The Carl Junction Post 781 American Legion baseball team is the top seed for the District 15 AAA Tournament scheduled to open on Thursday at Monett.
Post 781 and the Joplin Miners each finished with an 8-4 record in the games used to determine the seedings. Carl Junction then won the coin toss to secure a bye in the seven-team, double-elimination tourney.
Thursday’s games are fourth-seeded Carthage vs. Monett at 2:30 p.m., second-seeded Joplin vs. Webb City at 5 and No. 3 McDonald County vs. Nevada at 7:30.
Carl Junction faces the defending champion Carthage-Monett winner at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.
Games also will be held at 5 and 7:30 on Friday. The championship round will be held on Monday at 5 p.m. with another contest, if necessary, to follow.
Game times on Saturday are 1 p.m., 3:30 and 6. Game times on Sunday are 3 p.m. and 5:30.
Twelve teams competed at Carl Junction for District 15 honors last summer. Aurora, Cassville, Everton, Mount Vernon and Neosho are on the sidelines this season.
Post 781, continuing the success compiled by Carl Junction High School in the spring, has opened 15-11.
“It’s been a good summer,” Post 781 coach Flave Darnell said on Monday before the team played host to McDonald County. “We’ve had a lot of kids doing different sports. Ryan Anderson is the only spring graduate playing for Post 781.”
Post 781 is scheduled tonight to entertain Webb City before a brief pre-district break.
Post 781 has lost Nathan Staggs, who’ll have surgery on Wednesday, for the District 15 Tournament.
“He’ll miss three weeks,” Darnell said. “Nathan, who’ll be a senior, has been excellent this summer. He didn’t pitch in the spring but is 4-2 with three saves and has worked 39 innings. His performance is encouraging for the 2012 high school season.”
Payton Walker, a left-hander, is the probable starting pitcher for Carl Junction on Friday, Darnell said. Walker entered the week 3-1 and had struck out 38 in 29 innings.
Darnell, who’s assisted by Andrew Doennig and Mike Walker (Payton’s dad), said the younger Walker probably will lead off in Friday’s contest.
Anderson or Kurtlin Hulette will catch. Tyler Hough likely will be at first base, Jaren Hulette at second, Anderson or Branche McGriff at third and Jeff Terry at shortstop. Taking care of the outfield will be Chase Marrs, Nathan Doyle, Keegan Pittman and Benny McWilliams.
Anderson had the No. 1 batting average at .419 entering the week. Kurtlin Hulette was at .400.
Other averages were McWilliams .380, Walker .370, Marrs .369, Pittman .320 and Terry .310. Carl Junction High School finished 21-7 overall in the spring and shared the Big 8 Conference title with Cassville.
Sports
July 11, 2011
Carl Junction earns top seed for American Legion districts
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Miners, Carl Junction split American Legion doubleheader
Joplin's Nate Brummer dives back into first base before Carl Junction's Jaron Hulette can apply the tag during their American Legion baseball game at Joe Becker Stadium.
Bryce Ash’s two-run single capped a four-run fourth inning in Joplin’s 8-6 victory against Carl Junction in the second game of an American Legion doubleheader Thursday night at Joe Becker Stadium.
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