Extra-inning runs down North Callaway 8-2 vs South Callaway

North Callaway softball had fresh blood and fresh minds heading into its season opener Tuesday.

The Ladybirds started six underclassmen against South Callaway at home in Auxvasse, clinging to a 1-0 lead until a sixth-inning home run forced extra innings. South Callaway plated seven runs in the top of the eighth to defeat North Callaway 8-2.

Freshmen Ella Slater and Olivia Knoepflein led the offense in their high school debuts as Slater finished 2-for-3 with a double and Knoepflein had an RBI triple. Sophomore Lauren Speight missed her freshman year due to injury but was up to the task starting for the Ladybirds as she allowed one run on three hits in five innings.

Head coach Mariah McKee said while senior Ellie Bedsworth struggled in the eighth inning, surrendering four RBI hits. Before all that, South Callaway’s McKenzie Laughlin reopened a wound on her leg after sliding into second base on a stolen base, McKee said, so the umpires allowed the game to be delayed to clean up the blood. Regardless, she said the Ladybirds will need more than the five hits they had Monday to put away teams.

“It can whenever you’re repeatedly throwing strikes in a row,” McKee said when asked whether the delay threw off Bedsworth’s rhythm. “It comes down to we didn’t hit the ball when we should’ve. We had too many goose eggs on the board. If you let a team hang around that long in extra innings, bad things are going to happen.”

The Ladybirds were able to hit the ball in the air in the second inning, starting with Slater. She didn’t hit the ball hard, but the popup fell behind first base to allow Slater to take two bases. Next up to bat was Knoepflein, who didn’t waste much time driving a ball over the left fielder's head for an RBI triple.

“That’s the fun thing about watching freshmen come in,” McKee said. “Yeah, they get the jitters but then you’ve got the, ‘I just want to play softball,' and I’m just going to go out and hit the ball.’ There’s not a lot of like thinking thinking. They’re just going in there being like, ‘See ball. Hit ball.’ Sometimes, we think too much.”

Knoepflein gave McKee, coaching third base, a double high-five showing the energy McKee has loved to see from her young players. McKee said Knoepflein, in particular, was pumped up throughout the game while throwing out runners at shortstop.

“They’re just happy,” McKee said. “She’s coming off the first couple innings, and she’s throwing girls out from shortstop, taking off her mask and she’s just pumped up. I love that intensity. I love that enthusiasm because that’s how I played whenever I was in high school so I feed off that too as a coach. It brings the joy back.”

McKee said North Callaway had a “great” first half of the game thanks partly to “stellar” defense. Feeding that defense was Speight as she induced five groundouts within the first six batters and didn’t allow South Callaway to get the ball airborne. 

The Lady Bulldogs tried multiple times to use small ball to manufacture runs, but a ball hit by Laughlin traveled through the air and over the centerfield fence in the sixth inning to tie the game at 1. Speight was removed from the game right after that and was relieved by Bedsworth, who retired seven of the next nine batters until Reagan Arrowood doubled to give South Callaway a 2-1 lead that grew from there.

“She did her job — flyballs and groundballs,” McKee said. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better. She was out all of last year. I’m just so glad I can have her this year. She pitched a heck of a first game so very, very proud of her.”

Laughlin powered up in the circle following her home-run inning by striking out four of the next Ladybirds to bring her strikeout total up to seven to go along with her five hits in eight innings. 

“We’re young,” McKee said. “We had a lot of first-game jitters. It’s just getting them confident and comfortable and knowing they have the ability to do it, and they do.”

North Callaway plays at Van-Far on Thursday before wrapping up the week on Saturday in New Bloomfield.

North Callaway junior varsity won its game 12-0 in three and half innings.

Hits all around for Mexico lineup in 10-5 win at Marshall

Mexico softball hasn’t had any difficulty scoring against Marshall in recent years.

In five of the previous seven meetings with the Lady Owls, the Lady Bulldogs had scored at least 10 runs. That trend continued Tuesday when Mexico won its North Central Missouri Conference opener 10-5 in Marshall. 

Every Lady Bulldogs picked up at least one hit, and six finished with an RBI. Lexie Willer drove in two RBI, and Shianna Exendine went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Emma Cunningham pitched all seven innings for the Lady Bulldogs while allowing six hits and five runs (two earned) and striking out eight.

Marshall had a 2-1 lead after one inning but lost the lead for good in the second inning, when Hannah Loyd hit a sacrifice fly and Mexico scratched across two more on balls that strayed away from the catcher for a 4-2 lead.

Exendine started the scoring in Mexico’s five-run sixth inning with an RBI single before Willer, Jordyn Thurman and Abby Bellamy followed with RBI hits of their own for a 10-3 lead.

Mexico moves to 4-2 and hosts Bowling Green at 5 p.m. today.

Centralia blanked 11-0 at reigning state champion Blair Oaks

Blair Oaks was the best team in Class 3 last season, proven by its state title.

