Woodcock, Outlaws blank Rossville in nonleague game

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June 16, 2012

Woodcock, Outlaws blank Rossville in nonleague game

By Richard Polen Globe Sports Writer The Joplin Globe Sat Jun 16, 2012, 11:26 PM CDT

— Jon Woodcock took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of the Joplin Outlaws’ 9-0 victory against Rossville (Kan.) in a nonleague game Saturday night at Wendell Redden Stadium.

Woodcock, a redshirt freshman at the University of Arkansas, walked three and struck out eight. He allowed two baserunners after he worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning.

“I was trying to throw strikes and let our defense do the work,” said Woodcock, who has allowed three hits and one unearned run in 18 2/3 innings this season. “It feels good to pitch with a lead. Our lineup always seems to produce runs, so I wasn’t worried about giving up the lead.”

Center fielder Koby Chadick was 2-for-4, scored two runs and reached base four times. His one-out single started the Outlaws’ three-run fourth inning that gave Joplin a 4-0 lead.

After a walk to Cody Ball, Taylor Eaves drove in Chadick with a single to left. Jimmy Obermark’s two-out, two-run single drove in Ball and Eaves.

“Koby has been swinging the bat consistently all summer,” said Outlaws head coach Rob Vessell. “He somehow, some way finds a way to get a run in.”

The Outlaws scored first when Chadick led off the second inning with a double down the left-field line, moved to third on a ground ball and scored on Eaves’ chopper to shortstop despite a drawn-in infield.

Joplin took a 5-0 lead with a run in the seventh inning.. Obermark led off with a double to left-center field and pinch hitter Kyle Dickens reached on an infield single.

After Justin Reece’s sacrifice advanced the runners, Obermark scored when Ben Smith’s grounder deflected away from shortstop Austin Fisher to second baseman Ethan Beckett, who threw Smith out at first base.

Patrick Drake relieved Woodcock with one out in the seventh and allowed one hit — a looping single to center field by Trev Bowers leading off the eighth inning.

“Woodcock came out and threw strikes,” Vessell said. “After the first, he settled in and the relievers did their job. I tip my cap to the staff tonight.”

Ethan Mather pitched the ninth inning and allowed two hits — a broken-bat single by Fisher and grounder up the middle by pinch hitter Sam Reeser. The next three batters were called out on strikes.

The Outlaws padded their lead with a four-run eighth inning highlighted by Dickens’ two-run double to right-center field. The other two runs scored on a wild pitch and an error.

Joplin will play Omaha in a MINK League doubleheader that begins at 4 p.m. today. There will be no admission charge for the Father’s Day event.