By Anvil Welch
Globe Sports Writer
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. —
Carthage, making its second zone appearance in three years in American Legion baseball, hopes to emulate that magical 2008 edition.
Those Merchants, who finished 25-25 overall, were zone champions.
Carthage, the District 15 champion, is scheduled to debut at 4 p.m. today in the Missouri AAA Zone III Tournament at Carl Junction High School.
Carthage (28-10) will meet the winner of today’s 10 a.m. game between District 17 champion Springfield Hillcrest (16-15) and District 16 representative West Plains (16-19).
Carl Junction Post 781 (22-11) and District 6 champion Warrensburg Post 131 (21-8) will clash at 1 p.m. in the five-team, double-elimination tourney.
Losers of the first two games will clash at 7 tonight in the first losers’ bracket game. West Plains is defending champion in Zone III.
Carthage coach James Kinder believes he’s in his fifth season as its head coach. The 1993 Carthage High School graduate played a year of Legion for John Burgi before finishing under Carl Houck and Gordy Anderson.
The Merchants were unbeaten last week in winning the District 15 Tournament at Carl Junction.
Said Kinder: “I believe mentally we’re ready. We’re playing with a lot of confidence. I’m confident of our arms (pitchers). They need to throw strikes and we need to execute on defense to give us a chance.”
Carl Junction, the host entrant in the field, finished 2-2 in the District 15 Tournament.
“We’re excited about playing in the tournament and competing for a zone championship,” Post 781 coach Flave Darnell said.
Darnell, who ironically is assisted by Kevin Burgi, the son of John Burgi, selected right-hander Jake Stevenson to oppose Warrensburg.
Warrensburg was unbeaten in winning the four-team District 6. The Tigers mauled Harrisonville 13-3 in eight innings for the title.
Warrensburg coach Jim Sales, unsure of a starting pitcher, said that Alex St. Pierre, Andrew St. Pierre and Shayne Luehrs have performed very well offensively this season in setting up “our power guys” Carter Brown and Troy Sales.
Coach Sales said that Warrensburg products dominate the roster. But the Tigers also have players from Concordia (Missouri Class 1 champion this spring), Holden and Kingsville. Plus, pitching ace Ben Owens, from Centerview Crest Ridge and headed for Northwest Missouri State, is sidelined with an injury.
Stevenson is 5-1 for Carl Junction and has struck out 28 and walked 10 in 38 2/3 innings.
Leading hitters for Post 781 include Jack Luton .424, Hugh Cramer .378, Jared Forker .360, Garrett Carden .352, Jaren Hulette .342 and Stevenson .333.
The winner of Zone III advances to the four-team state playoffs next week at Sedalia.
