One-third of the way through the regular season, the Joplin Outlaws have the second-best record in the MINK League with a long-awaited homestand ahead of them.
The Outlaws lead the league with a .290 batting average, according to the league’s website, along with league-leading marks in runs scored, hits, doubles, triples, RBIs and total bases.
The Outlaws, 9-7 overall and 8-7 against MINK teams, are 4-1 at home and have an eight-game homestand that begins with nonleague opponent Rossville at 7 p.m. today at Wendell Redden Stadium in the Joplin Athletic Complex.
“It’s different this year than it has been,” said Outlaws head coach Rob Vessell. “When teams come in here now, they’re not expecting to win. I can honestly say I’m proud to be the head coach of all 29 of these players.”
The Outlaws have five of the top 13 hitters in the league, led by infielder Taylor Eaves, who is batting .364 with a league-leading 13 RBIs. He will be a senior this fall at the University of Arkansas-Monticello.
“Taylor has been outstanding this year,” Vessell said. “He has batted anywhere from leadoff to the No. 9 hole. We have guys who can get on just as easy in the bottom of the lineup as we do in the top of the lineup.”
Outfielder Zack Steadman, who batted leadoff in both games of a doubleheader Monday against Clarinda (Iowa), is 10th in the league with a .352 average. He will play at Missouri Southern next spring.
Three Outlaws typically in the middle of the lineup — catcher Ben Smith and outfielders Cody Ball and Koby Chadick — all are batting .333 or higher. Ball will be a junior at Pittsburg State this fall.
“Any time you have your three, four and five hitters in the top 13 in the league, that says a lot,” Vessell said.
The Outlaws’ top pitchers this season have been left-hander Jon Woodcock from the University of Arkansas, who leads the league with an ERA of 0.00, and Delta State pitchers Travis Northern and Drew Milligan. Northern pitched in high school at Cassville.
A late addition to the roster was Missouri Southern catcher Sam Ryan, who led the Lions last spring with eight home runs and a .558 slugging percentage.
“Sam came in the last three or four days. He made an instant impact,” Vessell said. “In his second game, he hit a three-run double and he has been calling a great game. He has been a great addition.
“We have Omaha, Chillicothe and Nevada coming up,” he said. “We have the second-best record in the league (behind Nevada’s 10-4) and we feel like now’s the time for us to make a run and prove to everybody the Joplin Outlaws are for real.”
Sports
June 15, 2012
Outlaws open eight-game homestand
- High School Sports
- Missouri Southern Sports
- Pittsburg State Sports
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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.
Continued ... - 2 Lions earn All-American track honors
- Eagles' state tennis entries are veterans
- Oronogo driver wins second feature
- Seven athletes selected for PSU's hall of fame
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