Northern, Outlaws shut down Bombers 6-2

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Travis Northern allows seven hits and strikes out three in eight innings in the Joplin Outlaws' 6-2 victory over the Sedalia Bombers.
Joplin's Taylor Eaves slides safely back into first base around the tag from Sedalia first baseman Matt Skipper at Wendell Redden Stadium.

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June 14, 2012

Northern, Outlaws shut down Bombers 6-2

By Coleman Bandy Special to The Globe The Joplin Globe Thu Jun 14, 2012, 12:01 AM CDT

Starting pitcher Travis Northern had a dominant night on the mound, and the Joplin Outlaws ousted the Sedalia Bombers 6-2 on Wednesday night at Wendell Redden Stadium.

Northern earned the victory for the Outlaws, working eight innings, striking out three batters and giving up only seven hits.

“I had a good defense behind me,” said Northern, who pitched at Cassville High School and Crowder. “Coach just told me to trust myself, fill up the zone, and just let things happen.”

The Outlaws (9-6, 8-6 MINK South Division) have won five of their last six games, rebounding well after Tuesday’s 9-8 loss against Clarinda.

Sedalia scored a run in the third inning, but Joplin rebounded in the bottom of that inning to score three runs, including a Koby Chadick RBI double and an RBI single from Taylor Eaves.

Joplin retained the lead for the rest of the game, scoring runs in the fifth on Chadick’s single, seventh on Justin Treece’s sacrifice fly and eighth on a wild pitch.

Koby Peebles drove in both Sedalia runs with a groundout in the third and double in the fifth.

Coach Rob Vessell praised Northern’s pitching as well as the Outlaws’ defensive play.

“It’s good to get a quality start like that from your pitchers,” said Vessell, who is coaching his first year with the Outlaws. “Our guys have been carrying us this past week, and it’s been exciting.”

Joplin leadoff hitter Zack Steadman, who has signed with Missouri Southern, went 2-for-3, and Chadick also had two hits hits.

“We are getting things rolling and doing the things we need to do to win,” said Northern.

Joplin plays in Sedalia tonight to finish the two-game series. Then after an open date on Friday, the Outlaws are back at home to play Rossville (Kan.) in a nonleague game at 7 p.m. Saturday.