The Neosho Nighthawks American Legion baseball team continues to heat up, just like the temperature.

Neosho won its eighth straight game, including its fourth straight doubleheader sweep by defeating visiting Cassville Post 118, 7-5 and 8-4.

The doubleheader was slated to be on the road for Neosho, but a change Sunday afternoon moved the games to Roy B. Shaver Stadium, with Post 118 still being the host team.

The Nighthawks used consistency at the plate and solid defense in the field to pull out the win in game one. Neosho scored two runs in the first, third and fourth innings, helping the team stake a 6-0 lead over Cassville.

Two singles, by Carter Marion and Ty Anderson, coupled with an error and a sacrifice fly by Tanner Pogue made it 2-0 in the first inning for Neosho. Chris Bevis led off the third inning with a home run, while Pogue capped the scoring with an RBI double, scoring Marion, who walked.

Anthony Westfield had an RBI single and Bevis added an RBI on a squeeze bunt in the fourth inning to make it 6-0.

Post 118 cut the lead in half in the fourth inning with four straight hits to open the inning.

Michael Baker doubled and moved to third on Jake Nolan’s single. Jody Caveness added an RBI single, before Tyler Miller singled. Levi Roberts drove in a run with a fielder’s choice, while another run was brought home on a throwing error on that play, making it 6-3.

Neosho made it 7-3 by scoring a run in the sixth inning, thanks to Bevis. The graduated senior doubled to bring home Westfield, who reached on an error, for his third hit and third RBI in as many at-bats.

Cassville scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to account for the final tally. With the bases loaded Caveness drove in a run with a fielder’s choice. Miller had a fly ball that was misplayed in the outfield for an error and another run scored for Cassville, making it 7-5, but that was as close as it would get.

Dallas Randen got the victory for Neosho, throwing 6-plus innings, striking out four.
Westfield worked the final inning to pick up the save.

“We played really good baseball,” said Neosho coach Eddie Crupper. “We manufactured runs and we played really good defense.

Bevis was 3-for-3 with 3 RBI, while Anderson was 2-for-2 for Neosho.

“Chris Bevis stuck with baseball and he is getting rewarded for it by playing some good baseball,” Crupper said.

Neosho used the long ball in game two, picking up the win by hitting four home runs, which accounted for five of the team’s eight runs. Neosho broke a 2-2 tie by scoring six straight runs to grab control of the game.

Both teams scored two runs in the first inning of the contest. Neosho got a single from Scooter Lewis and a two-run home run by Westfield.

Cassville tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Josh Hartin and an error in the bottom half of the inning.

Three of Neosho’s next four runs came from home runs. Kyle Dickens and Westfield hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the third inning. Dallas Randen and Bevis followed with consecutive doubles to account for another run.

Neosho’s Marion added a solo home run in the fourth inning, making it 6-2.

The lead grew to 8-2 in the fifth inning for the Nighthawks (21-10). Westfield reached on an error and scored on Bevis’ RBI double. Koty Dowell then added an RBI single capping the scoring for Neosho.

Cassville got two runs, on RBI singles by Haynes and David Lunsford, in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Westfield started and threw four innings for Neosho to get the win, while Lewis tossed the final inning. At the plate, Westfield hit two home runs and drove in three runs.

“I felt like we beat a really good team,” said Crupper. “Cassville could be one of the teams to beat in districts because they have everyone back from last year. I am surprised they have four district losses. We played some good defense until the end.
We are playing solid baseball and getting the extra runs when we need to.”

Neosho finished with a 6-2 mark in District 15 play and puts them and Carl Junction Post 781 as the teams with the two best marks entering the district tournament that starts Saturday in Anderson.