Hume baseball topples Golden City and Sheldon (10/02/08) The Hume Hornets baseball team defeated Golden City 7-0 Monday afternoon. The Hornets put up individual runs in the first, third and fifth innings before a four-run sixth capped off the shutout. Senior Ryan Austin pitched the entire shutout effort, earning another no-hitter with 17 strikeouts...

Hume baseball takes season's second win (09/18/08) The Hume Hornets baseball team picked up their second win of the year as they knocked off the Northeast Vernon County Knights in a home game Tuesday night. The Knights were first on the board as they plated three runs in the top of the first inning, but the Hornets were quickly able to answer with three of their own in the home half of the frame. Hume added six more runs in the third to take a 9-3 lead...

Home run derby attracts local kids (08/08/08) FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- The Fort Scott Recreation Commission sponsored a home run derby Monday night at Fisher Park South. The results were as follows: First-place finishers received a first-place trophy, baseball and a T-shirt. Second- and third-place finishers received medals...

Griffons fall short to Beejays in nail-biter (07/14/08) The Nevada Griffons suffered a tough loss to the Liberal Beejays at Lyons Stadium last night. Neither team was really able to put up any scoring offense in the first inning, but both pitchers were touched for one hit and Korby Mintken added another stolen base to his total for Nevada -- his 11th in 11 attempts this year...

Red Sox win AA district championship (07/10/08) Taylor "Tex" Scotten connected for a two RBI triple in the first inning to give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead which they parlayed into a 9-1 Class AA district championship game win over the Warrensburg AA American Legion team Thursday afternoon at Lyons Stadium. ...

Generals dispatch Griffons (07/02/08) The Nevada Griffons suffered their first non-league loss and their second loss at home all season last night against the Ozark Generals. Griffons starter Thomas Rooke got off to a rocky start in the game, allowing a lead-off double to Generals third baseman John Bryant and one more hit in the inning, leaving Nevada with an early one run deficit before even coming to bat in the game. ...

Tommy Fitzgerald receives All Jayhawk League honors (06/25/08) Nevada Griffons shortstop Tommy Fitzgerald has been what some might call a baseball fanatic all his life. He grew up just playing around at home with his brothers and his dad, but has come a long way from the days of sitting at home watching major league games and sharing his father's love of the sport. He's now come from that ordinary young boy with a love for baseball, fueled by his father and brothers, to a member of the 2007 All Jayhawk League second team, with goals of one day going pro...

Fitzgerald, Griffons slip past El Dorado Broncos in two games (06/23/08) "I don't remember ever seeing an in-the-park, walk-off home run like that before," Griffons head coach John Hill III said after Tommy Fitzgerald scored the winning run with a line drive to left center field that neither the Broncos shortstop, nor the left fielder could stop from rolling to the outfield fence, letting Fitzgerald cross the plate standing up...

Mustangs trample Red Sox (06/23/08) The Nevada Red Sox suffered a harsh loss in game one of last night's doubleheader against the MacDonald County Mustangs. Nevada's pitching got rocked by the powerful offense of the Mustangs right from the start of the game, allowing five runs on five hits in the very first inning. The Red Sox never were able to fully recover from the early rout, but were able to cut into the lead with four runs of their own in the fourth inning...

Geist, Griffons conquer Generals (06/19/08) The Nevada Griffons fought their way to an impressive victory over the Springfield Generals last night. Nevada's starting pitcher, Mike Robinson pitched four solid innings, allowing no runs on five hits with five strikeouts and no walks. The superb effort given by the starting pitcher seemed to give the Griffons' offense an added spark, leading to six runs on six hits in the first four frames. ...

Nevada Griffons defeat Hays Larks 7-3, remain undefeated (06/10/08) With 158 fans in attendance, the Nevada Griffons beat the Hays Larks 7-3 at Lyons Stadium last night. Starting pitchers, Mike Ratigan, for Nevada, and Patrick Cooper, for Hays, both got off to an impressive start, allowing no runs and no hits in the first inning. But, Ratigan came out with a slight advantage in the beginnings of what looked like it may become a pitcher's duel, notching one strikeout in the inning...

Tigers receive postseason baseball awards (05/23/08) Nevada baseball capped off the 2008 season with its annual awards ceremony Wednesday at Nevada High School. Four awards were given out, but there were only three recipients this year because senior center-fielder Jordan Kerbs won Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. Junior second baseman Ben Fisher won the Most Improved Player Award and senior third-baseman Jerrod Alexander received the Tough as Nails honor...

