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
March 19, 2008
Veteran Wardogs earn Class 5A state ranking
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Stanton’s homers fuel Marlins’ surge in May
- Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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