2009 Bulldogs Softball

 

Softball players sign letters of intent

Carl Junction wins district championship with extra inning victory

Carl Junction, the number-two seed in the District 12 tournament, stunned the McDonald County Mustangs 3-1 in ten innings to win the 2009 district title.  The win was the 20th of the season for the Bulldogs to go with 8 losses, including two defeats that came earlier in the year at the hands of the Mustangs.

But this time, when it mattered most, victory belonged to the Bulldogs.   For five-plus innings, each team had opportunities to score but CJ pitcher Jessica Sullivan and Mac County pitcher Kaily Harvey continued to find ways to stave off the rallies.   With the game still scoreless after five and a half innings, McDonald County did everything but push a run across in the bottom of the sixth.  The Mustangs’ leadoff hitter hit a rope off of right fielder Sami Thomas’s glove, rolling to the wall.  But Thomas retrieved the ball, fired it to second baseman Maddie Stevenson, and Stevenson threw a peg to Kaitlin Wilson at third to get the hitter who was attempting to leg out a triple.

Harvey, the Mustangs’ clean-up hitter, followed with a sharp single to left.  Sagan Graskemper then hauled in a Mustangs blast near the left field foul pole, and Sullivan snared a come-backer to the mound to send the game to the seventh still scoreless.

The Bulldogs then got the hit they had been looking for all night off of Harvey.  With one out, Lauren McRae lined a home run over the fence in right-center, breaking the scoreless tie in a heartbeat and igniting a mob scene at home as her teammates congratulated her after her trip around the bases.

McDonald County wouldn’t give up, however, and the Mustangs kicked and ran themselves back into the game in their half of the seventh.  With runners on second and third and the Bulldogs only a strike away from victory, the McDonald County hitter lined an infield single off of Sullivan’s glove tying the game at 1-1.

Sullivan retired the next hitter to send the game into extra innings.

With neither team unable to score in the eighth or ninth innings, the game pushed on past the two-hour mark and into the tenth inning.

McRae found herself in the middle of the excitement again, lining a single and putting the pressure on the McDonald County defense.  McRae stole second and headed on to third base on a wild pitch, which also brought a walk to Kaitlin Wilson.  Wilson advanced to second on the play.

Graskemper followed with a looper to right-center, but the Mustangs’ center fielder made a great sliding catch to keep the runners frozen at second and third.

Kelsey Wilson came to the plate and with the crowd growing anxious, she smacked a one-out double over the center fielder’s head, scoring both McRae and Kaitlin Wilson to put the Bulldogs up 3-1.

Bulldogs advance to district title game

The Missouri Class 3 District 12 softball tournament finale is set.  #2 seed Carl Junction nipped Seneca 1-0, allowing the Bulldogs to move into Monday's title game against #1 seed McDonald County.  The Mustangs blanked Nevada 2-0 in Saturday's other semi-final game.

The Bulldogs' Jessica Sullivan and Seneca's Kyllie Sill held their respective opponents at bay for seven innings, sending the game into an extra frame scoreless at 0-0.

In the eighth, each team saw their leadoff hitter reach base on infield errors.  Sullivan and her CJ teammates, playing as the home team due to their higher seed, brought an end to the Seneca rally.

The Bulldogs, however, took full advantage of Seneca's miscue when they took their turn at bat.

With Kaitlin Wilson reaching first base on the error, she moved to second on Sagan Graskemper's perfectly-placed sacrifice bunt.

With one out, that brought Kelsey Wilson to the plate.  She quickly stroked a line drive single to right field, sending her sister home from second base with the game-winning run.

The victory was Carl Junction's third in three tries against Seneca this season.  The Indians ended their season at 17-8, while the Bulldogs picked up their 19th win of the year against 8 defeats.

The championship between the Mustangs and Bulldogs is scheduled for 5:00 Monday.  McDonald County has defeated CJ in their each of their previous two meetings this season.

CJ wins district opener

The host and second-seeded Carl Junction Bulldogs beat East Newton 5-1 in the first round of the Missouri Class 3 District 12 tournament.  Carl Junction and East Newton were scoreless until the third. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with two walks and an infield hit before Maddie Stevenson’s single to left and Kara Stutesman’s single up the middle each scored a run. A third run scored on a passed ball.

