High School Sports

JOPLIN, Mo. — A banner year for Nevada High School student-athletes was punctuated at the 2nd Annual Joplin Globe Athletes Banquet, held Tuesday at Missouri Southern State University. Nevada sophomore sensation Calli Beshore was named female cross country athlete of the year; senior Clay Gayman was tabbed male basketball athlete of the year; and freshman Ben Hines was awarded the male swimming athlete of the year...

Nevada High School head varsity football coach Wes Beachler will oversee a summer weight-lifting program for Nevada High School and Nevada Middle School current and prospective student-athletes. The weight-lifting program will run for the duration of the summer, and is slated to begin Monday, June 25. Weekly meeting dates are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from to 10-11 a.m. at the high school...

Ryan Watts’ dream of following in his father’s footsteps as the head coach of the Nevada High School track-and-field team has come to fruition. Watts, the school’s current cross country head coach, was formerly an assistant on the track-and-field team. Watts replaces Kirk Miller, who stepped down on June 5, shortly after concluding his second season as head coach...

One and done. Sheldon High School’s search for a new boys and girls head varsity basketball coach has been underway for several weeks now, as former head coach Joel McDuffey tendered his resignation to the school’s board of education, effective at the conclusion of the recently completed school year...

Nevada High School 2018 grads Braeden Hinton and Braxton Shadden rose to the occasion at the 17th annual Sertoma Grin Iron Classic, played June 1 at Kennedy Stadium in Springfield. The Southwest Missouri duo’s West squad pummeled the East, 42-3, in the All Star football game for 2018 high school seniors...

A trio of Sheldon Lady Panther softball players were recently tabbed as Missouri Academic All-State selections. According to Sheldon head softball coach Mike Galimberto, Sheldon players named to the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association (MHSFCA) Academic All-State team, were: sophomores Madyson Bogart, Carrie Spencer, and Mahalia Swink...

Nevada High School’s Kirk Miller has resigned his position as the school’s head track-and-field coach, according to the official minutes from the Nevada R-5 Board of Education’s June 5 special meeting. Further details of Miller’s resignation were not specified in board minutes, as those discussions took place in closed session...

A number of area student-athletes were recently tabbed as All-Golden Valley Vernon County Conference softball selections. Vernon County student-athletes making the team, were: Paige Wait, Jr., Bronaugh; Kennidi Harris, Fr., Hume; Kaiyah Kaiser, Sr., Hume; Makinsey Conner, Jr., NEVC; Kiley Gerster, Sr., NEVC; Meckinize McCartney, So., Sheldon; and Mahalia Swink, So., Sheldon. Also making the team, were Ballard’s Savanna Allen and Addie Dowse...

Nevada High School sophomore Calli Beshore put the cherry on top of a magnificent track season with an eighth-place finish in the 1600 meter run at Friday’s Missouri Class 4 track-and-field championship meet in Jefferson City. Beshore, who clocked an official time of 5:20.75, netted All-State accolades with the top eight finish...

JEFFERSON CITY — Nevada High School track standout Devin McHugh narrowly missed qualifying for the Missouri Class 4 400-meter dash finals. McHugh needed a top eight finish to advance out of Friday’s prelims and into the finals. The NHS junior, however, placed ninth out of 16, clocking a 50.99...

Nevada High School head varsity coach Wes Beachler is set to hold his annual high school football camp, June 4-7. The Monday through Thursday camp is slated to take place at the practice field adjacent to Logan Field. The four sessions are slated for 3-5:30 p.m...

Shelby Rice is set to usher in a new era of Hume Lady Hornets volleyball. According to a May 16 article in the Daily Mail, the Hume R-8 Board of Education unanimously accepted the resignation of Jackie Harter during their regular monthly meeting. Harter, who spent one season guiding the Lady Hornet volleyball team, will be replaced on the sidelines by Rice, as her hiring was unanimously approved by the board...

