Crowder pushes win streak to 13 games with sweep over St Charles

WATCH: Crowder hangs on to win game one 9-6. Josh Livingston homers twice.

In game two, the Roughriders complete the sweep winning 4-2. Peyton Holt drives in two runs. Crowder is now 39-8 this season and on a 13 game winning streak.

Hayden throws gem, Pittsburg shuts out Fort Scott in home opener

PITTSBURG, Kan. – (WATCH) Pittsburg tops Fort Scott 7-0 in their home opener Friday night.

Cale Farrington drives in two runs for the Purple Dragons, while Cooper Hayden throws a complete game shutout – allowing just 5 hits and racking up 9 strikeouts.

“I thought Cooper was fantastic tonight. He’s been our guy for a couple years now that we know when he goes out there he’s going to compete,” says Pittsburg head coach Keith Matlock, “Tonight he did a really nice job of mixing his pitches around. He kept them off balance and the guys did a good job of making plays behind him.”

“I had a feeling there would be a good crowd,” Matlock says of finally getting to play at home, “It’s a beautiful night and it’s a great place to play. We get to be at home here for a little bit. I know the kids were chomping at the bit to play at home, so it felt good.”

 

Pittsburg prepares to face SEK rival Fort Scott in home opener

PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Pittsburg Purple Dragons will finally play a home game at Jaycee Ballpark on Friday – after beginning the season with six straight games on the road.

“We love it,” says Pittsburg head coach Keith Matlock on playing at Jaycee, “There’s not many places better to play a baseball game. Especially when the weather is nice and you have a ton of people there. I have a feeling it’s going to have a lot of energy to it.”

Pittsburg will face SEK rival Fort Scott Friday in their first home game.

It will be the second meeting of the season between the two teams. The Tigers topped the Purple Dragons 11-4 in Fort Scott in their first meeting last week.

“They’re just a hard-nosed team,” Matlock says of his league rivals, “I’ve known coach Regan for a long time. The Fort Scott program is always well-coached. They love to play Pittsburg. It’s a rivalry and all of that stuff. They’re not going to beat themselves so you really have to go out and make sure that you take care of your stuff.”

The Purple Dragons are 3-3 in their first six games.

Pittsburg has wins over Chanute, KC-Piper and Field Kindley – and their three losses are to Fort Scott, Blue Valley North and Tonganoxie.

“I think we’ve gotten better each game. I think we’ve started swinging it really well,” Matlock says, “We have to get better on the mound, and I have no doubt that we will. Early on, everybody is a thrower because they have their nerves and everything else, but we’ve talked to them about getting settled in and becoming pitchers now.”

Junior Jackson Turnbull has gotten off to a hot start at the plate for Pittsburg.

In the team’s first six games, Turnbull is batting .524 with 5 doubles, a home run and 8 RBI.

“He’s a big part of our offense. He’s starting to get his timing down and make adjustments. He knows there’s pressure on him. For any kid that age, you’re going to press a little bit early on when you have that pressure. You can tell he’s getting settled in now and has an understanding of what he needs to do.”

Friday’s game will begin at 4:30 PM at Jaycee Ballpark in Pittsburg.

Joplin knocks off Branson for 3-0 start in COC

JOPLIN, Mo. – (WATCH) Joplin knocks off Branson 6-2 Thursday night to start COC league play with a 3-0 record.

After the Pirates scored two in the top of the 1st inning, Joplin responded with 4 runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead – a lead they wouldn’t give back.

“We gave up two runs early and our guys didn’t panic,” says Joplin head coach Kyle Wolf, “We found a way to get some runners on. Any time you’re playing here that sun is tough this time of the year and this time of the day. We were able to get some guys on and take advantage of some things and find a way to put some runs up early. It takes a little of the edge off after they scored two first. I think any time you can answer, you’re going to feel a little better about it. To go get four was huge.”