District tournament schedule, at CJ announced                                     [District Bracket]

Carl Junction will host the Missouri Class 3 District 12 softball tournament October 7 thru 12.  Wednesday's first round action pairs the #4 seed Monett Cubs versus #5 Nevada at 1:30.  The Carl Junction Bulldogs, seeded second, face the #7 East Newton Patriots at 3:30.  #3 Seneca battles #6 Lamar in the other first round game at 5:30.  McDonald County is the top seed and drew a bye in the seven-team field.

The revised schedule, following a week of heavy rain, continues with semi-final play at Noon and 2:00 Saturday, followed by the championship game at 5:00 Monday evening, 10/12.

Bulldogs win regular season finale

A trio of big innings helped the Carl Junction Bulldogs defeat the Diamond Wildcats 11-1 during non-conference action.

The Bulldogs scored three runs in the first and third innings and added four more in the fifth before a single run in the sixth ended the game due to the mercy rule as the Bulldogs collected their 17th win of the season.

Maddie Stevenson, Lauren McRae and Kaitlin Wilson each had three hits for the Bulldogs. Stevenson recorded three RBI, McRae scored three runs and Wilson scored a pair of runs and chipped in two RBI.

Carl Junction opens district play on Thursday with a 3:30 p.m. showdown against East Newton at Carl Junction.

Carthage Tournament

At the Carthage Tournament, the Bulldogs fell 2-0 to Republic in a consolation bracket final.  Carl Junction opened play with a tough 6-4 loss to Ozark, who eventually advanced to the tournament's championship game.  The Bulldogs won their second game, 11-0 over Miller.  On Saturday, Platte County stopped CJ before the Bulldogs bounced back with a win over Seneca to set up their finale with Republic.  For the weekend, Carl Junction finished 2-3.

[Carthage Tournament Bracket]

Undefeated in conference play

Carl Junction played their final Big 8 game Wednesday at Aurora, winning 4-2 in nine innings.  With the victory, the Bulldogs finished a perfect 6-0 in league play.  The conference championship is their sixth of the decade, having most recently claimed the crown in 2007.

Bulldogs top Carthage in squeaker 1-0

Senior Lauren McRae doubled, advanced to third on a groundout and came home on classmate Kelsey's Wilson base hit, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead in the second inning and all of the offense they would need to defeat Carthage.

Jessica Sullivan pitched a complete game shutout as CJ held on at home for the 1-0 victory.  Sullivan, a junior, scattered five hits over seven innings, striking out four without allowing a walk.

The Bulldogs are now 13-5.  Carl Junction's JV also defeated Carthage, winning 4-3.

Carl Junction clinches at least share of Big 8 title

Jessica Sullivan pitched a complete game, 2-hitter in leading the Bulldogs to an 11-0 victory at Lamar.  Carl Junction, now 5-0 in conference play, has just one Big 8 game remaining at Aurora.

The Bulldogs struck for five runs in the game's first two innings and were held scoreless in one frame only, the third.  CJ rapped out 16 hits on the day, including home runs from Lauren McRae, Kaitlin Wilson and Whitney Koch. 

Bulldogs pick up big win over Seneca, move to 4-0 in Big 8 play

By Jim Henry, The Joplin Globe

Kaitlin Wilson is congratulated by teammates after one of her two home runs versus Seneca (Joplin Globe/Roger Nomer Photo)

Kaitlin Wilson hoped to advance baserunners into scoring position. But Wilson connected for two two-run home runs to power Carl Junction past Seneca 5-3 Thursday afternoon in their Big 8 Conference softball showdown. Wilson, senior third baseman, belted her first homer to straightaway center field to tie the game 2-2 in the fourth inning. Her second homer in the sixth was just to the right of straightaway center, snapped a 3-3 deadlock and gave the Bulldogs (11-5, 4-0 Big 8) their first lead of the game. “I was just looking to move my teammate around to try to get her in scoring position,” said Wilson, who has four homers this season. “The first one, I knew it was gone because of the way I hit it. In my heart I felt like it was gone. It felt good. The second one the same way.”

