baseball
Tigers claw way to history
Wednesday afternoon in Hurley, the Exeter baseball team experienced a, "Wow, that just happened," moment. Down by 2 early and trailing 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh in the Class 1, District 5 title bout, the Tigers (15-8) plated a pair of runs and brought the game to a final out. A mid-range fly ball tested right fielder Kronikel Lokot, but the senior snagged the catch to win Exeter its first-ever district championship.
Rose goes to Grizzlies
Cassville senior CJ Rose has been playing baseball most of his life, and he will continue to do so in the fall, as he’s signed on April 24 to pitch for Missouri State University in West Plains. Rose said it has only been the past couple years he’s gotten serious about playing collegiately, and he’s happy to make the move.
Wildcats want to prove themselves in Big 8
With the majority of its Big 8 Conference slate coming down the pike, the Cassville baseball team is looking to prove itself among the heavy hitters. The Wildcats (7-6) have been improving this year compared to 2023, according to Coach Shawn Trent.
Tigers have Ozark 7 Conference title in sights
The Exeter baseball team is enjoying another successful season, on the brink of a possible fourth straight Ozark 7 championship and hoping to chase a trophy in the six-team Class 1, District 5 tournament coming up. Matt Tripp, Exeter baseball coach, said the Tigers who have two district title match appearances in the last three seasons, have played inspired ball this season, continuing to improve as the season progresses.
Scoreboard, April 17
The Cassville boys track and field team took second place as a team and the girls took third at the Clever Invitational on April 9.
Trojans bring strength on the mound
The Southwest baseball team will rely on its pitching to produce another winning season, hoping to stay healthy and make a run more district hardware for Trojans athletics this year. Derek Mann, Southwest baseball coach, said the Trojans were hit hard by injuries at the start of last season, going 1-9 in their first 10 but finishing 13-11 overall.
Bulldogs bring ‘sneaky good’ potential
With six returning starters taking to the diamond for Wheaton this season, Bulldogs Baseball Coach Tucker Dermott said this year is one of the most promising for his squad to be “sneaky good.” Excited for Wheaton’s positional and lineup versatility, as well as its pitching depth and experience, Dermott said the Bulldogs have a lot of players up for spots who can play anywhere. “Being a small team in the past, I’ve had to make it work because of our lack of depth,” he said.
Tigers searching for 4
The Exeter baseball team is entering this season with high expectations having lost only two players, and the Tigers are taking aim at a fourth straight Ozark 7 title and a deeper run in districts. Matt Tripp, Exeter baseball coach, said the young Tigers squad struggled to reach potential last season, but the outlook this year is on the up.
Mission accepted
Multi-sport athlete Brendyn Paulsen, a senior at Southwest High School, narrowed his future focus on Friday, signing to play baseball at the next level with Mission University in Springfield. Paulsen, who is in the midst of district tournament basketball this week and has his senior season of baseball just around the corner, said putting his name down was a dream come true.
