SOFTBALL: Lady Mustangs Finish Sixth In Annual Joplin Tournament

four runs, two earned, on four hits in only a third of an inning before Schmit came in to get the final two outs of the inning. Schmit finished the game, allowing no runs on five hits.

Kylie Helm and Dunn had three hits while Cloee Helm, Jones and Colvin had two each to lead McDonald County.

It took a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings for the Lady Mustangs to hand Seneca an 11-10 loss in McDonald County’s second pool game.

Seneca scored single runs in the first and third innings and added two in the fourth and three in the sixth to build a 7-3 lead after six innings.

Schmit started the Lady Mustangs’ seventh-inning rally with a one-out single. Kyle Helm followed with a ground-rule double to put runners on second and third. Kinser singled in a run before Dunn walked to load the bases. Kylie Helm scored on a wild pitch with Kinser taking third and pinch runner Rita Santillan moving to second. Kinser scored on another wild pitch before Kali McClain tied the game with a ground out.

Seneca scored a run in the eighth with the international tie-breaker rules in effect. McDonald County tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Cloee Helm.

In the ninth, Seneca scored a pair of runs in the top of the inning, but the Lady Mustangs scored three in the bottom half of the inning for the win.

Schmit walked before Kyle Helm drove in the first run of the inning with a double. Kinser’s single tied the game to set up Dunn’s game winning hit.

Schmit had four hits, Kylie Helm three and Kinser two to lead McDonald County at the plate. Jones went the distance on the mound for the win, allowing eight runs on 16 hits.

McDonald County dropped a 3-1 decision to Blue Springs South in its final pool game. Blue Springs scored a run in the third before the Lady Mustangs tied the game in the fourth on a single by Kylie Helm and an RBI single by Dunn.

Blue Springs scored a pair of runs in the sixth on four hits to claim the win.

McDonald County was held to just five hits, one each by Cloee Helm, Kylie Helm, Dunn, Skylar Wright and Santillan.

Jones took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits.

The Lady Mustangs opened the Silver Bracket with a 3-0 win over Neosho. Jones shut out the Lady Wildcats on three innings for the win.

McDonald County was led at the plate by by Cloee Helm with two doubles and an RBI. Schmit and Santillan each had a hit and scored a run.

Columbia Rock Bridge beat McDonald County 8-1 in the fifth place game.

Schmit went the first three innings, allowing six runs before Jones allowed two runs over the final four innings.

Cloee Helm had a double and scored McDonald County’s only run on an RBI single by Kylie Helm. Kinser added a pair of hits while Dunn had one.

McDonald County falls to 5-2 entering its Aug. 29 game against Carthage. The Lady Mustangs opens its Big 8 Conference defense on Sept. 1 at Aurora. Game time is at 5 p.m.

Nevada

Jones tossed a one-hitter and Kylie Helm and McClain combined to drive in seven runs to lead McDonald County to a 13-1 win over Nevada in the Lady Mustangs’ season opener Aug. 23 at MCHS.

Jones struck out six and walked one in the five-inning victory. Helm had two triples and a double to drive in three runs while McClain had a double and a triple to drive in four.

McDonald County wasted little time taking control of the game by scoring five runs in the bottom of the first. Cloee Helm, Kylie Helm, Kinser and McClain had hits in the inning that was aided by three Nevada errors.

McDonald County added two runs in the second on a single by Schmit and first of two triples by Kylie Helm.

Nevada scored its only run in the top of the fourth on a walk, an error and Emily Johnson’s RBI single for the Lady Tigers’ only hit of the game.

The Lady Mustangs put the game out of reach in the bottom half of the inning, scoring six runs with two outs on five hits. Colvin, Kylie Helm, McClain, Stephens and Jones each had a hit in the big inning.

Kylie Helm led the Lady Mustangs with three hits and three RBIs. McClain had two hits and four RBIs while Cloee Helm, Schmit, Kinser, Stephens, Jones and Colvin had one each.

Jones struck out six and walked one.

Neosho

Jones tossed a five-inning no hitter to lead McDonald County to a 10-0 win over Neosho on Aug. 25 at MCHS.

Jones struck out four and walked two, facing just three batters over the minimum.

Kylie Helm had four hits and Cloee Helm three to lead McDonald County’s offense. Schmit, Kinser and Jones added two hits each.

Carthage

Cousins Cloee and Kylie Helm combined for seven hits, four RBIs and three runs to lead McDonald County to a 10-0 win over Carthage on Monday at MCHS.

Cloee Helm had four hits and scored three runs while Kylie Helm had three hits and four RBIs.

Jones shut out the Lady Tigers on four hits, striking out seven without issuing a walk.

McDonald County scored a run in the first and then took control of the game with five runs in the second behind singles by Wright, Stephens, Cloee Helm, Schmit, Kinser, Dunn and Santillan.

Stephens was the only other Lady Mustangs with multiple hits, having two singles in two at bats.