The 2022 Lady Falcons appeared to be formidable when Centralia visited Tuesday as the Lady Panthers mustered three hits against Olivia Moyer in an 11-0 loss.

The Lady Panthers had the bottom of their order supply the hits as Madi Johnson, Meredith Wright and Tilly Fox each had one. The top four in the Centralia order — Autumn Hawkins, Jozelynn Bostick, Harper Sontheimer and Makenzi Adkisson all went a combined 0-for-10.

In the previous six games, the four Lady Panthers combined for 36 hits but were kept in check by Moyer, who finished with seven strikeouts and no walks in six innings.

Kaelyn Walters took the loss for Centralia despite shutting out the Lady Falcons through four innings. A couple of errors opened the door for a six-run fifth inning for Blair Oaks. Morgan Luebbering drove in a couple runs before hitting a three-run home run to fuel a five-run sixth inning to give Walters a line of 10 hits and 11 runs (nine earned) — with eight of the hits coming in the final two innings.

Centralia (3-4) returns home Thursday to face Battle.

Volleyball

Smithee sets aces record, North Callaway sweeps New Bloomfield

Sophomore Jaden Smithee came up aces for North Callaway on Tuesday.

The Ladybirds defeated New Bloomfield at home 25-6, 25-10 and 25-8 behind Smithee’s 10 service aces, which is a school single-match record.

Natalie Shryock led with five kills, and Bailey Hill followed with three kills.

North Callaway plays its Eastern Missouri Conference opener at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at home against reigning conference champion Montgomery County.

Mexico drops road opener at California

Mexico volleyball couldn’t get it going like it momentarily did in its home opener against Fulton.

The Lady Bulldogs were on the road Tuesday at reigning district champion California and were swept 25-13, 25-8 and 25-10 for their second straight three-set loss to begin the season. 

Emily Moppin led Mexico with five kills, Jessica Stephens had 10 digs to lead the team and four assists each by Ally Wilson and Lizzie Joiner was the team-high.

Mexico hosts its second North Central Missouri Conference opponent Thursday in Kirksville before playing another on Gary Filbert Court on Tuesday against Hallsville.

Boys soccer

Mexico boys pass by Elsberry 5-1

Mexico boys soccer strung together some offense Tuesday night at Elsberry.

The Bulldogs won their season opener 5-1 thanks to a hat trick by James Branson and two goals scored by Fernando Guzman — all scored in the second half.

Head coach William Gleeson said before the season Mexico could have much success if the boys trust each other. They seemed to do that in the first game as evidenced by their passing.

“We had 15 pass strings (three or more passes in a row),” Gleeson said. “This is better than last year. Our highest last year was six.”

Mexico was able to record 24 shots on goal, with the first one going in the net in the 54th minute after a successful penalty kick from Guzman. Branson then got involved four minutes later with his first goal on an assist by Marcos Matuz.

Guzman and Branson went back-to-back again in the 63rd and 64th minutes, respectively, as Guzman was assisted by Gage Walker and Branson rebounded a ball from the goalkeeper. Branson completed his hat trick in the 73rd minute off an assist by Junior Lopez.

Mexico plays in its home opener and North Central Missouri Conference opener at 5 p.m. Thursday against Fulton.

MMA drops a close one early, loses 2-1 at Warrenton

Missouri Military Academy soccer head coach Eliot Goodwin said the Colonels needed to conquer the close game.

The Colonels weren’t able Tuesday in their season opener at Warrenton, losing 2-1. Rafael Cruz scored around the 55th minute to give MMA its only goal.

Goodwin said it was a tough game to start the season but one the Colonels can learn from before their game Thursday at Moberly.

“We had some great moments in the game tonight that we’ll build upon,” Goodwin said. “We have to keep our heads up and keep working hard. We’ve got a long season ahead to look forward to.”

MMA’s junior varsity team won its game 3-0 thanks to goals from Enock Runazi, Santiago Arredondo and Nathan Dempsey.

Girls golf

Rowe medals in Mexico’s first home match of the season

Mexico’s Kennedi Rowe had a good start Tuesday in what she hopes is her follow-up state season.

Rowe shot a 44 to become a medalist for the Lady Bulldogs in a meet against New Bloomfield, Hallsville and Salisbury. 

Alexis Henderson followed Rowe’s score with a 66, Ella Connell had a 67, Reagan Craig finished with a 69 and Helen Waller and Valensia Maitreejit each carded a 72.

All six girls did a fabulous job and showed great sportsmanship,” head coach Layne Ray said. “I am so excited and eager to see where this season takes them.”

Paris girls tee off at Salisbury

Paris girls golf started its season Tuesday at Salisbury.

Juniors Riley McKinney and Miranda Billings competed against golfers from Salisbury, Monroe City and Glasgow. McKinney shot a 65 that was followed close behind by Billings’ 66.

The pair were each unable to finish with at least a par on the nine holes as the Lady Coyotes host their first match today with Cairo and Lewis and Clark Conference foe Westran.

