Pittsburg looks for first win against former SEK rival Labette County

PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Pittsburg Purple Dragons host the Labette County Grizzlies on Friday night, aiming for their first win under head coach Josh Lattimer.

The Purple Dragons and Grizzlies are both 0-2 heading into Friday’s matchup.

Pittsburg is an independent program, and is no longer part of the SEK league – but these old league rivalry games against teams like Chanute, Fort Scott and Labette County still mean something to the Purple Dragons.

“They always are going to mean something,” says Pittsburg head coach Josh Lattimer, “This is southeast Kansas. You can having bragging rights on who beats who and all that. You have to give everybody your best shot anyway. Paper doesn’t win you games. Going out and actually playing, and executing alignment, assignment and execution wins you games.”

“Those are my favorite games for us. Those games are still important, regardless of our status as an independent team,” says Pittsburg junior RB/LB Wyatt Rink, “Those old SEK rivalries still mean a lot. We just have to show that we’re on top of the SEK as always.”

“Everybody always wants to give the Dragons their best,” Lattimer adds, “They’re going to come out and give us their best shot. We have to be prepared for that and ready to go.”

The Purple Dragons’ two losses have been an overtime loss to Emporia in week one, and a 28-13 loss to another former SEK rival Chanute last week.

While 0-2 isn’t where they wanted to be after two weeks – those first two games have been learning experiences for a younger Pittsburg roster.

“We knew the first two games were going to be a little bit rough and they were going to be tougher games,” Rink says, “We tried to keep our heads on straight. That was our biggest thing in those two games was just keeping our heads on straight, and just worrying about the next game after that first loss.”

“The energy they have…we’re making mistakes, but we’re going 100 miles per hour,” Lattimer says, “You want that. Not that you want mistakes, but at least they’re playing hard. All the mistakes that we’ve made are very, very correctable.”

Friday night’s game begins at 7 PM in Pittsburg. You can check out highlights Friday night on KOAM at 10 PM and FOX 14 at 11 PM.

 

Pittsburg begins fall practice in first season under HC Josh Lattimer

PITTSBURG, Kan. – (WATCH) The Pittsburg Purple Dragons hit the field for their first fall practice in their first season under head coach Josh Lattimer.

Check out more from the Purple Dragons in our 2022 KOAM Pigskin Preview.

Brown throws no-hitter; Pittsburg advances in Little League Midwest Regional

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Pittsburg 12U pitcher Gabe Brown throws a no-hitter Saturday afternoon in the team’s 7-0 win over Kearney, Nebraska in the Little League Midwest Regional tournament in Indianapolis.

Brown threw 82 pitches in the game and collected 8 strikeouts.

Pittsburg advances to play on Monday in Indianapolis. Tune in to KOAM News Saturday night for more!

Williamson drives in 6, Post 64 rolls by Houston in Joplin tournament

JOPLIN, Mo. – (WATCH) The Pittsburg Post #64 Patriots top Houston, Missouri 16-0 in the AABC Connie Mack WS qualifier tournament in Joplin Friday.

Baxter Springs product and Neosho CC signee Kameron Williamson goes 3-3 on the day with two doubles, a triple and 6 RBI.

Pitt State football names 2022 captains

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Pittsburg State football has named its captains for the 2022 season.

The Gorillas have picked eight players as captains for the fall, including five who played at local high schools.

WR Elijah Harris (Pittsburg HS)

OL Kory Woodruff (Sioux City West HS)

WR Bryce Murphy (Neosho HS)

LB PJ Sarwinski (Galena HS)

LB Morgan Selemaea (Harrisonville HS)

S Brandon Mlekus (Frontenac HS)

DL Zeke Wall (Carl Junction HS)

OL Trase Jeffries (Broken Arrow HS)

The Gorillas are scheduled to open the regular season on September 1st, at home against the University of Central Missouri.

22 local baseball players named KABC All-State

The Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches has released its All-State teams for the 2022 season. 22 local players have earned All-State honors from the KABC, with two local coaches earning Coach of the Year awards.

