2011 Bulldog Softball

  •  2011 Big 8 Conference Champions

  • 2nd place, Class 3 District 12

Softball Photo Gallery

 

Post Season Awards

  • Bulldog Award: Ryan Osborn

  • Most Valuable Player: Sydney Koch

  • Gold Glove: Tori Graskemper

  • Silver Slugger: Tasha Steele

  • Most Improved: Abigail Danley

  • Hustle Award: Shelby Campbell

Big 8 All-Conference:

  • Player of the Year- Sydney Koch

  • Coach of the Year- Jonathan Wengert

  • 1st team: Sydney Koch, pitcher; Sami Thomas, catcher; Tasha Steele, 2nd; Bryce Boyd, shortstop; Natalie Fox, outfield

  • 2nd team; Tori Graskemper, outfield; Caitlyn Carter, outfield; Sunday English, designated player

  • Honorable Mention: Shelby Campbell, 1st; Ryan Osborn, 3rd

All-District

  • 1st team: Sydeny Koch, pitcher; Sami Thomas, catcher; Tasha Steele, infield; Bryce Boyd, infield; Natalie Fox, outfield

  • 2nd team: Shelby Campbell, infield; Ryan Osborn, infield; Tori Graskemper, outfield; Caitlyn Carter, outfield

All-Region

  • 1st team: Tasha Steele, infield; Natalie Fox, outfield

  • 2nd team: Sydney Koch, pitcher; Bryce Boyd, infield

All-State

  • 1st team: Natalie Fox, outfield

Carl Junction, Monett Advance in District Tournament

The Joplin Globe, 10/7/11

Top-seeded Carl Junction and No. 2 Monett registered semifinal shutouts in the Class 3 District 12 Tournament. The Bulldogs and Cubs collide in the title game today.

Carl Junction beat Cassville 5-0 as Sydney Koch pitched a four-hitter; struck out seven batters, and walked two. Ryan Osborn had two hits for the Bulldogs, who claimed a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Koch and Kaitlyn Carter each drove in one run.

 

Carl Junction tops Carthage

The Joplin Globe, 9/27/11

A three-run third inning outlasted Carthage’s comeback effort Monday as Carl Junction defeated the Tigers 3-2 in a nonconference softball matchup. Tori Graskemper started Carl Junction’s third inning with a double. Natalie Fox walked and stole second base before Bryce Boyd drove in a run with a ground ball. Ryan Osborn drove in Fox with a triple to left-center field, and Osborn scored when Tosha Steele reached on an error. Carthage scored a run in the sixth on an RBI single by Leigh Ann Craig that drove in Kaylee Morgan, who had singled and stolen second. Taylar Golay homered in the seventh inning.
 

Carl Junction wins pair
The Joplin Globe, 9/16/11
Carl Junction capitalized on Lamar errors to nip the Tigers 3-2 in a Big 8 Conference game at Lamar. Lamar outhit the Bulldogs 7-4, but Carl Junction scored one run in the first inning and two in the second — all on errors. Winning pitcher Sydney Koch struck out seven batters and walked none. Lamar’s Emmie Robertson fanned eight and walked four. Natalie Fox went 2-for-3 for Carl Junction (8-5, 4-0). Bethany Graves rapped three singles for Lamar (11-5, 2-2), and Abby Morrow hit a double.

Earlier on Thursday, Carl Junction downed Westville (Okla.) 8-1 in the Miami Tournament. Koch fanned 10, walked none and allowed two singles in six innings. Bryce Boyd went 3-for-3 to account for half of Carl Junction’s hits. The Bulldogs continue tournament play today, facing Miami at 2:30 p.m.

Carl Junction 12, Cassville 2
The Joplin Globe, 9/14/11
Kaitlyn Carter drove in six runs with bases-loaded doubles in the first and fourth innings as Carl Junction defeated Cassville in a Big 8 Conference game. The Bulldogs, 6-5 overall and 3-0 in the Big 8 Conference, scored five runs in the first inning and five more in the fifth. Pitcher Sydney Koch, a junior, allowed four hits, walked none and struck out nine. Carter was the Bulldogs’ only batter who had more than one hit.