Frontenac sweeps Riverton, moves to 7-0 this season

PITTSBURG, Kan. – (WATCH) Frontenac sweeps a double-header from Riverton Thursday night, taking game one 19-4 and game two 6-1.

Frontenac scored 13 runs in the 2nd inning in game one to put the game out of reach.

The Raiders are now 7-0 to begin the season.

Joplin boys take 1st, Camryn Ledford breaks record at Joplin Invitational

JOPLIN, Mo. – Joplin High School hosts its annual varsity track and field invitational. Local schools from southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas compete today.

Joplin’s Donovyn Fowler wins two events. In the long jump, his first jump of the day is his best. Fowler wins with a mark of 23 feet 7 inches.

“I knew a lot of my family and friends were going to come out to support and I just really wanted to make them happy,” Fowler says. “I didn’t get 24 today but 23.7 is not bad for a decent meet. I definitely feel like I’m on track. I feel like with the right coaching staff, I think amazing things are going to happen by state.”

Fowler also wins the triple jump with a mark of 14.40 meters. The Joplin boys take first place as a team. Webb City comes in third.

On the track, Camryn Ledford (Joplin HS) competes in the 1600 meter run. She places fourth and hits a new personal record with a time of 5:37.69 seconds.

“My mile has not been that great in the past so it feels really great to PR,” Ledford says. “I knew at practices I had been focusing on distance a little more so I knew it was going to be a good one.”

Ledford also breaks a national record today in the javelin. Her best throw reaches 13.62 meters.

The Carl Junction girls pick up a few first place finishes. In the 100 meter hurdles, Ally Montez blows out the competition. She crosses the finish line in 15.02 seconds.

“It feels good to know that even though I didn’t have a good race I still won,” Montez says. “It’s is very encouraging. It makes me super excited for when I do have a good day so I win by even more and it’s very encouraging considering state is coming up.”

The Carl Junction girls 4×100 meter relay team wins today. The Bulldogs take first place with a time of 51.39 seconds.

As a team, the CJ girls finish in third place. The Webb City girls place one spot above the Bulldogs in second.

Click HERE for final results from the meet.

Independence hires Robert Henderson as next head football coach

INDEPENDENCE, Ks. – Independence high school hires Robert Henderson as the school’s next head football coach.

“We’re excited to have him be a part of the Bulldog family,” says Independence’s athletic director, Marcus Lanning. “His energy and excitement was what sold us in the interview. His experience in multiple states and his college experience stood out. I have a lot of friends who have spoken highly of how good of a coach he is.”

Henderson comes from Cherryvale High School. He spent one year as the Chargers head coach, going 3-6 in that year.

“As a coach and a competitor, going to a bigger school and being around better athletes and more athletes was a very attractive to me,” Henderson says. “I want the coaches and players at Independence to know that I’m a high energy guy and I’m all about us. I want everybody to succeed in whatever their role is and find ways to do that.”

A large part of Henderson’s coaching philosophy focuses on connecting with his athletes.

“I think the kids have to know how much you care about them before you can coach them hard,” Henderson says. “I care about what they’re doing in the classroom and I care about what they’re doing out in the community. Once they understand that, I’m able to coach them pretty hard. I hold them to a very high standard.”

He plans to start building those connections right away.

“Cherryvale gets out of school May 10th and Independence isn’t out until I think May 23rd. Those two weeks are going to be a really good opportunity for me to get in front of the kids while they’re still in school. My plan is to roam the halls a little bit and talk to kids. I want to try to get some more kids out but also build relationships with the kids I know I already have.”

Henderson’s goals for Independence football go beyond the varsity level.

“The big thing for me is making sure than when they come in as seventh graders, that they’re using the same verbiage and hearing the same thing from all the coaches from the time they’re seventh graders to the time they graduate,” Henderson says. “The big thing for me is making sure guys get reps, including those JV players. I think that’s the most important way to develop kids and have them ready by the time they’re juniors and seniors to produce on Friday nights.”

