Griffons notebook: Nevada sitting atop South Division standings

By Jason Peake

Daily Mail Sports Editor

The importance of solid defense was easy to see on Tuesday night.

The Nevada Griffons took advantage of six Sedalia errors in a 13-2 victory over the Bombers.

And while Sedalia had numerous miscues in the field, the host Griffons were solid defensively for most of the contest. In fact, the Griffons turned four double plays -- all were key in halting Sedalia rallies.

"If you don't have defense, you don't have much of anything," Griffons Coach Ryan Mansfield said. "You can have all the pitching and hitting in the world. But if the defense can't hold it, it wouldn't matter."

Mansfield added his team's defense has been bolstered by the versatility of many of its players.

"We move some guys around," he said. "We want guys to play multiple positions."

One player Mansfield singled out was Stuart Jeck, who can play in the infield or outfield.

"Stuart Jeck was one guy who stepped up tonight," Mansfield said. "And he can play all over."

Sitting pretty

With Tuesday's win, the Griffons increased their lead in the South Division of the MINK League to four games over the Bombers. The Griffons improved to 13-5 in the MINK League with the lopsided victory. The Bombers slipped to 6-6 in the league. Joplin is now 8-11, with Ozark at 6-9.

The Griffons have now won seven of 10 games, including three-straight.

"I'm very pleased with what we have," Mansfield said. "We need to just keep on playing the way we've been playing. So far, so good."

Series with Sedalia

These two teams will see each other a lot this week, with four games. Nevada heads to Sedalia tonight for two-straight games. The Griffons are back home on Friday vs. the Bombers. It will be Parent's Weekend for the Griffons, who will be home Friday and Saturday nights.

Palmer can play

Griffons catcher/designated hitter Tyler Palmer was last week's MINK League Player of the Week. He's batting .500 with eight RBIs in nine games.

Palmer was part of the Neosho County Community College team in Chanute, Kan. that advanced to the Juco World Series in Grand Junction, Colo.

A native of El Reno, Okla., Palmer is headed to Oklahoma State to play for the Cowboys.

Mansfield said Palmer has made an immediate impact.

"He's definitely been a good addition for us," Mansfield said. "He just goes out and plays everyday. He's solid behind the dish and he's really swinging it right now. I can't take him out of the lineup."

This 'N That

Sedalia has two former Griffons on the roster, Ryan Reddick and Chris Fitzpatrick.

Three new additions are joining the Griffons this week -- Nico Lytle, John Rapose and Matt Minnich, all of Columbia Basin CC in Washington. All three are pitchers.

Mansfield noted he's been pleased with his pitching staff thus far.

"We're pretty deep and that's by design," Mansfield said. "We'll keep moving guys through."

Kody McFarland has a league-best 0.82 ERA. He also has 20 strikeouts, third in the league.