Griffons outduel Outlaws with wet weekend sweep

Nevada Griffons catcher Chase St. Amand slings a throw to first base during the team's 11-8 win over the Joplin Outlaws Friday night at Lyons Stadium.

Photo by Hank Layton | Daily Mail Sports Reporter

Just two games out of the All-Star break, the Nevada Griffons are back in playoff contention.

The Griffons swept the first-place Joplin Outlaws 11-8 and 6-0 over the weekend at Lyons Stadium, elevating themselves from last place in the MINK League South Division standings and into third with just two weeks remaining in the regular season — at the end of which only the top three teams in each division will advance to the postseason.

Jesse Fonteboa, who participated in the Home Run Derby and was one of nine players from Nevada selected to play in the All-Star Game last week, returned to action with a purpose, slugging two dingers in the team’s much-needed three-run victory over Joplin on Friday.

Nevada had only won one of its last five games entering the contest, but Fonteboa’s three-hit, five-RBI night — plus multiple-hit efforts out of teammates Jack Swisher, Kahle Good, Steve Marhefke, and Chase St. Amand, as well as a six-inning, six-strikeout, one-hit performance by starting pitcher Will Jacobson — helped get the team back on track.

Though a 45-minute rain delay interrupted the fourth inning of their rematch against the Outlaws the next night, the Griffons kept their momentum going with a six-run shutout, improving their league record to 12-15 while bumping Joplin out of first place at 12-13.

Dustin Niles was the star of this one, striking out 11 Outlaws and surrendering only four hits and one walk in eight innings of work.

Fonteboa did his part again, as well, driving in two runs and drawing two base-on-balls.

Matthew Leong and Chase Beiter added two hits apiece, helping Nevada score one run in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth, and one in the eighth.