McDonald County 7, Carl Junction 2
The Joplin Globe, 9/13/11
It didn’t take long for the McDonald County Mustangs to put their stamp on Monday’s non-conference game with Carl Junction. Taylor Pearcy, Joni Hanke and Ashton Harmon each collected a pair of hits to help lead the cause for the Mustangs, while teammate Autumn Hanks chipped in a pair of RBI. The Mustangs scored four runs in the first, and three more in the second, which turned out to be all they needed. Pearcy, pitching for the Mustangs, wrangled the victory.

 Neosho defeats CJ in season opener

Joplin Globe, 8/23/11

Neosho 13, Carl Junction 4

A six-hit, five-run fourth inning snapped a 2-2 tie for the Wildcats in the nonconference game at Crowder College.

Deanna Bingham and Bailey Spence delivered doubles in the decisive inning for Neosho.
Center fielder Morgan Rathmann, who had three hits for Neosho, rapped a three-run, inside-the-park homer in the sixth. Catcher Catie Cummins and third baseman Spence each had two hits in support of senior right-hander Quinn Hobbs.

Sydney Koch stroked a double and three singles for Carl Junction. Ryan Osborn and Sami Thomas added two hits apiece.

 

Season Preview

Girls hope to 3-peat in softball

Jasper County Citizen, 8/10/11

Head Softball Coach Jonathan Wengert is in a good position for his team to win its third consecutive Big 8 Conference and District championships. Wengert, whose team has been undefeated in conference play the last two seasons, returns eight starters to the line up. Having lost only three players to graduation this spring, he is fortunate enough to have an experienced group to lead the team this fall.

Returning for her junior year is the Big 8 Player of the Year for 2010, Sydney Koch. Koch earned the award as pitcher for the Lady Bulldogs. She also garnered First Team Conference, District, and Region honors.

Joining Koch will be senior catcher Sami Thomas. Thomas was also named to the 2010 All-Conference and District first teams and named Second Team All-Region.

Wengert returns starters on all three base pads. Senior Shelby Campbell (First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-District) returns at first base. Tasha Steele, sophomore (Second Team All-District) returns at second, with senior Ryan Osborn at third. Osborn was also named to the 2010 First Team All-Conference and District and Second Team All-Region.

Wengert said there is a good chance that returning starter Bryce Boyd will move to the shortstop position after losing Maddie Stevenson to graduation. Boyd was a starting outfielder in her freshman season, earning a place on the First Team All-Conference and District teams.

Seniors Tori Graskemper (All-District First Team) and Natalie Fox (First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-District and All-Region) will return as seasoned outfielders. Wengert said he also expects senior Kaitlyn Carter to be an impact player. Carter returns for her final high school season in the outfield.

Wengert will also look for Kendra Barnett, a sophomore, to do duty as a pitcher for the Lady Dogs.

Wengert said he had 25 girls turn out for the pre-season meeting held in May. "We are lucky to have a large group of freshmen again," said Wengert, who said this will keep the Lady Bulldog softball program going strong. He said there will not be a separate season for the freshman girls, who will instead see action on junior varsity for the most part.

The Lady Bulldogs will have to take the field without senior Megan Barnum, who is out with an injury and will be unable to return for her final season. Brittnie Harter and Karley Barnett joined Stevenson as the three members of the championship team that graduated this past May.

"I have seen good improvements from the team over the summer. I think we are set to have a very good season," said Wengert

Wengert said he feels his team has an excellent chance at topping the conference and district once again. "We will have to watch out for Monett and Aurora. They are typically good strong programs. We don't want to take anyone for granted though. We will need to be at our best every time we take the field. We also can't count out Seneca. They always seem to put together a good team and will perform well. They are well coached. This could be a very exciting season," said Wengert. "I would love to see a large crowd turn out at every game to cheer the girls on to victory this season."