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
- High School Sports
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After last-minute win, Carl Junction soccer plays at Helias
Callie Degani controls a pass during a Carl Junction practice. The Bulldogs play a Class 2 quarterfinal game against Helias Catholic at 2 p.m. today in Jefferson City.
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn rolls into state tennis semifinals.
- Morgan takes third in triple jump; Williams wins long jump
- White, Elias spark Baxter Springs at state track meet
- Colgan blanks Silver Lake in Class 3A baseball championship game
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- Missouri Southern Sports
- Pittsburg State Sports
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After last-minute win, Carl Junction soccer plays at Helias
Callie Degani controls a pass during a Carl Junction practice. The Bulldogs play a Class 2 quarterfinal game against Helias Catholic at 2 p.m. today in Jefferson City.
For Carl Junction girls soccer coach Kevin Hauck, the ending of the Bulldogs’ 3-2 win over Republic on Wednesday was worthy of a movie script.
Continued ... - Joplin's Jeremy Lynn rolls into state tennis semifinals.
- MSSU's Green, Reagan earn All-America honors; PSU's Talbert wins discus
- Colgan blanks Silver Lake in Class 3A baseball championship game
- Morgan takes third in triple jump; Williams wins long jump
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