“She had good at-bats,” Bulldogs head coach Jonathan Wengert said. “She’s been swinging it pretty well for us the last week and a half, two weeks. It’s great to see her carry it over.”

“Kaitlin got hot and hit the ball well,” Seneca head coach Jeff Sill said. “We left the ball up a couple of times on her and she took care of it. They have pretty heavy hitters all the way through their lineup. There are no weak spots. You make a mistake, they are going to take care of it.”

Seneca (13-4, 3-1) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first when Kyllie Sill led off with a single to left and came home on Erin Esposito’s first homer of the season, another blast to straightaway center.

Sill, the Indians pitcher, limited the Bulldogs to one hit and struck out half of the first 12 batters she faced before Lauren McRae singled to left-center with two outs in the fourth and Wilson hit the next pitch over the fence.

McRae, the Bulldogs shortstop, fielded Tawni Mailes’ grounder and threw out Beth Morris at the plate for the second out in the fifth inning. Esposito followed with a walk, and Kadey Rea singled to center to score Mailes. Rea also contributed a double to the Indians’ eight-hit attack.

But the Bulldogs pulled even again with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning. Kelsey Wilson reached on an error, moved up on Brittnie Harter’s sacrifice and scored on a throwing error on Sami Thomas’ bunt.

Carl Junction pitcher Jessica Sullivan struck out five batters and walked two. Sill fanned six and walked none while giving up four hits.

“Jessica struggled a little, but she did a nice job battling,” Wengert said. “We fielded the balls they put in play. She did a nice job, she’s done that all year long and hopefully we will get more of the same from her the rest of the year.”

“This was a big one for us,” Kaitlin Wilson said. “We wanted to come out and win this one. We worked as a team all week and last week to get our positions right. We just came together at the right moment.”

“This was one of our goals,” Coach Sill said. “We won conference last year and we wanted to return as conference champs. The homefield advantage I think is big in softball, too. We just couldn’t get the runs across when we needed to. We left a couple of opportunities out on the bases, but overall I think the girls played pretty well. We have some things we can work on and be ready for district.”

Scheduling changes announced

The Bulldogs will make up two road games postponed from earlier this season.  This Friday, September 25, CJ will travel to Lamar for a 5:00 contest.  Next Wednesday, September 30, the team will travel to Aurora with games also starting at 5:00.

CJ moves to 3-0 in Big 8 with win over Monett

Jessica Sullivan tossed a four-hitter and Kaitlin Wilson and Maddie Stevenson drove in one run apiece to spark the Bulldogs past Monett 2-0 in a Big 8 Conference softball game.

Sullivan struck out six batters and walked one.

Sullivan and Paige Marney, who fanned two, matched three scoreless innings until the Bulldogs broke through in the fourth. Sagan Graskemper and Kara Stutesman singled, moved up one base on a groundout, and Graskemper came home on Wilson’s squeeze bunt.

Stutesman reached base on an error on the sixth, moved to third on Wilson’s one-out single and scored on Stevenson’s single to left.

Wilson had two of the Bulldogs’ five hits. Monett’s Aubrey Lemaster doubled for the only extra base hit of the game.

The Bulldogs (10-5, 3-0 Big 8) entertain Seneca — also unbeaten in conference play — at 5 p.m. today. The Cubs slipped to 9-3 overall and 3-2 in league play.

Bulldogs top Joplin 1-0, then fall in title game

Webb City scored twice in the seventh inning to defeat Carl Junction 5-3 Saturday in the tournament championship game of the Miami Softball Festival.

Joplin defeated Wyandotte 2-1 in the fifth-place contest after dropping a 1-0 eight-inning decision to Carl Junction earlier in the day.

Mariah Sanders singled in the fifth inning to drive in what proved to be Joplin’s winning run against Wyandotte. Sami Thomas hit a single off the glove of the pitcher in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Carl Junction the win against Joplin.

Webb City, 12-2, took a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning when Lexie Gardner walked, moved to second on a sacrifice by Kambrey Cooper and scored on a single by Callie Beaver.