Henderson takes over for John Black. Black spent three years as the Bulldogs coach before moving on to KC-Piper.

“Coach Black has done a great job building the program and making it better every year,” Lanning says. “I think coach Henderson will build off that.”

Pittsburg names Popp next girl’s basketball head coach

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Pittsburg High School announced on Wednesday Chris Popp will be the new head coach of the school’s girl’s basketball program.

“I’m from Kansas and I enjoy the size of the town and the people. At the end of the day, it’s about the people,” Popp says about taking the job, “It’s a great place with great people. I’ve been within a 3 hour radius of here for about 30 years, including as a coach and as a recruiter for the last 18 years. I’m fairly familiar with southeast Kansas basketball.”

Popp spent the last two seasons with the Pitt State men’s basketball program, serving as an assistant coach under Kim Anderson.

He spent 2016-2020 as the men’s basketball head coach at Missouri State-West Plains, and was an assistant coach for the University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith from 2011-2016. He’s been in the college game since 2004, so returning to the high school level will be a bit of a chance for Popp.

“It will be an adjustment, but I’ve been around the game in a lot of ways and a lot of different levels,” Popp says, “What makes coaching great is the same thing at any level. It’s the relationships and it’s the people. The X’s and O’s and some of the things you adjust and some of the ways you approach certain things will be a little different, but overall coaching is coaching. I’m excited about this opportunity.”

Selemaea on road to recovery for final season at Pitt State

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Pitt State safety Morgan Selemaea is looking forward to playing in front of a packed house at Carnie Smith Stadium this fall.

“I know that first home game is going to be roaring and full of fans. That’s what I’m itching for.”

Selemaea did not get to play in front of those home fans most of last season, suffering a knee injury in the team’s home opener against Nebraska-Kearney in the second game of the team’s schedule. He would go on to miss the team’s final eight games of the season.

He was on the practice field on Tuesday morning for Pitt State – but still limited in what he can do as he recovers from his injury.

“It has definitely been hard. I’m about to finish month seven,” Selemaea says of his recovery, “But I’m thankful. I’ve been through the ups and downs of the whole thing, but my team had my back and they always kept me up. Staying connected to them made me want to come back and finish. It was not a hard choice at all.”

Selemaea is entering his 6th year with the Pitt State football program.

He’s able to return for the Gorillas because there was no 2020 season due to COVID-19, and he didn’t use his remaining eligibility last season due to injury

“I love this place. I couldn’t imaging playing anywhere else,” Selemaea says, “I came in with these guys in the 2017 class, and I’m going to end it with them.”

The Harrisonville, Missouri product joined the Gorillas in 2017. He played immediately as a freshman and became one of the best and most consistent defensive players in the MIAA.

Selemea is a 3X All-MIAA performer, earning Honorable Mention All-MIAA in 2017, 2nd team All-MIAA as a sophomore in 2018 and 3rd team All-MIAA in 2019 as a junior. He was also an Honorable Mention All-American in 2018, when he collected 50 tackles, including 10 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks. He also posted an interception and six pass break-ups on the season.

He was recruited to Pittsburg State in 2017 by head coach Tim Beck and his coaching staff, but stayed through a coaching change – with Brian Wright being named the Gorillas’ head coach in December 2019.

“I remember Morgan coming to my office shortly after I got the job and asking what I needed from him. He wanted to know what he could do to help right off the bat,” Wright says of Selemaea, “He’s just been a sponge and has been that way since day one. He is always trying to learn and grow and get better and become the very best leader he can be for this football team.”

As for what Wright expects from his veteran safety.

“We want him to get 100% healthy and make a lot of plays for us on that side of the ball,” Wright says, “We need him to be a vocal leader for us out there. We had a couple of those guys graduate this past year. We’re looking forward to guys stepping up in those roles as well.”

Pitt State will play its annual spring game on Friday at 6 PM, and is scheduled to begin the regular season on September 1st, at home against Central Missouri.