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South division crown, playoff bid slip out of Griffons grasp
A dream of back-to-back MINK League South Division championships was left unfulfilled as the Nevada Griffons fell to the Sedalia Bombers 3-1 in its regular-season finale Tuesday night at Lyons Stadium.
Nevada (22-20 MINK League, 24-20 overall), entered Tuesday's contest in control of its own destiny. With a victory over Sedalia, the Griffons would have secured back-to-back MINK League South Division crowns, while also knocking the Joplin Outlaws out of the playoff picture ---- as the Griffons owned the deciding tiebreaker over the Ozark Generals (23-19 MINK League).
The loss however, dropped Nevada into a tie with Joplin (22-20), as the Outlaws held the decisive tiebreaker over Nevada, handing Joplin the MINK League South wildcard berth.
Ozark, who had the opportunity to clinch the south division Monday night with a victory over the St. Joseph Mustangs, was defeated 4-3, opening the door for Nevada to win the division. The stars had really aligned for Nevada, as Joplin was also defeated Monday night, losing 11-1 to Clarinda. The Griffons were unable to capitalize, as the Generals emerged as south division champs.
The Bombers, who had the MINK League's best record (29-13), were champions of the MINK North Division.
Bombers 3, Griffons 1
The Griffons explosive offense was held in check by Bombers starting pitcher Louis Niemerg. Niemberg (5-2) allowed one (unearned) run over seven innings of work while scattering seven hits, striking out four and walking a batter.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning, when Sedalia second baseman Jonathan Ramon slugged a Doug Molzahn offering over the left field fence, putting the Bombers on top 1-0. Sedalia first baseman Ben Whetstone followed, drawing a walk.
With two outs in the inning, designated hitter Jordan Dey lifted a Molzahn pitch into the treeline just beyond the left-center field fence, as Sedalia seized a 3-0 advantage.
Nevada's lone run of the contest came in the bottom of the fourth as a Trevor Peterson single plated Kainulu Pitoy from second base. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Jaxxon Fagg grounded out to conclude the inning.
Still trailing by two runs heading into the bottom of the ninth, Sedalia closer Cody Creed issued consecutive walks to Cole Johnson and Judah Zickafoose to open the frame.
The team's newest addition, catcher Bryant Bowen went down swinging for the inning's first out. Following at the plate, Fagg grounded to Ramon at second base. Ramon then flipped to shortstop Devon Morrill who fired to Whetstone at first base for the game-ending double play.
For the Griffons, Peterson went 1-for-4 with an RBI, while Pitoy was 1-for-4 with a run scored. Over 7 2/3 innings, Molzahn allowed three earned runs while walking four and striking out three.