Southwest hopes to make noise in 5-team district

BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

After three seasons at .500 or better, the Southwest baseball team has found wins tough to come by in 2025, as it is rebuilding after graduating seven seniors last year.

Derek Mann, Southwest baseball coach, said the large turnover has thrust younger, inexperienced players into the fold, but a 2-15 season so far does not mean the Trojans can’t make some postseason noise.

“We have a lot of younger kids who had not had varsity experience in the spring yet,” Mann said. “We’ve struggled with putting games away or giving up big innings in close ones, then we are unable to come back.

“But, these guys compete to the last out, no matter the score, and they are getting better and better every day and learning the game of baseball.”

Part of the improvement can be credited to the team’s two seniors — catcher Tyler Meek and shortstop Logan Gregory — the only two with varsity experience at the start of the season.

“They lead by example and work hard every day,” Mann said. “They are good at keeping the team level-headed and on the positive side.”

Southwest dropped its first six contests, including two in extra innings, before securing a win over Liberal, 18-4, in the Carthage Bill O’Dell Varsity Festival on March 29.

Another four losses struck before the Trojans surprised Exeter with a 12-6 victory at the Tigers’ diamond.

“We struggled in th ebeginning of that game and were down 6-3 going into the fifth,” Mann said. “We were’t pitching bad, but we had a lot of errors early. We switched pitchers midway through the fourth, putting in senior Tyler Meek, and he started shutting them down.

“He only gave up one hit the rest of the game, and with him on the mound, the team’s attitude changed. We started hitting and capitalized on Exeter’s mistakes, and we came out with the win.”

That victory was on April 10, and the Trojans are hoping to snap a five-game skid this week. They played at Crane on Monday, with the result not available at presstime, and host Hurley Thursday for senior night at 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.

On Saturday, the Trojans will head to Springdale, Ark., for a baseball treat, a 3 p.m. contest against Purdy at Arvest Ballpark, where the Arkansas Naturals minor league team plays its games.

The regular season wraps up on May 12 at home against Verona.

Mann said the Trojans are looking at the No. 5 seed in the five-team Class 3, District 11. That would likely set up a playin game with Sarcoxie, with the winner to face the No. 1 seed, likely Diamond or Clever. Pierce City is the fifth team, appearing to be destined for the No. 3 seed.

“Well have a tough road, but we have the talent to make some noise,” Mann said. “That will depend on whether or not we can limit mistakes. Most games we lose, we beat ourselves.

“If we can limit mistakes and play clean baseball, the district could be anybody’s.”