By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Miami High School is off to a 7-1 start and No. 10 ranking in Class 5A baseball.
That isn’t surprising considering Miami returns key ingredients from a 26-10 edition that reached the first round in the Oklahoma Class 4A Tournament.
“We hope to be in the mix in Class 5A,” Wardog coach Chris Mercer said Tuesday of his eighth team at Miami. “We already have beaten Class 5A teams Stilwell and Pryor.”
Offense shouldn’t be a problem for the Wardogs in most of their games.
“It’s a solid hitting ballclub,” Mercer said. “It’s unusual in that we have six — sometimes seven — left-handed hitters in the lineup. We have plenty of team speed. Eight of the nine position players probably run well.”
The pitching staff is anchored by senior left-hander Brett Abell.
“Brett is one of the best in Oklahoma,” Mercer said. “He has the fastball, breaking ball and change ... all three are good pitches. The other guys behind him are decent for Class 4A and 5A.
“Brett really has been good this season,” Mercer said. “He’s 3-0 and hasn’t allowed an earned run.”
Abell, who usually plays first base when he isn’t pitching, finished 11-2 with a 1.30 earned run average in 2007. He struck out 130 in 75 2/3 innings. He also sparkled at the plate with a .441 average, 13 doubles and 37 runs batted in.
Nick Henson, a senior right-hander, and junior left-hander Grant Longcrier follow Abell.
“Actually, Grant right now is our No. 2,” Mercer said. “Nick, because of an injury, hasn’t thrown this year.”
Completing the top six hurlers — counting Henson — are junior right-hander Andrew Allen, senior left-hander Aaron Simons and senior right-hander Jake Roberts.
Usual starters in the field, with Abell on the mound, are junior catcher Nick Jones, first baseman Longcrier, junior second baseman James Pickens, junior third baseman Josh White, shortstop Henson, senior left fielder Mike Anderson, center fielder Aaron Simons and junior right fielder Jordan Simons (Aaron’s brother).
Freshman Keaton Blevins also plays center field, Mercer noted, and likely would be the Wardogs’ designated hitter if needed.
No. 4 hitter Henson, who has three home runs, and No. 3 Abell lead the Miami offense.
Abell has signed with North Central Texas College of Gainesville. Henson, who averaged .477 last season with seven home runs, 13 doubles and 39 RBI, is headed for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M; College of Miami.
Mercer believes North Central Texas has reached the NJCAA World Series in four of the last six years.
Mercer, who’s assisted by Chad Ross and Nick Maxson, said visiting Coweta handed the Wardogs their only loss — 1-0 in a virtual snowstorm.
“We left 12 runners, too,” Mercer said.
Miami resumes in the Shawnee Festival on Thursday against “traditionally strong teams,” Mercer said. The Wardogs play Class 6A Moore at 4 p.m. and 5A Shawnee at 6:30.
Sports
Veteran Wardogs earn Class 5A state ranking
- Sports
-
-
Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.
-
Cheever is ultimate blue-collar snowboarder
As a World Cup snowboardcross racer, Jonathan Cheever has taken his share of spills over the years.
-
District wrestling tournaments begin tonight
Neosho’s wrestling lineup will have a different look when the Class 3 district wrestling tournament begins at 6 p.m. today at Carthage.
-
Late board work carries Lions past Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State displayed its offensive rebounding muscle during Wednesday night’s game at Missouri Southern.
-
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.
-
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment. -
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.
-
Tomlin, Steelers welcome Haley as new coordinator
Throughout the 16 minutes that followed him glowingly introducing former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stood proudly in the corner of the second-floor media room at the team’s facility.
-
Rangers, Cruz strike $16M, 2-year deal
Two-time defending AL champion Texas has avoided arbitration with another of its core players, agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract with AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz.
-
Auburn’s Ward adapts game after injury at Texas
Auburn’s Varez Ward can’t take to the air quite like he used to. The onetime Texas starter is still trying to regain strength and explosiveness more than two years after rupturing his right quadriceps tendon while dunking during pre-game warmups.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
