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Griffons drop Outlaws 16-6 to keep playoff hopes alive
The Joplin Outlaws late-season collapse is nearly complete.
Joplin has now squandered its last four opportunities to secure the one victory it needed to finish in second place in the MINK League South Division and lock up a playoff berth.
Sunday, a Joplin win at Lyons Stadium would have ended the Nevada Griffons playoff hopes. Instead, Nevada leveled the Outlaws 16-6. Fast forward to Monday night, and it was Joplin again suffering a double-digit thrashing, falling at home to the Clarinda (Iowa) A's, 11-1.
Joplin's latest setback, combined with the St. Joseph Mustangs 4-3 victory over the Ozark Generals on Monday, means that the Griffons control their own destiny.
Nevada (22-19 MINK League) is now a half-game up on the third place Outlaws (22-20) and half-game back of first place Ozark (23-19) with the top two teams from the North and South Divisions earning a trip to the MINK playoffs.
An Ozark win Monday would have minted the Generals as South Division champs while also earning them home field advantage for the divisional playoffs. Instead, the Griffons are now in the drivers seat as they are set to host the North Division champion Sedalia Bombers in the regular-season finale tonight at Lyons Stadium.
Nevada had originally been scheduled to conclude its regular-season Monday night at Lyons Stadium. That contest, however, was rained out.
Griffons press box manager Jeff Post confirmed to the Daily Mail Monday night that if Nevada drops its rain makeup date Tuesday to Sedalia, they would then lose the South Division second-place tiebreaker to Joplin, making Ozark the South Division champs while handing Joplin the wildcard.
On the flip-side, a Griffons victory Tuesday night over Sedalia makes Nevada back-to-back MINK League South Division champions, while a loss ends their season. If the Griffons prevail Tuesday, Ozark slots into second place, while Joplin is on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.
Post also said that if the Griffons project Tuesday's game to be rained out, it will be moved to Sedalia as the Bombers are better equipped for wet conditions with a turf infield.
According to Griffons head coach and general manager Ryan Mansfield, a decision on whether the game will be moved to Sedalia will be made by 1 p.m. today.
As it stands now, the first pitch is slated for 7 p.m. from Lyons Stadium. The prospects of Nevada hosting the game appear to be good, as rain is no longer in the forecast.
Griffons 16, Outlaws 6
Against Joplin Sunday, Griffons leadoff hitter Ethaniel Valdez shredded Joplin pitching, going 5-for-6 with a home run, five runs scored, three RBIs, and a stolen base. Additionally, Nevada cleanup hitter Trevor Peterson was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 with three runs as he reached base five times, raising his batting average to .421.
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, the Griffons struck back with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. Valdez got things started by ripping a double into the right-center field gap.
Later in the inning, with runners in scoring position, Cole Johnson lashed a Nick Ledinsky offering into center field, collecting two RBIs on the extra base hit. An inning later, Kainulu Pitoy's ground-rule double over the right field fence plated Valdez, handing the Griffons a 4-1 advantage.
After exchanging a run apiece in the third inning, the Griffons exploded for five runs in the fourth to go top 10-2. During the big inning, Pitoy, Tyler Pagano, Johnson, and Tanner Wetrich each came through with run-scoring base knocks.
The teams again traded a run apiece in the fifth inning, before the Outlaws plated a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to trim its deficit to 11-5.
A Valdez double in the seventh scored Judah Zickafoose as the Griffons lead swelled to seven runs. Valdez later came around to score courtesy of an infield error. Nevada tacked on another run prior to the conclusion of the inning via Johnson's single bringing home Pitoy, giving the Griffons a nine-run cushion.
Nevada wasn't finished, as Valdez slugged a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth to cap his monster performance.
The Griffons 21 hits also included Pitoy going 2-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and a stolen base; Pagano, 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI; Judah Zickafoose, 2-for-3 with a solo home run and three runs scored; Tanner Wetrich, 2-for-5 with three RBIs; and Cole Johnson 2-for-3 with an RBI. On the mound for Nevada, Clayton Luley (4-1) picked up the victory.
Up next
With the season on the line Nevada hosts Sedalia at 7 p.m. tonight. Check Wednesday's edition of the Daily Mail for full coverage