By Anvil Welch
Globe Sports Writer
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. —
West Plains and Springfield Hillcrest will be meeting for the first time this summer when they clash at 10 a.m. on Friday to open the Missouri Zone III AAA Tournament at Carl Junction.
Game 2 is Carl Junction vs. Warrensburg at 1 p.m. Carthage tackles the West Plains-Hillcrest winner at 4 p.m. and the first losers’ bracket game is scheduled for 7.
West Plains, which defeated Warrensburg for zone honors in 2009 and finished 1-2 at state, and Hillcrest qualified in dramatically different fashion for the five-team event.
Youthful Hillcrest, forced to win six games, came out of the losers’ bracket to sweep Nixa and prevail in District 17. West Plains is the only team in District 16.
Said West Plains coach Kyle Nichols: “It’s difficult to get respect when you automatically go to the zone. But we played a tough schedule and, in showcase events, we played against several college pitchers.”
Nichols, in his second year as the AAA coach, said the tag “South Central Missouri All-Stars” could apply to his charges.
“It takes about half the summer to become accustomed to playing with each other,” Nichols said. “I believe four high schools are represented (West Plains, Cabool, Dora, Mountain View-Birch Tree Liberty) in our probable lineup.”
Those people to watch on West Plains, according to Nichols, include shortstop James Sharp, first baseman Asa Egly, third baseman Dalton Hunter, left fielder Brandon Joyce and right-handed pitcher Austin Holmes.
“Sharp, about 5-foot-7, 140 pounds, is blessed with quick hands and feet,” Nichols said. “Holmes threw a perfect game against (Independence) Hi-Boy in the Springfield Holiday Tournament. He’s fundamentally sound and always is around the plate. ... an umpire’s dream.”
Holmes, who’ll be a senior at Cabool, struck out 102 batters last spring.
Nichols said that 10 players from this season and 2009 will be playing college baseball at some level.
Nichols, who’s from Jonesboro (Ark.) High School and Arkansas State, helps run a 1,300-acre farm about halfway between West Plains and Willow Springs.
Ryan Schaffitzel, a 1991 graduate of Hillcrest, quickly became a coach in the Merchants’ program and took the varsity post in 2003. Hillcrest is in zone for the first time since 2006.
Schaffitzel, also the Hillcrest High School coach, expects 10 of the current 13 Merchants will be playing next spring for the Hornets.
Schaffitzel naturally is worried about the Merchants’ layoff since July 12 (when they swept Nixa).
“We hit the ball very well in the District 17 Tournament after losing to Rogersville in the first round,” Schaffitzel said. “Dylan Hansen (who’ll pitch or play second base in the opener) batted .375 during the regular season and hit .440 in the district. Blaine Cheek and Dallas Williams hit .391 and .361, respectively, in district play.”
Notes: Tournament director Charlie Long, Carl Junction, said that he will be assisted by District 17 chairman Dan Murphy of Springfield. ... Umpires for the three-day tourney: Todd Delph, Joe Hooker, Chris Lahm, Mike McClintock, Rick McCully, Dereck Price, Dustin Storm. ... Daily admission prices are $4 and $2.
