JHS erupts late, handles Neosho

May 07, 2008 01:07 am

— By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Joplin High School baseball coach Kirk Harryman said it was a game clearly broken into two parts.
For sure, Harryman added, Eagle sophomore Jake Brummer turned the game around in Joplin’s favor.
The right-handed swinging first baseman drilled a run-scoring double off the wall and pulled a three-run home run to left center his first two at-bats to spark Joplin past visiting Neosho 13-3 in six innings on Tuesday.
The homer by the 5-foot-8, 210-pound Brummer erased a 3-1 deficit in the fourth inning as the Eagles probably nailed down a No. 4 seed — and ironically another meeting with Neosho — in next week’s Class 4 district tournament at Springfield Kickapoo.
The result left Joplin and Neosho with respective records of 10-16 and 8-14.
Joplin is scheduled to finish its regular season at 4:30 p.m. today at home against Springdale (Ark.). The Eagles will recognize their seniors and senior right-hander Calvin Burr is their probable starting pitcher.
Neosho, meanwhile, will play host to East Newton at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Said Harryman: “It was a game of two parts. Neosho outplayed us for three innings. Then Jake (Brummer) gets the big hit to swing the momentum our way.”
Brummer’s third homer of the season keyed a five-run innning. The Eagles closed out the game prematurely with a seven-run, six-hit barrage in the sixth.
Said Brummer: “He (junior right-hander Anthony Westfield) hung a curve the first time (on the double). He did it again — the same spot — the next time.”
Westfield, who struck out four in 3 1/3 innings, pitched very well except for Brummer.
“His double was big, too,” Harryman said. “Jake carried us on offense for three innings. We played a lot better after his homer.”
Said Neosho coach Eddie Crupper: “We didn’t respond very well to the three-run homer. We didn’t battle back and compete. We went through the motions. I was disapponted with our competitiveness.”
Third baseman Shayne Hoke backed Brummer with three hits, including two doubles, and three RBI. Shortstop Dane Kolkmeyer added two hits and catcher Drew Douthitt spanked a solo homer — No. 1 in varsity play — to ignite the big sixth.
Junior left-hander John McDermid allowed two earned runs and eight hits in hurling the distance for the Eagles. He struck out seven and walked three.
Neosho received two hits apiece from center fielder Ty Anderson, DH Anthony Hendrix and left fielder Scott Wilson.

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