Another conference foe, Salisbury, won its quad meet Tuesday with a team score of 222 and had the second-best individual score of 48 by Addy Green. Glasgow’s Macie Parks was the medalist after shooting a 46.

Girls tennis

Mexico edged by Marshall in conference opener

The Mexico girls were tested Tuesday in their conference opener.

The Lady Bulldogs lost 5-4 at home to North Central Missouri Conference foe Marshall, dropping the No. 1-3 singles matches and just missing a sweep of the doubles matches.

Messiah Simpson and Claire Hudson took the Nos. 5 and 6 matches, respectively, by scores of 10-7 and 10-1. In the top three matches, Estrella Lopez lost 10-2 in the No. 1 match while filling in for the still unavailable Katie Gooch, Jocelyn Garcia lost 10-7 at No. 2 and Jyllian Whitworth lost 10-6 in her second varsity singles match.

The pairs of Lopez and Garcia and Blair and Hudson each won doubles matches 10-8, and Whitworth and Simpson fell short in the No. 2 match by the same score.

“We really missed No. 1 Katie Gooch as everyone was playing up a position again today,” head coach Kim Costley said. “Most of the matches were very close throughout. It was a good test for us and challenging.”

For junior varsity, Baylea Porter and Sandra Cruz-Jarquin gave Mexico its lone win out of six doubles matches.

Mexico continues its early home schedule at 4 p.m. Thursday against Capital City.

Cross country

MMA’s Powell wins Salisbury 3500, two Colonels finish in top 10

Bryson Powell has big aspirations for this year that seem possible after the first race Tuesday.

Missouri Military Academy cross country competed in the Salisbury 3500, finishing with two runners in the top 10 and taking first place out of seven schools with 59 points — beating Fulton’s 66 points. Powell won the race with a time of 11:45.40, and Gerardo Quiroga came in sixth with a time of 12:43.20.

Malachi Imrie and Brayden Hines rounded out the Colonels in the top 30 with respective times and places of 13:29.80 for 22nd and 13:35.30 for 27th.

MMA runs in the Mexico Cross Country Invitational on Friday in Green Estate Park before hosting a meet on Wednesday.

CR-6’s Hoyt finishes 12th in Salisbury

Community R-6’s Dylan Hoyt had a solid start to his season Tuesday in Salisbury.

The junior finished 12th with a time of 12:58.10 in the Salisbury 3500, with Missouri Military Academy’s Bryson Powell winning with a time of 12:43.20.

Callie Jennings finished 77th in the girls race with a time of 22:21.00. Glasgow’s Addison Barringhaus won the race with a time of 13:31.10.

Community races in the Mexico Cross Country Invitational on Friday at Green Estate Park before competing Sept. 10 at the Palmyra Cross Country Invite.

Paris competes in first meet in history, two Coyotes finish in top 10

It didn’t seem like Paris’ first ever cross country meet based on the team’s performance.

On Tuesday at the Salisbury 3500, Mairyn Kinnaman finished fifth in the girls race with a time of 14:41.10, and Landen Chapman took eighth place in the boys race with a time of 12:51.90.

Alexandra Tullius also ran for the girls, finishing 23rd with a time of 16:28.40, and Brayden Deornellas was 21st in the boys race with a time of 13:25.00.

Missouri Military Academy’s Bryson Powell finished first with a time of 12:43.20, and Glasgow’s Addison Barringhaus won the girls race with a time of 13:31.10.

Paris will continue its historic season Sept. 10 in the Linn Invitational.

Fall baseball

Errors, extras home run defeats Community R-6 in fall opener

It was just too many mistakes.

Community R-6 started its fall season Tuesday at Atlanta, losing 7-6 in eight innings after making 10 errors and giving up the winning home run, ultimately allowing seven unearned runs.

Senior Ayden Meranda — in his first high school game — went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, and Brant Cope finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Mason Carroll pitched 5⅓ innings with nine strikeouts, five hits and no walks along with six runs, with none of them being unearned.

Atlanta manufactured the first run in the first inning with stolen bases, tied the game at 3 in the fifth inning and took a 6-3 lead in the sixth inning. Meranda, Carroll and Cope strung together RBI hits to send the game into extra innings.

“Sports do not build character, it reveals it,” head coach Joel Krato said. “A lot of things did not go our way Tuesday night. It would have been easy to just lie down and sit in the dugout pout, complain, and whine. We didn't.”

Prior to that, in the fifth inning, Darren Hays scored on a steal of home and Ean Johnson singled to give the Trojans a 3-1 lead at the time.

Atlanta took the lead for good in the eighth inning when Landon Gilliland homered off Community reliever Gavin Allen, who had four strikeouts and one hit in 2⅓ innings.

“Tonight, we made mistakes on the field that ended up costing us the game,” Krato said. “But as a coach, I am proud of how these boys stayed the course and rallied together.”

The Trojans host their first fall game at 5 p.m. Tuesday against Sturgeon.

Check the Saturday, September 3, 2022, edition of The Mexico Ledger, or if lack of space, the website for the stories.