Nevada baseball falls to Monett in tourney play

Nevada's Clay Regers connects for a hit during Tuesday's Bill O'Dell Tournament game against Webb City.

CARTHAGE -- The Nevada Tigers baseball team returned to action in the Bill O'Dell Tournament Thursday, against the Cubs of Monett High School, hoping to erase the bad memories from Tuesday's 8-2 loss to Webb City. That goal didn't work out this time, however, as head coach Danny Penn's squad suffered a 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Cubs

"Cole (Sanderson) had trouble keeping the ball down in the zone and our defense let us down a couple times," Penn said. "A couple of our mistakes were from a simple lack of focus, which falls back on me."

Sanderson allowed six hits and four walks with three strikeouts and one hit batter in four-plus innings on the mound.

Nevada's Grant Wolfe pitches during the opening game of the Bill O'Dell Tournament.

Easton Mitchell led Nevada's offense with two hits, including a double, and two RBIs in four at-bats. Alex Payne, Andrew Heathman and Taylor Manes each had a hit for the Tigers.

"It was disappointing only getting five base hits from our offense, when we know we can do much more with the right approach," Penn said.

With the loss, the Tigers fell to 2-2 for the season -- 0-2 in the Bill O'Dell Tournament -- and were scheduled to conclude pool play Friday with a game against the Carthage junior varsity. Results from that contest were not available at press time.

Nevada's Cole Sanderson throws to Alex Payne at first base for an out during Tuesday's Bill O'Dell Tournament game against Webb City.

In Thursday's other games, Carl Junction downed Seneca, 11-5, and Webb City routed the Carthage JV, 18-1. The tournament concludes Saturday with four games and Carthage athletic director Andy Youngworth said the scheduled 10 a.m. start has been moved up two hours -- to 8 a.m. -- due to various conflicts with the Carthage prom and ACT testing.