Records were set often during Nevada Middle School’s 2018 track-and-field season. Those setting new marks, were eighth-graders Claire Pritchett, Lilly Hart, and Laura Kimmell. • At the April 3 Carthage meet, Pritchett set a new mark in the shot put, with a toss of 38’1”, surpassing the previous school record (37’7.5”) set by Brooklyn Vincent in 2011...

The Nevada Middle School track-and-field team recently put the finishing touches on a record-breaking season, with a terrific showing at the season-ending Tri-County Conference meet. Led by coaches Marsha Hooper, Shaun Gray, Forrest Drury, and Neil Barnes, along with team-managers Jacie Starlin, Alexa Gray, and Kelsie Gerster — the NMS seventh and eighth-grade teams were comprised of 99 student-athletes. ...

Ben Hines and Alison Bower were the 2017-18 recipients of the Kelly Bradham Newcomer Award. Created in November of 2001, and voted on by NHS coaches, the Kelly Bradham Newcomer Award is presented to the athletes who have made the most significant contributions as a first-time letter-winner of any varsity athletic team at Nevada High School during the current school year...

Editor’s note: Despite playing on their home turf, Nevada was the visiting team — which was decided by a pre-game coin flip. Four outs stood between the Nevada Tigers and an upset of monumental proportions. It wasn’t meant to be however, as Nevada relinquished their two-run sixth-inning lead en route to a gut-wrenching 6-5, nine inning defeat at the hands of the No. 1 ranked Aurora Houn’ Dawgs in the Missouri Class 4 sectionals Tuesday night at Lyons Stadium...

Area student-athletes were recently honored for their successes on the baseball diamond this season. Vernon County student-athletes selected to the Class 1 District 8 All-District team, were: Sheldon’s Zavery Lamb and Jason Leavell; Northeast Vernon County’s Jackson Coleman and Jaxon Prough; and Bronaugh’s Brad Evans...

Tonight’s Class 4 sectional baseball clash with defending state champion Aurora Houn’ Dawgs has been 15 years in the making. It’s been that long since Nevada High School has last reached this round. The first pitch is slated for 5 p.m. from Lyons Stadium...

EL DORADO SPRINGS — The Sheldon Panthers were their own worst enemy in Monday’s Class 1 sectional clash with powerhouse Walnut Grove (21-1). A batch of Sheldon errors led to an eventual season-ending 13-3, five-inning defeat. Sheldon (6-9) looked strong early, leading off the contest with back-to-back base knocks, courtesy of two-hole hitter Zavery Lamb’s single, followed by a Bryce Lamb extra-base knock...

Nevada High School track standouts Calli Beshore and Devin McHugh were on-point at Saturday’s Class 4 sectional meet in Carthage, as the duo punched their ticket to the upcoming state track-and-field championships in Jefferson City. Needing a top four finish to qualify, Beshore was eyeing qualification in two events, the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. ...

After four seasons the Sheldon Panther baseball team has returned to the Missouri Class 1 sectional round. Entering on a five-game win-streak, Sheldon (6-8) is set to host Walnut Grove (20-1), today at 6 p.m. Despite being the home team, Sheldon has elected to move the game to a neutral site — El Dorado Springs High School...

Basking in the glow of her letter-of-intent signing ceremony, Nevada High School senior Kelstynne Pettit put pen to paper and officially became a member of the Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College Spirit Squad. Attended by a throng of students and Nevada R-5 faculty and staff, the festivities took place Wednesday at the NHS Media Center. Pettit was joined center stage by her parents Chris and Kiia, and first-year FSCC cheer coach Taysha Meech...

Nevada High School junior Bronson Smith netted All-State accolades with a 12th-place finish at the Missouri Class 3 state golf tournament, held May 14-15 at Old Kinderhook in Camdenton. Smith, pictured above with his All-State medal, carded a 4-over-par 75 for the weather-delayed first-round. Smith then concluded the championship event with a round-two score of 8-over 79, for a two-day total of 154 — placing him in a three-way tie for 12th-place...

