CHS Wildcats defeat Indians at home

The Cassville Wildcats defeated Carl Junction on the diamond last Thursday, taking a 6-2 win at Wildcat Field. Ben Makela started and earned the win for Cassville. The Bulldogs scored one in the top of the second inning with a home run and scratched across another run in the seventh before the Wildcats turned a game-ending double play.

After Makela shut out Carl Junction in the first frame, the Wildcats erupted for four runs in the home half of that inning. Ricky Nichols and Trey Rose both walked, then executed the double steal. Nichols scored on a passed ball, then Josh Sexton brought in Rose with a single. Makela reached base with a hit, then he and Sexton both scored on a single from Kreg Myers to create the 4-0 early lead.

With the score at 4-1 in the bottom of the second inning, Cassville padded the lead with two more runs. Garrett Kirk reached base after getting plunked at the plate. Nichols doubled, then Kirk scored on another passed ball error. John Cavness drove in Nichols with a single, and the 'Cats held a 6-1 lead.

Carl Junction fashioned a run in the top of the seventh on two walks and a hit. But with one out, Nichols caught a line drive and threw to Kyle Brattin at second base to end the game.

Dreams dashed at

Hammons Field

In Saturday's epic battle with Big 8 rival Monett at Hammons Field in Springfield, the Wildcats lost by a single run. The Cubs scored three runs in their final at bat to earn a 7-6 victory. Monett did not lead in the game until that fateful last inning.

The Wildcats showed no nerves playing on the minor league diamond, scoring three runs in their first at bat. Nichols scored on a passed ball, then Cavness drove in Rose. A Makela double supplied the RBI and the 3-0 Cassville lead.

Monett used a two-out rally to get on the board in the home half of the first. Marcus Enloe tripled and then came home on a Jake Smith single to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Wildcats scored again to start the third inning. Rose tripled and scored on a fielder's choice to give Cassville a 4-1 advantage, but Monett answered immediately, scoring two in the bottom of the third. A great relay from right fielder Kirk to Brattin to Rose at home earned the third out of the inning and kept Monett from tying the game.

After a scoreless fourth inning, Cassville scratched across another run in the top of the fifth. Cavness doubled and Josh Sexton's RBI single gave the Wildcats a 5-3 lead. Monett answered with a run in the home half of the inning and stayed within a run at 5-4.

The sixth inning belonged to the pitchers again, Cassville failed to score but Cavness retired the Cubs in their turn at the plate to protect the meager one-run lead.

In the top of the seventh, Cavness drew a walk and the Wildcats converted that into an insurance run and a 6-4 cushion.

But the Cubs came alive in the bottom half of the seventh, scoring three runs to earn the victory. With his team trailing 6-5, Jesse Bremer lined a two-out, two-strikes game winner that scored both Tyler Green and Andy Hagedorn.