Freshmen bounce back to win doubleheader (04/22/08) By Chris Patch Nevada Daily Mail Nevada freshman baseball overcame a six-run deficit in game two to win a doubleheader over Carl Junction Monday night at Lyons Stadium. Taylor Scotten started the first game for Nevada and held Carl Junction scoreless over three innings before giving up two in the top of the fourth on a fielder's choice-RBI and a base hit to left-center field...

Baseball Camp (01/10/08)

Nevada American Legion baseball program hosts poker tournament (11/23/07) The Nevada Red Sox American Legion Baseball Club is sponsoring a Texas Hold 'Em No Limit Poker tournament Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Nevada Elks Bingo Hall. The tournament, including several raffles, begins at 2 p.m. The buy-in is only $30 but is limited to just 80 players...

Sports Column: Oh how baseball has changed, and not for its betterment (10/27/07) It was was of those important decisions that come up from time to time. It wasn't a matter of money in that box seats were $3 and grandstand reserve were $2.50. There were still some good seats remaining as there usually were for the Kansas City Athletics, even on Opening Day...

Nevada vs. Fort Scott Civil War baseball game planned for Saturday at FSNHS (10/10/07) Nevada Daily Mail October is the month for baseball as major league teams square off against each other to determine who will play in the World Series. Saturday, Oct. 13, Fort Scott National Historic Site will be hosting its own "Fall Classic" as teams from Fort Scott and Nevada contend against each other in a Civil War era baseball game. ...

UNDEFEATED: Hume Hornets round out baseball season with perfect record (10/04/07) The undefeated Hornets finalized a perfect season Friday, Sept. 28, defeating bronaugh in a five-inning contest, 22-1. Ryan Austin pitched two innings recording six strikeouts and allowing one walk. Zack Guenther pitched the next two innings recording five strikeouts and allowing one hit, one hit batsmen, and one run...

Meeting planned for American Legion baseball on Oct. 4 (10/03/07) High school baseball players who live in Nevada, anywhere within Vernon County and those with addresses in the Hume or Rich Hill school districts are invited to an informational meeting about the new American Legion program, the Nevada Red Sox, which will begin play next summer...

Some random thoughts about now and then (09/22/07) A few random thoughts today: In early August, old friend John Mooney telephoned me from Springfield after tuning into the Little League World Series. Mooney noted that the 13-year old starting pitcher was 5-foot-3. "When I was 13," said the left-handed one-time fireballer, "I was 6-1. Yeah, and throwing from a 49-foot mound." That was less than fun to imagine if you were the one standing in the batter's box...

Sports Column: Hate of Yankees balanced by love of tradition (09/15/07) Last week's column was the first part of a two-parter dealing with two of life's strongest emotions, hate and love, applied to baseball's New York Yankees. Part I outlined hate while this week's closer deals with love. Not love of the New York Yankees, mind you, but a love for what they had...

Hume beats Leeton 4-3 to open '07 (08/31/07) LEETON -- Righthander Ryan Austin ushered in the fall baseball season in grand style on Thursday. The junior from Hume High School struck out 14 batters in a 4-3 victory over Leeton on Thursday. Sophomore Zack Austin drove in a pair of runs, and juniors Cody Franklin and Ryan Austin each drove in one apiece...

NE Vernon Co. VB & Baseball (08/28/07)

Amidst negative headlines, Ewing made us smile again (08/23/07) The recent unsettling stories involving the former face of the Atlanta Falcons and a fired NBA referee, who has already admitted to betting on games he officiated, have stole the national headlines. There's quarterback Michael Vick and his dog-fighting debacle, along with Tim Donaghy -- the Pete Rose of NBA officials -- who says he is not a lone wolf and that there is a widespread gambling problem with a number of the league's officials who also bet on games they worked...

Rangers make history, become first team in 110 years to score 30 runs in game (08/23/07) BALTIMORE (AP) -- When the Texas Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles 30-3 Wednesday, it had been 110 years since a major league team scored 30 runs in a game. Five runs in the fourth inning. Nine runs in the sixth. Ten in the eighth. Six more in the ninth...

(08/22/07) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- No. 756 is going to auction. Barry Bonds' record-breaking home run ball will be sold online, and fortunate fan Matt Murphy figures to be a half-million dollars richer. The 21-year-old New York man said Tuesday he had no choice but to sell the ball -- several people told him he would be taxed on the valuable souvenir if he holds onto it...

Ankiel powers Cardinals past Cubs with his arm, bat; Jenks has streak broken during save (08/21/07) CHICAGO -- Rick Ankiel showed off the arm that once made him a promising pitcher. His perfect peg from left field in the first inning cut down a runner and got the St. Louis Cardinals headed toward victory Monday. Several innings later, Ankiel demonstrated the power that's helped him make a remarkable transition with his fourth home run...