The Cardinals took a 5-2 lead in the seventh. Morgan Coleman was hit by a pitch, moved to third on a double by Chelsea Smith and scored on a sacrifice by Lauren Jones. Smith later scored on a fielder’s choice.

Carl Junction scored in the bottom of the seventh on Sagan Grasskemper’s one-out home run to center field.

Webb City took a 2-0 lead in the third when Kambrey Cooper reached on a bunt single, Beaver doubled and scored on an error.

The Lady Bulldogs tied the score 2-2 in the fourth when Sami Thomas singled and scored on an error. Lauren McRae then doubled to right, scoring Kara Stutesman.

On Monday, Carl Junction, 9-5, plays at Webb City and Joplin, 8-9, travels to Springfield to take on Parkview. Both games begin at 4:30 p.m.

Carl Junction shuts out tournament hosts

The Bulldogs' Jessica Sullivan threw a complete game, five-hit shutout as Carl Junction topped the Wardogs 3-0 in pool play Friday at the Miami Wardog Tournament.

Carl Junction, 8-4 entering today’s 12:30 p.m. game against Joplin, grabbed a 1-0 lead on Sagan Graskemper’s sacrifice fly.

Graskemper also doubled to lead off the fifth, took third on a sacrifice and scored when Miami mishandled Maddie Stevenson’s squeeze bunt. Another error on Sami Thomas’ bunt put runners at first and third, and Kara Stutesman’s sacrifice fly scored Stevenson.

Lauren McRae had two of the Bulldogs’ five hits.

Bulldogs earn victory in Miami Wardog Tourney opener

Kaitlin Wilson’s home run over the fence helped Carl Junction defeat Quapaw 10-0 in four innings in the Bulldogs’ first tournament game at Miami.

Starting pitcher Jessica Sullivan and Sydney Koch, who entered in the third inning, combined for a no-hitter.

Maddie Stevenson had two doubles for the Lady Bulldogs, and Kara Stutesman had a triple.

Carl Junction, 7-4, plays Miami at 4 p.m. today.

Miami Wardog Tournament Schedule Announced

The Carl Junction Bulldogs have been placed in the Blue Pool of the Lady Wardog Invitational 2009 Tournament, along with the host Miami Lady Wardogs, Quapaw and Joplin.  The White Pool consists of Webb City, Pryor, Wyandotte and Booker T. Washington out of Tulsa.

The Bulldogs face Quapaw at 12:30 Thursday, 9/17 and then battle Miami at 4:00 Friday, 9/18.  Their final pool play game will be held Saturday afternoon, 9/19 at 12:30.  The final pairings will begin Saturday afternoon at 2:00, with the two #4 teams from each pool competing.  The #3 teams meet at 3:30, followed by the #2s at 5:00.  The tournament's championship game, pitting each pool play winner against the other, will begin at 6:30.

Bulldogs earn second Big 8 win

Jessica Sullivan, a junior right-hander, allowed three hits, struck out nine and didn’t issue a pass in the Bulldogs’ Big 8 Conference 9-1 win over Cassville.

Sullivan was backed by two hits and two RBI apiece by Lauren McRae (both doubles) and Kara Stutesman. Kaitlin Wilson added two hits.

Carl Junction, which boosted its record to 6-4 overall and 2-0 in the league, led 5-0 after two innings.

Bulldogs fall to McDonald County

Kaily Harvey’s grand slam home run highlighted an eight-run sixth inning as McDonald County blanked Carl Junction in a nonconference game.

The game was scoreless through four innings, but the Mustangs (10-2) scored twice in the fifth before breaking the game open in the sixth. In addition to the grand slam, Harvey pitched a complete game, holding the Bulldogs to three hits.

McDonald County collected 14 hits, including three singles by Hannah Anderson and two hits apiece for Ashton Pratt, Sarah Rickman, Miranda Blevins and Sam Meador. One of Rickman’s hits was a double.

Kara Stutesman had two of the three singles for Carl Junction (5-4), which entertains Cassville at 5 p.m. today.  

Seniors 2010

Freshman Team