two innings, 9-0 after three innings, and 10-0 after four innings...

Oran scored the final two runs to snap Holcomb’s 19-game winning streak as it collected a 4-3 victory at the Swing Pink Tournament Saturday in Dexter. Holcomb led 2-1 after two innings and 3-2 after five innings before Oran scored a run in the top of the sixth inning and another in the top of the seven frame for a one-run win...

The Woodland softball team won their ninth game of the season Friday on the road, pummeling Puxico by the score of 17-2. The Cardinals scored multiple runs in the third inning (six) and fifth (nine) innings, highlighted by a home run and an RBI triple hit by Rylee Cureton, who accumulated three hits while driving in four RBIs...

RISCO - Winning the Tri-County Conference Tournament is becoming an annual tradition for the Holcomb Hornets softball squad.

COOTER - The Holcomb Hornets baseball squad collected arguably its biggest victory to date Monday afternoon when it visited arch rival Cooter. Holcomb (9-4) became the first squad to hand Cooter a Tri-County Conference loss this season as it secure a 7-5 road victory...

The brackets are set for the Tri- County Conference and Bootheel Conference softball tournaments. Both events begin Monday. Holcomb is the No. 1 seed in the Tri-County Conference Tournament and Kennett is the No. 1 seed in the Bootheel Conference Tournament...

Scott City starting pitcher Mackenzie Lawless gave up 13 runs, including 10 runs in the third inning, as the Marion Wildcats defeat the Rams easily, 21-0. Scott City was only able to punch through three hits in four innings, as Lawless recorded a base hit, as did Olivia Ponder, and Harley Glueck...

SENATH - The temperature may be fixing to take an unusual April plummet in Southeast Missouri. But the Holcomb Hornets softball squad is as hot as July. Holcomb (12-3) entered Monday’s doubleheader against Malden and Senath-Hornersville with Southland with a 10-game winning streak, having scored at least 18 runs in its last four games...

The Holcomb Hornets scored multiple runs in every inning it as it won at Delta 18-0 in four innings Wednesday. Holcomb (8-3) scored three runs in the first inning, two runs in the second inning, eight runs in the third inning, and five runs in the top of the fourth inning...

The Holcomb softball team scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to beat Advance 5-4 Tuesday at Westfield Park in Advance. The victory was the sixth straight for Holcomb, who improved to 6-3. The loss snapped Advance’s six-game win streak...

Mackenzie Lawless drove in six runs while smashing a home run and a triple, leading Scott City past Scott County Central Monday, 29-12. The Rams scored 15 runs in the second frame, as six different hitters drove in RBIs in the inning, while the Brave pitchers walked a total of 19 Scott City batters...

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 Holcomb Hornets softball squad has the type of lineup that can put up multiple crooked numbers on a scoreboard when it is firing on all cylinders. “We all have the ability to hit,” Holcomb coach Matt Casper said. “It’s just a matter of us clicking together.”...

Senath-Hornersville with Southland scored 15 runs in the bottom of the first inning and three more in the second frame as it beat visiting Clarkton 18-0 in three innings Friday. Six Senath-Hornersville with Southland players drove home at least two RBIs...

The Kennett Indians softball team scored in every inning as it run-ruled Scott City 19-4 in five innings Wednesday. Visiting Kennett (2-2) led 8-2 after one inning, 15-3 after two innings, 17-4 after three innings, and 18-4 after four innings. Adelynn Nelson and Olivia Orf both finished 3 for 4 with four RBIs for Kennett. Nelson had a pair of doubles...

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...

A close victory finally materialized for the Holcomb Hornets softball squad Monday afternoon. After suffering a pair of one-run loses to Brookland (Ark.) and Park Hills Central Saturday at the Brookland Blast Holcomb drove home the final run on Monday to edge visiting Rector 5-4...

The Holcomb Hornets softball squad suffered a pair of one-run loses Saturday at the Brookland Blast in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Holcomb dropped its first game to host Brookland 11-10 in in eight innings. Park Hills Central followed by beating Holcomb 8-7...

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 Holcomb Hornets softball program enters its spring campaign hoping to add to the historic success it enjoyed two years ago. Holcomb has the luxury of returning seven starters off of a 2019 squad that compiled a record of 20-1 and finished runner-up to Malden in its district tournament...

The 2021 Bootheel Conference girls basketball awards have been released. Hayti junior guard Amiya Johnson is the Bootheel Conference Player of the Year in girls basketball. Johnson averaged 28.9 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game, 3.1 assists per game, and 4 steals per game...

The 2021 Tri-County Conference boys basketball awards have been released.

ELLINGTON — The Whippets crashed the boards to crash Holcomb’s first-ever playoff appearance Wednesday night. Ellington got 12 second-chance points, led by a double-double from Gretchen Hackworth and nine rebounds from sophomore sub Ella Morton, as the host beat the Hornets 58-49 in the MSHSAA Class 2 sectional playoff...

There were a ton of great postseason performances on the basketball courts of Southeast Missouri last week.

Local teams place in MCCA state cheer competition East Carter won its division at the Missouri Cheerleading Coaches Association's state championships, it was announced Sunday, while the East Prairie and South Pemiscot squads were honored for their work during timeouts. ...

HOLCOMB - When the Holcomb Hornets relaunched its high school girls basketball program four years ago its first-year varsity players suffered a few growing pains. "This current group of seniors were freshmen when they launched the program at the high school level,” current Holcomb girls basketball coach Alexa Stockton said. ...

The Hayti Indians and Holcomb Hornets varsity girls basketball teams are set to collide for a third time after both teams collected semifinals victories in the Class 2, District 1 Tournament Monday night. No. 1 seeded Hayti cruised past No. 4 seeded South Pemiscot 76-6 in its semifinal Monday...

High School boys and girls basketball district tournaments are finally upon us. Fans, players, and coaches have had to endure a strange, but sometimes fun, basketball season, which was filled with many postponements and/or cancellations due to Covid-19, as well as the weather. However, we can say that the 2020-2021 season has been one of the more entertaining ones in recent years.