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2019 Sports Year-in-Review: Lady Tigers reach state softball quarterfinals
It was a memorable year for area student-athletes. Here’s a look back at stories that dominated the headlines, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Lady Tigers advance to Class 3 quarterfinals
The Nevada Lady Tiger softball team had one of its most successful seasons in program history.
Guided by first-year head coach Danny Penn, the Lady Tigers notched their second consecutive district crown. That victory advanced Nevada to the sectional-round, where they hosted reigning Class 3 runner-up Oak Grove, the same team that ended their season a year prior.
Under the lights of Bushwhacker Field the evening of Oct. 23, the Lady Tigers found themselves trailing Oak Grove 6-0 in the second inning.
Nevada then began to chip away, trimming the deficit to 6-5, highlighted by Hailee Lundine’s fourth inning three-run blast.
Still trailing by a run in the bottom of the seventh, and down to their final strike — sophomore center field Bailey Ast laced a hard grounder through the right side of the infield, plating two runs — propelling Nevada to a 7-6 triumph, and into the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.
“What a game, all-around,” an elated Penn told the Daily Mail. “It was a really well-played game. Right now I’m excited, pumped for our girls — I’m so proud of them and how they played.”
In the state quarterfinals three days later, the Lady Tigers fell to the host Savannah Lady Savages, 11-0. Nevada concluded its memorable season on the diamond having won 10 of their final 11 contests, and 16-9 overall.
Van Dyk makes history
It was a storybook season for Nevada High School freshman grappler Lotus Van Dyk.
In February Van Dyk became the first female grappler in the history of the NHS wrestling program to qualify for the state championship meet. Competing at 136 pounds, Van Dyk punched her ticket to the marquee event courtesy of a second-place finished at the district tournament Feb. 2.
At the inaugural girls’ Class 1 championship meet in Columbia in mid-February, Van Dyk collected a sixth-place finish. Van Dyk notched two victories there, wrapping her history-making season on the mat 19-4 overall.
In addition, Nevada heavyweight competitor Caleb Longobradi capped his prep career on a high-note, placing third at the Class 2 championship meet — while also earning his 100th career victory in his final match.
Major accolades
Nevada High School three-sport star athlete Calli Beshore received the prestigious Wendell Redden Female Athlete of the Year award.
Beshore was bestowed the award at The Joplin Globe Athletes of the Year banquet — held on the campus of Missouri Southern State University on June 18.
The award, named in honor of former Globe editor Redden, was selected by the paper’s sports staff.
After top-flight cross country and basketball seasons, Beshore capped her junior campaign in the spring with several gold medal finishes as a member of Nevada High’s track-and-field squad.
Beshore’s track highlights included a record-setting performance (17.09) in the 1,600 meter run, and a pair of sixth-place finishes in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs at the Class 4 state track meet.
In addition, NHS sophomore Ben Hines was named the Globe’s Swimmer of the Year, and Nevada freshman Lotus Van Dyk — the Girls Wrestler of the Year.
Hines’ awards haul didn’t stop there, as he received the Sports Commission’s top prize in the boys swimming and diving category — at Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Springfield in June.
Hines duplicates double-gold medal feat
Ben Hines is approaching legendary status in the prep swimming ranks.
Hines, a Nevada High School junior and reigning Missouri Class 1 gold medalist in the 50 and 100-yard freestyles, struck double-gold for a second consecutive year in those events. He achieved the feat at Friday’s Class 1 state swim meet, held at the Rec-Plex in St. Peters, located just outside of St. Louis in mid-November.
Hines put the cherry on top via his record-breaking performance in the 50-Free, setting a new all-class record.
Hines clocked a 20.07, shattering the previous 50-Free state-tourney record of 20.38. Placing a distant runner-up to Hines was Chaminade’s Jeffrey Garlich (21.37). Hines performance was so thoroughly dominant that he bested Garlich by a full body length.
Hines said he was peaking towards the end of the season, and had a hunch that he was going to set a record in the 50-Free.
“I kind of knew a couple weeks beforehand that I was going to crush that (record) pretty good,” Hines, a four-time state champion medalist, told the Daily Mail. “Because of the way practices had been going, and my mindset — I could just feel it.”
A week after the showcase event, the heavily-recruited Hines committed to the University of Alabama.
Also at the state meet, Nevada’s 200-yard Freestyle Relay team collected a fifth-place finish, the top relay finish in school history — while the NHS 200-yard Medley Relay team placed ninth, equal to a first-place consolation finish.
Tigers, Lady Tigers combine for 13-1 start
The Nevada Tiger and Lady Tiger basketball teams are off to sizzling starts, winning a combined 13 out of 14 games to start the year.
The Tiger boys have raced out to a 7-0 record, which includes the Carthage Invitational championship, and a signature victory over Class 4 state-ranked Willard in the recent 4-States Challenge.
The Lady Tigers (6-1), meanwhile, have dominated opponents, as their six victories have come by an average margin of 25 points.
Both squads will look to keep the good times rolling when they return to the court from Christmas break Friday night. The Nevada boys are slated to host Clinton, while the Lady Tigers are set to square off on the road against Clinton.
Rich Hill product thriving on court for Cottey
Rich Hill High School 2019 alum Taylor Coonce is a major reason for the Cottey Comet basketball team’s dramatic turnaround this season.
Coming off their inaugural season in the NAIA, the Comets finished 1-19 a year ago. Cottey is currently 5-7 overall, which includes a three-game win streak that was snapped by Bellevue University in their final game before Christmas break Dec. 14.
Coonce, a 5-foot-8 wing forward, is Cottey’s most versatile player, as she has proven to be a potent offensive player on the perimeter, and in the post.
In Cottey’s 73-65 victory over Calvary University on Dec. 10, Coonce stuffed the stat-sheet — tallying 15 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, and four assists in the dazzling all-around effort.
Hinton commits to Pitt State
Nevada High 2018 alum Braeden Hinton announced in mid-November that he had verbally committed to Pittsburg state University — and will continue his academic and baseball career with the Gorillas.
Hinton, a catcher and right fielder, is currently in his sophomore season with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. Hinton concluded a solid freshman (spring) campaign with a .313 batting average, to go along with 42 RBI and seven stolen bases.
Hinton will remain with NEO through the spring baseball season, and join PSU at the beginning of the 2020 school year as a junior.