Bolivar upends Miners

June 21, 2009 01:30 am

— By Anvil Welch
Globe Sports Writer
Bolivar was a real spoiler for the Joplin Miners American Legion baseball team on Saturday night.
But there is hope for the Miners and it starts with cheering for the Andover Trojans.
Bolivar beat the Miners 7-5 to drop Joplin to 2-1 in Pool A in the JSA/Roper Classic at Joe Becker Stadium.
But if Andover knocks off Bolivar today in a pool game the Liberators slip to 1-2 and Joplin, thanks to head-to-head results as the No. 1 criteria, advances into the 3 p.m. championship game against Wagoner Three Rivers.
Amazingly, Bolivar will be playing for the opportunity to finish first or seventh, according to classic director Kirk Harryman.
Right-hander Gage Jacobs, who will be a junior at Bolivar High School, limited Joplin to six hits and two earned runs.
Said Bolivar coach Eric Briggs: “Gage was in the strike zone a lot and effectively changed speeds. He’s a competitor, too, which makes it more fun for a coach.”
Jacobs did have trouble with swift leadoff hitter Dane Kolkmeyer.
Shortstop Kolkmeyer, who’s signed with Missouri Southern, tripled twice and singled and scored four runs.
Second baseman Taylor Byrd drove in three runs for the Miners.
Bolivar, trailing 3-2, scored three times in the third and added single tallies in the fourth and fifth.
Shortstop Jason Myers walked to open the third. He scored on singles by left fielder Weston Welch and center fielder Tyler Welch.
Jody Fisher drew a pass before Joplin secured a force at second on right fielder Josh Chamberlain’s roller. But that scored Weston Welch.
Drew Douthitt threw out Chamberlain trying to steal second for the second out. But third baseman Seth Hopwood singled home Tyler Welch.
Jacobs singled and wound up scoring on an error in the fourth. Chamberlain was hit by a pitch in the fifth and eventually scored on second baseman Phillip Davolt’s single.
Jacobs allowed only Kolkmeyer’s two triples over the last five innings.