The Joplin Miners AAA American Legion baseball team won’t participate in the Missouri finals this week.
Springfield Hillcrest, runner-up to Bobby Stackhouse’s Miners in the Zone 3 Tournament last week at Carthage, has replaced Joplin in the four-team, double-elimination tournament at Sedalia.
Fred Warden, director of baseball operations for the Miners, explained their decision on Tuesday.
“We couldn’t come up with the minimum 12 players needed (for the tournament roster),” Warden, a former player and coach in the program, said. “It’s very unfortunate and equally disappointing.”
Gary Stone, Independence, is chairman of the Missouri American Legion Baseball Commission.
“Joplin opted not to come,” Stone said. “I feel bad about it. They said they didn’t have enough players. I didn’t know anything about it until this afternoon,” Stone said. “Dan Murphy (commission member from Springfield) had left a message with the Hillcrest coach’s phone number.”
Hillcrest coach Ryan Schaffitzel and family were vacationing in Chicago.
“We were watching the Cubs (on Monday night) and I basically didn’t check a message (from Murphy) until Tuesday morning,” Schaffitzel said.
Schaffitzel believes he’s rounded up enough players to participate at Sedalia.
The Merchants finished 1-2 at state last season. They beat Blue Springs Fike before squandering a big, early lead against eventual champion Festus Post 53 — losing 12-11 — and then falling to Washington Post 218.
Thursday’s opening games are Hillcrest vs. Washington at 5 p.m. and Independence Post 21 vs. Creve Coeur at 8.
Joplin, coached by Stackhouse and Brett Abell, finished 35-18.
Sports
July 31, 2012
Joplin Miners, lacking players, turn down trip to state
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Large-school state track and field competition begins today
Globe File Carl Junction's Alex McMullen (left), pictured during the district track meet on May 11, is part of the Bulldogs' 4x400 relay team that has qualified for the Class 3 state meet in Jefferson City.
Shane Williams of Mount Vernon is among the favorites in three events at the MSHSAA Class 3 Track and Field Championships on Friday and Saturday at Dwight Reed Stadium in Jefferson City.
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