Missouri State High School Athletic Association (MSHSAA) rules stipulate that school-related credentials or passes will not allow an individual to enter a MSHSAA championship event for free, or for a discounted cost. Such is this case for Nevada High School's upcoming sectional baseball contest with the Aurora Houn' Dawgs on Tuesday. ...

WALKER — After dropping eight of their first nine contests to open the season, it seemed unlikely the Sheldon Panthers would be the last team standing in the Class 1 District 8 baseball tournament. Led by starting pitcher Zavery Lamb’s sparkling title game performance Thursday evening, the Panthers made their preseason district title aspirations a reality with an 8-6, nine-inning victory over the top-seeded Ballard Bulldogs...

WALKER — It’s been a long, winding road for the Bronaugh Wildcat baseball program. A valiant effort came up just short in opening-round play of the Class 1 District 8 tournament on Tuesday, as the No. 5 seed Wildcats were nipped by the No. 4 Miami Eagles, 13-11...

The Nevada Tiger tennis team concluded its season at the Class 1 District 12 singles/doubles tournament, May 11 in Bolivar. Nevada No. 1 Sam Rea received a first-round bye, and then in his first match throttled Harrisonville’s Heston Poyner — 6,1, 6-3. ...

A district championship is squarely within reach for the red-hot Sheldon Panthers. Sheldon’s quest for their first district baseball title since 2014 began with Tuesday’s 19-9 thumping of the Drexel Bobcats in opening-round play of the Class 1 District 8 tournament in Walker...

CARL JUNCTION — After Monday night’s semifinal victory over Seneca put the Nevada Tigers on the cusp of their first district championship in more than a decade, seventh-year Nevada head coach Danny Penn briefly reflected on the program’s last district title victory...

It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Nevada Tiger golf team. Head coach Brian Leonard’s club, however, collected several top team finishes. In addition, NHS junior golf duo Bronson Smith and Carter Swearingen qualified for the Missouri Class 3 State golf tournament, slated for Monday and Tuesday at Old Kinderhook golf course in Camdenton...

A number of area student-athletes were recently selected to the All-Golden Valley Vernon County Conference baseball team. Vernon County All-GVVC baseball selections • Sheldon High School’s Zavery Lamb, Clayton Loyd, Jason Leavell, and Bryce Lamb (Honorable Mention); Bronaugh’s Bradley Evans, Kyle Harrell, and Dallas McIntire (Honorable Mention); and Northeast Vernon County’s Jackson Coleman, Jaxon Prough, and Derek Keith (Honorable Mention)...

The Nevada Tigers wrapped their regular-season slate with an impressive 5-2, non-conference road victory over the SEK Conference champion Pittsburg (Kan.) Purple Dragons Wednesday at Jaycee Ballpark. Nevada (12-8 overall) is peaking at the perfect time, having notched three consecutive victories to close out the regular-season...

After dispatching Knob Noster on Monday in the opening round of the Class 1 District 12 tennis tournament, the third-seeded Nevada Tigers were then derailed by No. 2 Warrensburg in Tuesday’s tourney semifinals. With the loss, Nevada concludes the team-play portion of its season, 12-3-1...

INDEPENDENCE — The Nevada Tigers routed the St. Michael’s Catholic School Guardians, 16-4 in five innings, here Monday evening. The contest marked Nevada High School’s final game in the West Central Conference, as Nevada R-5 athletics begins its affiliation with the Big 8 Conference next season...

Pushed to the limit in the 3200 meter run at Friday’s West Central Conference track meet in Clinton, Nevada High School sophomore Calli Beshore used the spirited competition to her advantage. Beshore, who has racked up 15 gold medals during the current track-and-field season, has won the vast majority of her 1600 and 3200 meter runs by wide margins...

The Nevada High School tennis team continued its strong season on the courts, netting a number of top finishes at Friday’s West Central Conference tournament in Warrensburg. Earning gold medals in singles matches, were Nevada netters (No. 2) Sam Rea and (No. ...

