Roper Tournament begins today in Carthage

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June 21, 2012

Roper Tournament begins today in Carthage

By Richard Polen Globe Sports Writer The Joplin Globe Thu Jun 21, 2012, 12:09 AM CDT

The Joplin Miners will play two games today as the Carthage-Roper American Legion Tournament begins at Carl Lewton Stadium.

Joplin, 11-7 through Tuesday’s games, will play Pittsburg at 2:30 p.m., followed by Carl Junction at 5 p.m. Today’s schedule begins with Pittsburg and Carl Junction at noon and ends with Carthage and Monett at 7:30 p.m.

The Miners’ offense was led by four players whose batting averages were above .400. Blake Brown led the team with a .432 average, followed by Keith Simpson at .422, Tristan Ash at .420 and Brett Graham at .404.

Graham led the team in hits (23) and RBIs (22). Ash led with nine extra-base hits, including seven doubles, while Bryce Ash led with 23 runs scored.

The Miners’ four leaders in innings pitched were Caleb Garton, Simpson, Nathan Cox and Tristan Ash. Garton and Cox have two victories apiece.

Cox, in 18 2/3 innings, has allowed 13 hits, walked nine and struck out 20. He has the Miners’ only save.

Carl Junction’s pitchings leaders were Dalton Cloven (4-1), who led the team with 31 innings pitched, followed by Payton Walker (2-0), Chase Marrs (2-1) and Ethan Hatfield (2-2).

Walker led the Bulldogs with a .500 average and shared the team lead in hits with Nathan Skaggs (17). Skaggs was batting .447 and led the team with 15 RBIs, while Josh Petty had a team-best 13 runs scored.

Monett won the Carl Junction Tournament behind the pitching of Kyle Robbins and Sean Goostree of Wheaton, who each tossed a four-hit shutout.

Robbins was 3-2 with a 0.80 ERA, while Goostree was 3-1 with a team-best 36 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings. Reese Stevenson of Purdy and Ben Makala of Cassville provide depth to Monett’s rotation.

First baseman Josh Steward led the team with a .482 average, followed by catcher Jordan Savage at .477 and Goostree at .410. Savage led the team with 15 RBIs.

Joplin will play McDonald County at noon Saturday, followed by games at 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to determine fifth, third and first place.

McDonald County leads off Friday’s schedule with games against Carthage at noon and Monett at 2:30 p.m. Monett plays Pittsburg at 5 p.m. and Carl Junction plays Carthage at 7:30 p.m.