5A All-State

3B Tyler Sutton (Pittsburg) – Honorable Mention

4A All-State

3B Jarrett Herrmann (Iola) – 1st team

OF Brandon McKarnin (Iola) – 1st team

DH Ryker Curry (Iola) – 1st team

P Korbin Cloud (Iola) – 2nd team

DH Lars Koester (Chanute) – Honorable Mention

3A All-State

Coach of the Year – Mick Tedlock (Columbus)

INF Kameron Williamson (Baxter Springs) – 1st team

OF Wyatt Foley (Girard) – 1st team

P Seth Stover (Columbus) – 2nd team

1B Mario Menghini (Frontenac) – 2nd team

INF Drake Brooks (Girard) – 2nd team

UT Landin Midgett (Columbus) – 2nd team

P Trevor Amershek (Girard) – Honorable Mention

INF Kyler Harper (Riverton) – Honorable Mention

OF Jeremy Raio (Frontenac) – Honorable Mention

2-1A All-State

Coach of the Year – Roland Weir (Crest)

INF Stetson Setter (Crest) – 1st team

DH Holden Barker (Crest) – 1st team

P Kysen Bennett (Colgan) – 2nd team

P Trevor Church (Crest) – 2nd team

1B Jack White (Crest) – 2nd team

OF Easton Renn (Southeast) – Honorable Mention

OF Trevor Church (Crest) – Honorable Mention

You can check out the complete KABC All-State awards HERE.

Pittsburg introduces Eric Miller as new head baseball coach

PITTSBURG, Ks. – Pittsburg High School announces their next head baseball coach. Eric Miller is the new leader of the program.

“I’ve been involved in a different career for a lot of my career, but baseball has never been far from my mind, so it’s was an easy decision when this kind of opportunity came up for me,” Miller says.

Miller returns to his alma mater. He went to Pittsburg High School and then played and coached at Pittsburg State.

“It’s a very exciting time for me,” Miller says. “To be able to get back out on the field after having not been on the field for a few years, to put the purple and white back on, to be involved in the team that’s going to play their home games at Jaycee Ballpark where I played my home games…it’s a very exciting time.”

He takes over for Keith Matlock, who stepped down at the conclusion of the season after 10 years coaching the Purple Dragons.

“What coach Matlock has done over the last 10 years has been tremendous,” Miller says. “The program he’s built here has been very successful. I have some big shoes to fill here. I look forward to the challenge and look forward to continuing that success and hopefully building on it a little bit.”

Miller is eager to get started with the team.

“We just finished up a very successful season,” Miller says. “I wish the next season started tomorrow. I know a lot of our kids and I’ve seen a lot of our kids grow up here, play through the JL Hutchinson League and play through their travel teams, so I’m excited to get out there and see what we can be as a team.”

His official duties begin on July 1st, so Miller will be involved with the high school summer league shortly.

Matlock coaches final game for Pittsburg baseball

PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Pittsburg Purple Dragons saw their baseball season end Tuesday night in Pittsburg.

The Purple Dragons fell to St. Thomas Aquinas 12-5 to finish as 5A regional runner-up, in what was the final game in the dugout for Pittsburg head coach Keith Matlock.

“We started out 2-3 this season, and we were kind of wondering what we were going to be,” Matlock says, reflecting on his final season with the team, “We asked them to make some changes and do some things and grow up a little bit, and they did. Next thing you know, here we are finishing up 16-6, SEK league champions and hosting a regional. I’m proud of them…and I appreciate everyone who has supported us this year.”

Matlock has spent the last 10 season leading the Pittsburg baseball program, winning 129 games along the way.

He made the decision earlier this spring that this season would be his final one with the team, and submitted his resignation as head coach – effective at the end of the season.

“I had already told our guys. I hated doing it that way, but I wanted to help the school out and give them a chance to have more time to fill the job with the best candidate,” Matlock says, “It didn’t really hit home until the game was over.”

“I’ve got a 10 year old son, and he’s kind of getting into baseball right now. It kind of hit me earlier this season that it’s time for me to go do this with him,” Matlock says on what led to his decision to resign, “It’s been a good 10 years, but I just felt like it was the right time. I’m ready to go teach my son how I feel like the game should be played.”

As for his message to his team after last night’s game.

“I just told the seniors that they’ve done an awesome job representing Pittsburg Purple Dragons baseball and showing the younger kids the right way to do things. I couldn’t be more proud of a group of seniors that I’ve had over this time,” Matlock says, “I told the younger guys that I’m not going anywhere. I’m still going to be around and I’m still going to be their biggest fan. Hopefully they learned something and continue to do it the right way. I’m proud of them and I look forward to seeing what they’re able to do next year.”