Webb extends scoreless innings streak to 42 with win over Braves (08/18/07) The Associated Press ATLANTA -- Another scoreless nine innings, another step toward Orel Hershiser's amazing record. Ho-hum, Brandon Webb said. ''Just two more shutouts? Oh, I should have that no problem,'' Webb said facetiously, rolling his eyes. ''It's in the back pocket.''...

Indians beat D'Rays 2-1, move half-game up in Central (08/18/07) If Cleveland plans to build a cushion on the Tigers in the AL Central, a nine-game road trip through lowly Tampa Bay and Kansas City -- with a three-game set in Detroit thrown in -- will give the Indians plenty of opportunities. Cleveland got a strong performance Friday night from Paul Byrd, who scattered eight hits and continually worked out of jams in a 2-1 victory over the Devil Rays that pushed the Indians ahead of Detroit by a half-game in the division...

Bannister pitches 4-hitter in Royals' 9-2 victory (08/18/07) The Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. -- Brian Bannister felt right at home, and in many ways he was at home. The rookie right-hander is moving to Northern California during the offseason. ''My wife (Megan) is from here and this is where we're going to be living from now on,'' Bannister said after his first career complete game in the Kansas City Royals' 9-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night. ''It was nice to pitch in front of family.''...

Without question, baseball has a language all its own (08/18/07) Many people today fail to realize that baseball has a language all its own. The interloping of other sports onto the American scene seems to have blurred a portion of the terminology. But things are always as they are, and I plan to pen here for the first time in 34 years of writing this column, an informative correction...

Jones, Hill pace Cubs to 2-1 win (08/18/07) CHICAGO -- Booed, benched and nearly traded during his time with the Cubs, Jacque Jones heard only cheers at Wrigley Field on Friday. Jones hit a two-run homer and made an outstanding catch as Chicago beat St. Louis 2-1, ending the Cardinals' five-game winning streak...

Wainwright, Molina star as Cards close within 2 1/2 games in NL Central (08/17/07) MILWAUKEE -- The way thing are going for the Milwaukee Brewers right now, even Yadier Molina is a power hitter against them. Molina hit two home runs and the Cardinals beat the Brewers 8-0 on Thursday, completing a three-game sweep and closing to within 2 1/2 games of the NL Central lead for the first time since April 20...

That's a big 10-4 (08/01/07) Griffons stay alive, come up with big innings to throttle Wolverines in losers' bracket.

At-Bats for Bonds (08/01/07) LOS ANGELES -- Barry Bonds reached on an error when Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal dropped a pop fly during his fourth plate appearance Tuesday night, leaving the Giants' slugger at 754 home runs and one from tying Hank Aaron's record. Bonds was removed for a pinch-runner after reaching first in the seventh inning. He finished the game 0-for-2 with two walks...

Garnett: Boston-bound (07/31/07) BOSTON -- Kevin Garnett is leaving Minnesota after the Boston Celtics agreed to acquire the All-Star forward in a multiplayer trade with the Timberwolves, a Celtics official told The Associated Press on Monday. Among the players who could be headed to Minnesota are forward Al Jefferson, guard Sebastian Telfair, swingman Gerald Green and center Theo Ratliff, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been completed. ...

One game to forget (07/31/07) Griffons play tonight at 10 in losers' bracket game after 6-1 loss in opener WICHITA -- The first-round game for the Nevada Griffons at the National Baseball Congress World Series Monday was a forgettable one. The Griffons, making their fourth straight World Series appearance and third in a row for third-year head coach John Hill III, could never get untracked against the Junction City Generals at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium...

Big week (07/31/07) Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Tom Glavine all could make history in a matter of hours -- and that would sure be a special night for their sport. Tonight, Bonds could try again to tie Hank Aaron's 755, while A-Rod will chase his 500th home run and Glavine will go for career victory No. 300...

Butler homers in Royals' win (07/28/07) KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Brian Bannister is starting to put together some very impressive outings. Bannister pitched seven shutout innings and Billy Butler hit a three-run homer as the Kansas City Royals beat the Texas Rangers 6-1 on Friday night. Bannister held the Rangers to four hits, striking out six and walking two. The right-hander won his last start in Detroit, when he also went seven innings and gave up four hits. He allowed a run in that one...

Griffons romp past Joplin (07/26/07) A pair of late-season acquisitions had a big hand in the Nevada Griffons' 10-1 drubbing of the Joplin Slashers on Wednesday night at Lyons Stadium. Meanwhile, the Griffons' top hitter, flirting with the .400 plateau all season, also had a hand in sparking Nevada to its eighth win in nine games against the Slashers this season...

