By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
All roads, hopefully, lead to Boulder (Colo.) this week for members of the Joplin Miners.
The Miners are guaranteed five games this week — starting Thursday — in the 20-team, four-pool wooden bat Boulder/Legacy NIT scheduled through Sunday on three diamonds.
The Miners, 18-15 after splitting a doubleheader with the American Legion Carthage Merchants on Monday night, are in Pool C and will debut at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday against the Boulder County Tigers.
Game 2 on Thursday will be at 2:30 p.m. against the Cherry Creek Bruins.
The Miners challenge defending champion Eldorado (Colo.) Post 49 at 3:30 p.m. on Friday before finishing pool play at 9 a.m. on Saturday against the Colorado Springs Fighting Squirrels.
Why an 11-hour journey?
“I wanted to go somewhere that we hadn’t been before,” Joplin coach Tucker Hagedorn said Tuesday. “I actually haven’t asked if any of the players and their families have previously gone to that area.
“Some of our people, of course, probably are using the trip as a vacation,” Hagedorn said. “I know most of us are leaving.at varied times. I’m leaving at 5 a.m. (Wednesday).
“Hopefully, we’ll get to play some good teams,” Hagedorn said. “I believe we’ll find the competition.”
Assistants Wyatt Luebber and Mike Creekmore will be members of the Joplin entourage.
Hagedorn said the probable starting pitchers for Joplin on Thursday will come from a right-handed threesome of Calvin Burr, Tyler Allen and Shayne Hoke.
“Right now, our left-handers, John McDermid and Barrett Noirfalise, aren’t available (to pitch),” Hagedorn said.
Fourteen Miners are expected to make the trip, Hagedorn said, with Austin Metts unable to go because of football camp.
Joining McDermid, Noirfalise, Allen, Burr and Hoke are Patrick Bennett, Taylor Byrd, Jake Brummer, Drew Douthitt, Dane Kolkmeyer, Travis Kunce, Cory Macy, Bryce Paden and Corey Simmons.
The Miners’ season is nearing the end with just two dates (July 16, 6 p.m. doubleheader at Pittsburg, and July 17, 7 p.m. single game at Bartlesville, Okla.) after their return from Colorado.
Hagedorn said he’s pleased with the progress of the Miners this season.
“We’ve been swinging the bats well all summer,” Hagedorn said. “Several of the players have made strides on offense. They’ve been able to relax and some guys have begun driving the ball into gaps and hitting the ball over people.
“We’re playing better as a team. We’re playing with cohesiveness,” Hagedorn said.
“I’ve had a lot of fun this summer,” Hagedorn said. “I hope so have the players. We have a long way to go. But I believe we have improved.”
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Joplin Miners trek to Boulder for five games
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