Wed, Nov 19 2008
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Published August 27, 2008 12:04 am - A win is a win, but Joplin’s season-opening 6-5 victory over Neosho on Tuesday at JHS was hardly what coach Kirk Harryman had in mind. Costley’s single lifts Eagles Joplin blows two-run lead in 7th before escaping with win in 9th By Levi Payton
sports@joplinglobe.com A win is a win, but Joplin’s season-opening 6-5 victory over Neosho on Tuesday at JHS was hardly what coach Kirk Harryman had in mind. The Eagles failed to protect a two-run lead with one out to go in the seventh inning. But in the ninth, Taylor Costley came up with her only hit of the game - and the biggest one, too. Mary Ann Greer led off the Joplin ninth by reaching on a throwing error. She moved to second on a Hannah Helms sacrifice bunt and went to third on Kaylee Hempen’s single to center. Then Costley stepped in and blooped a walkoff single over Neosho’s drawn-in infield. “There’s no excuse for the way we came out swinging the bats,” Harryman said. “The way we swung the bats from about the fourth inning on was the way we should swing them all the time.” After being one-hit through five innings by Wildcat freshman Quinn Hobbs, the Eagles suddenly found life and scored five times in the sixth to take a 5-3 lead. The inning included RBI singles from Bailey Wallace, Tiffani Gilbert, Greer and an RBI double by Taylor Tyrrell. It didn’t take long for Neosho to respond. The Eagles recorded two quick outs to open the seventh, but Kelsey Loncarich poked a single to second to keep the game alive. That brought up catcher Kreslee Ketcham, who had already doubled and scored in the game. After a brief meeting on the mound, Arwood belted an opposite-field blast into right-center to tie it 5-5. “I take full responsibility for that one,” Harryman said. “I went up there and told her we didn’t want to get anything in that she could drive. We ended up leaving a ball out over the plate and she put a good swing on it.” Seven Eagle starters made their first varsity appearance while Neosho showed improvement from Monday’s 12-2 loss to Carl Junction. “The Duke Blue Devils once went 0-2 to start a season and ended up winning the national championship,” Wildcats coach Grant Young said. “So there’s no reason a high school team can’t do it.” Ketcham finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead Neosho. Loncarich also had a pair of hits. Gilbert and Greer paced the Eagles with a pair of hits each. Neosho will play Webb City at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Joplin Tournament, to be played at Missouri Southern’s two softball field. Joplin takes on Park Hill South at 7 p.m. Thursday. 
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