Griffons stay alive, sweep Slashers (07/25/07) Nevada Daily Mail For six full innings, Nevada Griffons left-hander Lance Hoge was impeccable, practically unhittable in a 5-4 win. Hoge had a season-high nine strikeouts and a two-hitter entering the seventh inning against the Joplin Slashers on Tuesday night at Lyons Stadium...

Griffons split another doubleheader (07/21/07) HAYS, Kan. -- Now, if the Nevada Griffons can just get a sweep. For the second straight night, the Griffons split a doubleheader in Jayhawk League action. One day after splitting with league-leading Derby, Kan., on Thursday, the Griffons split with the second-place Hays Larks on Friday night. Hays won the opener, 3-0, before Nevada bashed 12 hits in a 10-3 landslide win in the nightcap...

First inning blues bring end to Nevada's season (05/15/07) By Joe Warren Nevada Daily Mail CARL JUNCTION, Mo. -- A two-out single in the first inning isn't supposed to be the defining moment in a seven-inning baseball game, but it was Monday as the Carthage Tigers clipped the Nevada Tigers 3-1 in Class 3, District 12 baseball action...

Nice try baseball guys (05/11/07) The Nevada Tiger baseball team attempted to play a pair of games in Carthage Thursday because the field at Lyons Stadium has been unplayable this week due to all the recent rain. The Tigers were supposed to "host" McDonald County and Carthage in a pair of Southwest Conference games at Carl Lewton Field. ...

Tigers fifth seed (05/03/07) Nevada Daily Mail The Nevada Tiger baseball team was given the fifth seed during the seeding meeting for the Class 3, District 12 tournament that begins May 14, in Carl Junction. The Tigers will face Carthage, the fourth seed, at 2 p.m. May 14. The top seed went to two-time defending state champion Webb City, which will play eighth-seeded East Newton in the first round...

NHS baseball earns first conference victory (05/01/07) Nevada Daily Mail ANDERSON, Mo. -- Cody Thompson threw a 2-hit shutout and the Nevada Tigers erupted for 10 hits as they dominated McDonald County Monday, 7-0. Nevada (5-8 overall, 1-3 in the Southwest Conference) earned its first conference win of the season on the back of the left-handed senior on the mound...

Tigers bulldogged at home by Carl Junction (04/24/07) By Joe Warren Nevada Daily Mail NEVADA, Mo. -- Carl Junction jumped out to a 5-0 lead and rode the arm of starter Chris Green as they held off the Nevada Tigers at Lyons Stadium Monday, 6-3. The Bulldogs scored three unearned runs in the top of the first inning off an error by pitcher Cody Thompson to put the Tigers in an early 3-0 hole...

Webb City edges Nevada on diamond (04/20/07) Nevada Daily Mail WEBB CITY -- A one-run lead wasn't enough as the Nevada Tigers (4-6 overall, 0-2 in the Southwest Conference) couldn't hold off the Webb City Cardinals in baseball action Thursday. The Tigers scored first in a triple by Jordan Kerbs and a single by Colby Shepherd in the top of the first inning, but the Cardinals kept pressure on Nevada starter Cody Thompson all game and eventually broke through...

Rainy weather can't dampen spring sports (04/19/07) In the midst of trying to stay warm and dry this unpredictable spring, there are a few great happenings that you might have missed locally. The first was a no-hitter thrown by Nevada High School junior Jerrod Alexander. On Thursday, April 5, Alexander went the distance against the Lamar varsity and kept them hitless. ...

NHS baseball falls in Clinton (04/18/07) Nevada Daily Mail CLINTON -- Hits were hard to come by as the Nevada Tigers and Clinton Cardinals squared off in non-conference play Tuesday. The Cardinals parleyed five hits into four runs, and that was enough to topple the Tigers, 4-2. Nevada had only three hits, including a triple by Colby Shepherd. Jerrod Alexander and Ben Fisher added singles...

Freshman baseball falls (04/13/07) Nevada Daily Mail The Nevada Tiger freshman baseball team tied in one game with Carthage, then lost the nightcap. Nevada and Carthage were scheduled to play two five-inning games, but the first went seven innings before ending in a 4-4 tie. Carthage won the second game 3-2 in only three innings played...

Tiger baseball splits with Parsons, Kan. (04/10/07) Nevada Daily Mail PARSONS, Kan. -- After falling to Monett in the fifth place game of the Bill O'Dell tournament Saturday in Carthage, the Tigers bounced back to split with the Parsons Vikings in a doubleheader Monday. Parsons won the first game 6-4, but Nevada rebounded to take the second game 7-4...