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The McDonald County AAA American Legion team may need a hug.
The squad has been taking part in a tournament at historic Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin since Wednesday. They have yet to win.
On Wednesday, McDonald County took on the host, Joplin; they lost 13-1. Thursday they ran into a buzz saw in Hillcrest. The Hornets banged out 25 hits in five innings in a 16-2 win. Friday, the Mustangs played Dewey, Oklahoma and fell 11-3.
Saturday, McDonald County took on the Glendale Falcons. In a game that featured the only two teams without a victory in the tournament thus far, Glendale used a five-run second inning and some late game heroics to edge McDonald County 7-5.
“We just had a bad second inning,” McDonald County coach Nick Martin said. “Brandon (Stites) threw well the defense just didn’t do the job behind him today. Brandon is a guy that didn’t throw a lot this spring and we will depend on him next year.”
Stites threw 5 1/3 innings and calmed down after the second. He came out in the sixth with one out and Tanner Grab recorded the last two outs on the mound.
In the first inning, Kent Keene led off with a double single and the Mustang offense didn’t let up, scoring two runs in the opening frame. Grab and Kaleb Schlessman each had run scoring at bats in the inning.
Glendale was aided by errors in the second inning en route to jumping out to a 5-2 lead. The leadoff man reached after he struck out swinging and Schlessman dropped strike three and skied the throw to Grab at first base.
After three innings of stellar pitching, McDonald County finally broke through again in the fifth when Grab smacked another hit into right field scoring two more runs.
McDonald County then tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the sixth inning on a Kolby Henson groundout.
Unfortunately, the Mustangs couldn’t retain the momentum and Glendale scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to retake the lead.
“We’ve had some guys that we’re counting on play this week,” Martin said. “We finally hit the ball better
today and competed at the plate. (Mason) York threw well the other day, Grab drove in some runs today and he’s been doing that well for us. We’ve just got some holes to fill position wise.”
Offensively, Grab and Henson finished with two hits each. Grab had three runs batted in. Keene, Schlessman, Sakel Peak, Dusty Stites and Brandon Stites all had one hit each in the loss.
Sunday, the Mustangs will take on Pittsburg at 10 a.m. in their tournament finale and they will play again on Tuesday at Carthage.
York will start the game on the mound for McDonald County on Sunday.
The McDonald County AAA American Legion team may need a hug.
The squad has been taking part in a tournament at historic Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin since Wednesday. They have yet to win.
On Wednesday, McDonald County took on the host, Joplin; they lost 13-1. Thursday they ran into a buzz saw in Hillcrest. The Hornets banged out 25 hits in five innings in a 16-2 win. Friday, the Mustangs played Dewey, Oklahoma and fell 11-3.
Saturday, McDonald County took on the Glendale Falcons. In a game that featured the only two teams without a victory in the tournament thus far, Glendale used a five-run second inning and some late game heroics to edge McDonald County 7-5.
“We just had a bad second inning,” McDonald County coach Nick Martin said. “Brandon (Stites) threw well the defense just didn’t do the job behind him today. Brandon is a guy that didn’t throw a lot this spring and we will depend on him next year.”
Stites threw 5 1/3 innings and calmed down after the second. He came out in the sixth with one out and Tanner Grab recorded the last two outs on the mound.
In the first inning, Kent Keene led off with a double single and the Mustang offense didn’t let up, scoring two runs in the opening frame. Grab and Kaleb Schlessman each had run scoring at bats in the inning.
Glendale was aided by errors in the second inning en route to jumping out to a 5-2 lead. The leadoff man reached after he struck out swinging and Schlessman dropped strike three and skied the throw to Grab at first base.
After three innings of stellar pitching, McDonald County finally broke through again in the fifth when Grab smacked another hit into right field scoring two more runs.
McDonald County then tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the sixth inning on a Kolby Henson groundout.
Unfortunately, the Mustangs couldn’t retain the momentum and Glendale scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to retake the lead.
“We’ve had some guys that we’re counting on play this week,” Martin said. “We finally hit the ball better
today and competed at the plate. (Mason) York threw well the other day, Grab drove in some runs today and he’s been doing that well for us. We’ve just got some holes to fill position wise.”
Offensively, Grab and Henson finished with two hits each. Grab had three runs batted in. Keene, Schlessman, Sakel Peak, Dusty Stites and Brandon Stites all had one hit each in the loss.
Sunday, the Mustangs will take on Pittsburg at 10 a.m. in their tournament finale and they will play again on Tuesday at Carthage.
York will start the game on the mound for McDonald County on Sunday.