Nevada High School juniors Carter Swearingen and Bronson Smith have qualified for the Missouri Class 3 State golf tournament. The duo punched their ticket with solid showings at the Class 3 Sectional 4 Tournament, held Monday at Paradise Point Golf Complex in Smithville...

The senior duo of Braeden Hinton and Branden Harder were magnificent on the mound Friday evening, holding Smith-Cotton High School’s powerful lineup in check en route to a 3-2 extra inning, home-finale triumph. Hinton tossed five strong innings, and Harder three in relief, as the Tigers improved to 10-8 overall and 7-4 in the West Central Conference. Smith-Cotton entered the night as the top dog in the WCC at 9-1 overall...

Looking to get back in the win column after falling to Fort Scott High School on Tuesday, the Nevada Tigers are slated for a West Central Conference showdown with visiting Smith-Cotton H.S, 5 p.m. today at Lyons Stadium. Tonight’s contest caps en eventful week for Nevada. Prior to Tuesday’s defeat the Tigers opened the week at home on Monday with a WCC twinbill sweep of the Clinton Cardinals...

After a slow start to the season, the Sheldon Panther baseball team is now peaking at the perfect time. Sheldon opened the season losing eight of its first nine contests. The Panthers, however, are now riding high after back-to-back victories, punctuated by Tuesday’s 5-2 non-conference triumph over the visiting Class 2 Jasper Eagles...

In Tuesday night prep baseball action, the Nevada Tigers were upended by the visiting Fort Scott (Kan.) Tigers, 11-4. __See Friday’s edition of the Daily Mail for a full recap, including quotes from NHS head coach Danny Penn.__

Rich Hill Lady Tigers senior Allie Schmitt was electric in the circle, no-hitting the Hume Lady Hornets in the opening round of the Class 1 District 13 softball tournament, Tuesday evening in Butler. Schmitt’s epic performance approached historical levels, as she fanned the first 18 batters she faced. Schmitt then aided her own cause at the plate in the top of the seventh, as her RBI-double to deep center field handed Rich Hill a 2-0 advantage...

A trio of Nevada High School golfers have punched their ticket to the upcoming Class 3 Sectional 4 Tournament. In addition to its terrific trio, Nevada placed fourth at Monday’s Class 3 District 7 Tournament — with perennial power Pembroke Hill (KC) claiming the championship, Pleasant Hill placing runner-up, and Warrensburg rounding out the top three...

In a high-scoring baseball affair, the Sheldon Panthers defeated the Bronaugh Wildcats, 22-12 — Friday night in Sheldon. The regular-season finale — Golden Valley Vernon County Conference victory, moved Sheldon to 2-8 overall, and 2-3 in GVVC-play — while Bronaugh dropped to 0-9 overall, and 0-4 in GVVC-play...

The Nevada Tiger tennis team concluded its regular-season slate Friday, with an emphatic 7-2 West Central Conference road victory over the Clinton Cardinals. The win improves Nevada to 11-2-1 overall, and 5-1 in WCC-play. “We finished our regular-season the same way we starte — with a win,” said an elated NHS head coach Clayton Wheeler, adding that his squad was “pumped” coming off its first-place showing in their previous outing at the Bolivar Invitational.”...

Last week was a busy one for the Nevada High School track-and-field team, having competed at the April 24 Monett Invitational — followed by a quick-turnaround, lacing them up two days later at the Mount Vernon H.S. Mountaineer Relays. Monett Invitational...

For the second time this season, the Nevada Tigers were held largely in check by the St. Pius X Warriors. The West Central Conference foes first clashed on April 9, as the Warriors emerged with a 2-0 victory. In the sequel, Friday evening at Lyons Stadium, a superb outing from St. Pius starter Jake Wilcox, combined with above-average defensive play — carried the Warriors to a 7-2 victory over Nevada...

The Nevada High School tennis team rebounded nicely from Tuesday’s loss to Warrensburg, returning to the courts Thursday with a first-place performance at the four-team Bolivar Invitational. With each Nevada student-athlete earning a medal in singles-play — the Tiger collected 29 total victories en route to the first-place finish...