Tigers fall to Monett in district tournament

The Nevada Tigers baseball season ended with a 5-0 loss to the Monett Cubs in the semifinals of the Class 4 District 12 tournament, Tuesday evening at Warren Turner Field on the campus of Missouri Southern State University in Joplin.

Nevada concludes its season 12-13 overall.

"Record-wise, it's disappointing after the way we started the year," Nevada head coach Danny Penn said during his post-game radio interview.

Penn added that his thoughts were with the five departing seniors.

"It's going to be weird for me to come to practice next year and not have those five seniors there," he said. "We will have big shoes to fill."

Nevada, the tournament's No. 4 seed, was one of only three teams this season to have defeated Monett, who entered the game 22-3.

Nearly all of top seeded Monett's damage came in the bottom of the first inning off Nevada starting pitcher Derek O'Dell, as the Cubs plated four runs, thanks in part to two Nevada errors, two walks and a hit-by-pitch as Monett jumped on top 4-0.

"It was a combination of not working ahead in the count, the ball being put in play, and us not being able to make the play," Penn said. "You can't give good teams extra outs, and Monett capitalized today."

Offensively, the Tigers ran into a buzzsaw, as Monett starting pitcher Jonathan Hawkins tossed a 1-hit (seven inning) complete-game shutout, while striking out four and walking one.

Nevada's lone hit of the day came in the top of the fifth inning, an O'Dell line-drive single to center field.

"Against a good opponent, a slow start is all it takes," Penn said.