Sports briefs: Vega’s shot decides Panthers-T-Birds pitchers duel

Posted 10/11/21

By any statistical measure but one North Callaway outplayed Centralia on Monday night. Of course, the Panthers topped the Thunderbirds where it mattered most: the score.

Centralia had the edge, …

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Sports briefs: Vega’s shot decides Panthers-T-Birds pitchers duel

Posted

By any statistical measure but one North Callaway outplayed Centralia on Monday night. Of course, the Panthers topped the Thunderbirds where it mattered most: the score.

Centralia had the edge, 2-1.

Pitchers Ryelle Schmauch of North Callaway and the Panthers' Kailyn Walters, along with their respective defenses, controlled the game throughout. Schmauch was arguably in better form, as Walters gave up 9 hits. Every T-bird in the lineup reached base.

Yet North Callaway could not take advantage. Only once did they piece together more than one hit in an inning.

Down 2-0 in the seventh, Makenzie Eaker smacked a lead off triple. Corynne Miller singled to bring her home. But that was all the T-Birds could manage.

Stymied by Schmauch, the Panthers counted only 3 base hits. They managed to send just two fly balls beyond the infield the entire game.

One of these was a harmless fly to center. The other, however, was the deciding factor.

It came in the fifth. With a runner on, facing an 0-2 count, Tarryn Vega reached for a sucker pitch -- outside and high, well above the shoulders.

Somehow she got the meat of the bat on it with such force it sailed far beyond the right center field wall.

The two-run shot held up the rest of the way for a Centralia victory.

Middle School Softball

Big inning leads to Mexico win

A six-run outburst in the fourth sealed an 11-4 Mexico blowout at Kirksville. Payton Shaw, Landri Teel, Miah Sprock, Payton Sells and Bethany Forbis fueled the rally.

Shaw was 3 for 3 with 2 runs and 4 RBI on the day. Teel drove in two, going 2 for 3. Maddy Feger drew three walks and scored each time.

Hannah Loyd got the win.

Varsity Cross Country

Tough crowd at Laker Invitational

Thomas Peuster led Mexico’s runners at the Laker Invitational in Camdenton, finishing 47th with a time of 17:45. Considering, however, that there were 208 participants from 36 schools in the boys race, a top 50 is very respectable.

Guy Fairchild’s 18:44 made him the only other Bulldog in the top 100, claiming 96th. Tyler Grimes, Andrew Peuster, William Bingham, Emanuel Rameriz Rodriguez and Ryan Williams also completed the course.

Nathanael Pohlsander from Rolla won, crossing in 15:39.

The girls faced a field of “only” 183 runners. Kalea Henneberry was the top ‘Dog, completing the race in 22:43 for 70th spot. Sidney Turlington ran 82nd and Jordyn Wyman 94th.

Viviana Benjamin, Kali Turlington and Alexis Smythe also competed.

Nixa’s Alicen Ashley took the win in 19:06.

Middle School Cross Country

Four Bulldogs medal at North Callaway

Cooler weather and a flat course made for improved times at the North Callaway Invitational. Three Mexico girls -- Grace Hudson, Maggie Ramsey and Alexandria Terry -- earned medals, as did Jacob Quinlan on the boys side.

Hudson ran the 2,500 meter course in 13:10 to place sixth overall. Ramsey was hot on her heels to finish seventh with a time of 13:15. Terry crossed in 13:28, putting her in 10th.

Abby Bowen’s 15:33 gave her the 29th spot.

In the boys race, Quinlan just missed out on a top 10, pacing the course in 12:45 for 11th on the board. Kyle Lewis at 14:24 slipped into the top 30 in 28th position.

Zellen Duncan and Skylar Shaw finished 36th and 37th, respectively.

Maxwell, Ramsey lead Mexico

The invitational in Mexico on Tuesday drew a large and competitive field. Jhett Maxwell had little trouble, pacing with the front group and finishing third overall. He covered the course in 12:25.

For the girls, Maggie Ramsey finished 15th to medal in the event. She clocked a time of 14:33. Abby Bowen was the only other Bulldogs girl entered, placing 50th on the 3,200 meter course.

Behind Maxwell the Mexico boys ran in a pack. Kyle Lewis ran 56th, Skylar Shaw 60th, Robert Milburn 61st, Zellen Duncan 62nd and Matt Pfeifer 66th. Just over a minute and a half separated Lewis and Duncan.

North Callaway’s Grace Rasmussen finished 12th (14;27); Peyton Boulware, 41st (16:02); and Alex Craighead, 46th (16:17) to lead the Thunderbirds.

Varsity Golf

Rowe second in triangular

Kennedi Rowe fired a 45 at Arthur Hills on Wednesday to finish just a stroke behind North Point’s Grace Rodgers in a triangular meet that also involved Fulton.

It was senior night for the Bulldogs’ squad. Mexico’s lone senior, Morgan Craig, was recognized before the round. She ended up with a 66. Alexis Henderson carded a 65.

Middle School Football

Bulldogs sweep Fulton

Seven different Bulldogs found the end zone Tuesday night as the “A” team of mostly 8th graders shellacked the Hornets 56-14.

Due to low roster numbers for Fulton, the contest was divided between an A game of normal distance and a B game lasting two quarters, which Mexico claimed 8-0.

Drew DeMint had a 40 yard touchdown run and a 50 yard scoring reception. He also picked off a Fulton pass. Ethan Johnson added a couple of touchdowns, as did Kelvin Watson.

Also putting six on the board were Vershard Williams, Charlie Fisher, Kinser Groves and Titus Grubb.

The B game was a tight affair, with Mexico edging away late. James Maatthews hit Braelon Jeffries, a halfback pass that covered 25 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Brayden Arnold capped the drive with a 2 point conversion.


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