From staff reports

sports@joplinglobe.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Joplin Eagles got a Kelsey Sanders goal in the 42nd minute and held on for a 1-0 soccer victory over the Kickapoo Chiefs on Tuesday.

“Tonight, everybody played hard and contributed,” Joplin coach Ed Miller said. “Kickapoo is always a powerhouse in this area and for us to step up and beat them is big. The girls were tired, but they never gave up.”

The Eagles (8-5, 2-2 Ozark Conference) picked up a free kick at the beginning of the second half. After the ball was put into play, Lauren Schwab kicked it to Taylor, drawing goalie Jessica McCutcheon out. Taylor then sailed the ball over McCutcheon’s head and into the net.

Joplin goalie Randi Russell had 11 saves in picking up the shutout. Kickapoo outshot the Eagles 13-7.

The Eagles return to action on Thursday with a home match against Willard. The varsity will play at 4:30 p.m. followed by the junior varsity.

BASEBALL

Eagles top Hillcrest

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Home runs jump-started the Joplin offense as the Eagles whipped Hillcrest 10-5 in an Ozark Conference game.

Senior Shayne Hoke hit a two-run homer in the first inning and senior Travis Kunce added a two-run shot in the third for a 4-0 lead.

The Hornets cut the deficit to 6-4 before Joplin struck for three more runs in the top of the sixth.

“We actually swung the bats pretty well today,” said Kirk Harryman, Joplin coach. “Shayne gave us a big lift in the first and we had the 4-0 lead with Travis’ homer.

“I liked the way we answered after they cut into our lead.”

Junior shortstop Dane Kolkmeyer led the offense with a 4-for-5 day which included three steals and three runs scored. Junior second baseman Taylor Byrd had two hits and two RBI.

Senior Calvin Burr threw three innings in relief for the save, allowing three hits and a run while striking out five. Starter John McDermid fanned four in four innings, but issued four walks and allowed four runs.

Joplin, 6-9 overall and 2-0 in the conference, entertains Waynesville on Thursday.

Carl Junction 18, Lamar 3

LAMAR, Mo — It didn’t take long for Zak Porath and the rest of the Carl Junction Bulldogs to break out against Lamar in the Big 8 Conference showdown.

In the top of the first, Porath turned around a Dusty Schlicting offering for a two-run homer.

The Bulldogs continued to pour on the offense with two more runs in the second, one in the third, four in the fourth and nine in the fifth as they won by run rule. Porath finished the day 3-for-4 with four RBI. Starter Jake Hale picked up the win with five strikeouts in five innings.

The Bulldogs improved to 10-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big 8. Lamar fell to 8-6, 0-2.

Lamar entertains East Newton at 5 p.m. Thursday.

Webb City 3, McDonald Co. 1

ANDERSON, Mo. — Senior right-hander Brett Richardson bested junior left-hander Bo Bergen as the Cardinals won their Southwest Conference opener.

Richardson allowed five hits, including a pair by Bergen, struck out eight, walked one batter and hit one. Bergen permitted six hits and struck out five.

Webb City (9-3 overall), which scored with the help of errors in the third and fifth innings, tallied in the first on singles by Darren Aggus, Cameron Beaver and Patrick Drake.

The Mustangs, who scored in the third, slipped to 4-7, 1-1.

GOLF

Tigers share fourth

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Carthage, led by Trevor Freeman’s 75, tied for fourth place to lead area performances Tuesday in the Ozark Invitational golf tournament at Fremont Hills Golf Course.

Ozark captured the team title with a 307 total and Glendale edged Republic 317-318 for second-place honors.

Carthage and Kickapoo were next at 320. Joplin placed sixth among 14 teams 342, and Webb City tied for eighth with 348.

Kevin Kring of Central fired a 4-under-par 65 to capture medalist honors. Normally a par-71, wet conditions forced a par-5 to be reduced to a par-3, resulting in a par-69.

Jared Cohen of Ozark was second with 74, and Freeman and Adam Sterling of Glendale tied with 75s.

Joplin’s Gordon Mitchell shot 76 and tied for fifth place with Kickapoo’s Joe Atkisson.

Erin Campbell added a 78 for Carthage, and Webb City’s Andrew Maier and Adam Williams shot 798 and 80, respectively.

The Carthage Invitational is set for today, starting at 9 a.m. at the Carthage Municipal Golf Course.

TENNIS

Webb City 9, Nevada 0

NEVADA, Mo. — The Cardinals hiked their dual record to 5-0 with the Southwest Conference victory.

Ryan Miller defeated Taylor Chapman 8-1 at No. 1 singles and joined with Caleb Shoemake in beating Chapman-Dominic Habjan by the identical score at No. 1 doubles.

Shoemake, Michael Handley, Randon Coffey, Austin Webber and Chase Dilworth also won in singles for Webb City.

Webb City finished runner-up to Independence 13-11 on Monday in the Parsons Tournament.

Miller and Shoemake were 4-0 in singles play and Webber-Dilworth were 3-1 at No. 2 doubles.