Bulldogs finish 5-2 in Big 8

John Michel hit a bases-loaded single and Zak Porath followed with a two-run triple during the five-run fourth inning as Carl Junction defeated Mount Vernon 5-1 in the Bulldogs’ Big 8 Conference finale.

 

Porath (6-2) was the winning pitcher for the Bulldogs after allowing two hits and striking out seven through six innings.

 

Mountaineer Wade Lindsey was the only player with multiple hits with a pair of singles.

 

East Newton shocks Dogs

The Patriots earned their first Big 8 win of the year at the expense of Carl Junction, topping the Bulldogs 4-3 on senior night.

 

Carl Junction fell to 4-2 in conference play, probably seeing their hopes of a shared Big 8 title slip away.  Seneca, at 5-1, needs a final win to claim the title outright.

 

The Bulldogs have one conference game left, taking on Mt. Vernon next Wednesday (5/9) at home.

  

Seneca hands first Big 8 loss to Dogs

A clutch fourth-inning triple by Matt Wilkes on Thursday sparked Seneca to a 5-1 victory against Carl Junction, the Bulldogs’ first Big 8 Conference loss.

 

The game was tied 1-1 with the bases loaded and two out in the fourth when Wilkes lined a pitch to the right-field wall, scoring all three runners.

 

That was enough for Indians starter Patrick Bennett (6-2). The right-hander tossed a three-hitter with six strikeouts, while pulling his team into a three-way tie for first in the conference.

 

Zak Porath had the only extra-base hit for the Bulldogs (11-6, 4-1), a double.

Porath nearly matched Bennett’s performance on the mound, allowing five hits in seven innings while striking out seven.

 

Seneca improved to 12-6, 4-1. 

 

Bulldogs move to 4-0 in Big 8 Play

In a battle of two 3-0 Big 8 teams, Carl Junction nipped the Monett Cubs 1-0 Thursday in Monett.

 

The victory leaves Carl Junction as the only remaining undefeated team in conference play, after Seneca lost Thursday to Cassville.

 

Zak Porath threw another complete game, this time earning a shutout.  He allowed only three hits while striking out 10 batters.  He improved his pitching record to 5-1 this season.

 

The Bulldogs scored their only run in the second inning.  Josh Clark walked and was replaced by courtesy runner Nate ThomasDrew Caruthers sacrificed Thomas to second, and with two outs, Brit Cacopardo then singled Thomas in with the game-winning RBI.

 

Carl Junction plays at home Friday afternoon taking on Nixa.  Game time is 4:30.

 

Thomas One-Hits Lamar

Nate Thomas threw a complete game one-hitter for Carl Junction in a 6-0 victory over Lamar.  Thomas, in his first start of the season, went into the seventh inning with a no-hitter before Lamar rapped a double.

 

Senior Brit Cacopardo ripped a double in the second inning with the bases loaded, plating all three runners.  Scott Thompson added a pair of hits for CJ.

 

Thomas finished the game with 12 strikeouts while issuing three walks.

 

The win lifted Carl Junction to 9-4 overall and 3-0 in Big 8 play.  Lamar dropped to 2-8 and 0-2.

 

Bulldogs defeat Cassville

It's every pitcher's dream.  Stepping to the mound in the bottom of the first inning, Carl Junction's Zak Porath had already been staked to a 4-0 lead courtesy of his team's fast start Thursday against Cassville.  But the Wildcats quickly proved their six wins in their first seven games was no fluke, plating six runs of their own in the first frame.

 

Cassville added two more in the second and suddenly led their Big 8 rivals 8-4.

 

The Bulldogs fought back, scoring four runs in the third and taking the lead with two more in the fourth against Cassville starter Kelby Haynes.

 

Porath, after walking four hitters in the first two innings, settled down and allowed only one other base on balls the remainder of the way.  He threw 137 pitches including 90 strikes and earned the complete game victory with his first 1-2-3 inning of the night in the 7th.  He fanned the first two Wildcat hitters in the 7th, giving him 12 strikeouts, before retiring the final hitter on a fly ball to centerfielder Scott Thompson.

 

Cassville managed five hits and reached base on five Carl Junction fielding errors.

 

The Bulldogs only managed six hits, but were the beneficiaries of three Cassville errors and nine walks issued by Haynes and reliever Michael Baker.

 

The loss dropped Cassville to 6-2, including Monday's loss to Willard after winning their first six games of the season.  They are 0-1 in Big 8 play.

 

Carl Junction improved to 8-3 and 2-0 in the Big 8.    

 

Carl Junction wins Big 8 opener

Scott Thompson and Chris Green went 2-for-4, each knocking in three runs to spark Carl Junction to a 13-3 win in their Big 8 Conference opener against visiting Aurora.

 

The contest was called after five innings due to the 10-run rule.

 

Right-hander Paul Richard struck out three and walked six in holding Aurora to six hits.

 

Carl Junction, which opened its conference slate and went to 7-3 overall, will play at 5 p.m. today in another Big 8 game at Cassville.    

2007 Big 8 Standings (some results unknown)

W L
Seneca 6 1
Carl Junction 5 2
Monett 5 2
Cassville 4 3
Mt. Vernon 2 4
Lamar 1 3
Aurora 1 5
East Newton 1 6