St. Joseph Mustangs vs Chillicothe Mudcats: July 3rd 2025
It’s a very special threegame holiday weekend here in Phil Welch Stadium in St. Joseph, Missouri as we welcome you inside here at Phil Welch for more St. Joseph Mustangs baseball. calendar has flipped to July and your Mustangs continue to pace the mink league here this season as I’m Truman Greel alongside with me tonight Jackson Phelps and both these teams come into July different courses Chilikothy comes in now up into third place in the mink winners of four in a row including three over the Clarinda A’s who sit in second and one uh over your St. Joseph Mustangs and they’ve also won nine of their last 11. Meanwhile, was probably the worst week of the season for the St. Joe Mustangs last week. Their last six games, just three and three. Jackson, one of those wins was against the St. Joe Allstars, but the calendar is flipped. It’s a fun three-game weekend here today. You’ve got Ashton Nance making his first start here at Phil Welch, second of the season. And kind of a rejuvenated squad. Braden Lucart back with the team after leaving for family matters that don’t worry nothing bad just away from the team for a week but he’s back this team’s rejuvenated looking calendar is flipped they’ve had some off days looking to get back at it here tonight. Yeah, you know, the the off days are definitely important as the month of uh July really goes by fast, but it’s the most important month as we know in the mink league. All these games are going to matter. You know, all the teams are going to bring their best foot forward. You know, if that’s pitching, if that’s defensive wise, you start to figure out who these teams are. You start to find your identity and every team that’s going to come into Phil Welch is going to have a brand new identity than what we saw in the, you know, the late months of May and into June. So, um, Mustang’s really going to have to take it up a notch. you know, the last week had some struggles and definitely um only got one game on the away stand was supposed to be two. One of them got postponed against Nevada and then um actually just yes just lost to Chilikathy um you know tough two straight road losses in Chilikathy for them. So this has been kind of a cold stretch against this team and you know Chilikothy at third place they’re starting to find their foot. They’re starting to find their guys and the Mustangs really going to have to you know post up a good squad tonight. Nance making his first start at Phil Welch. It’s going to be a fun one. They say July separates the man from the boys here in the mink league. Just four weeks remain total in the season. Just three weeks before we hit playoff time. Mustang starters being announced. It’s getting loud here at side Phil Welch. A big crowd out here on a holiday Thursday evening in St. Joseph, Missouri. Sun is out. Not many clouds in the air, but we’ll step aside. First pitch coming up next. The 6’4 210 lb 17-year-old from Blue Springs, Missouri and a graduate of Blue Springs South High School makes his second start of the year and the first at Phil Welch for Ashton Nance in his only other start this year. Nance was fantastic back on June the 22nd against Carol. Six in a third innings, just two earned runs on three hits, three strikeouts to walk. Comes in with nine innings pitched, only two runs given up all year. An opponent’s just hitting 156. Yeah, Nance, a guy, he’s really going to have to rely on that fast ball. It’s got a big velocity. You know, the stature of him, you said big guy. You know, he’s going to have a lot of whip around that release point. And hitters going to have a tough time trying to guess what he’s about to throw. He’s young, but he definitely has some maturity on the mound. and he’s been showing up here at Phil Welch and on the away stand like you mentioned last start in Carol looking to do some damage at his first start in Phil Welch and young kid but love what I’ve seen so far in his freshman season here at St. Joe.
Now we get a look at the Mudcat lineup very similar to what we saw the last time the Mudcats were in town back on June the 11th. That’ll be Jirenian Pinkney. Then Payton Becker, Jordy Ventura, Tanner Sears, John Spotter. That top five in that lineup. Definitely scary. Then Garrett Ginan, Bruce Boucher, Ethan Marakoshi, and Raphael Kalcano. Nance’s first pitch of the evening is in there for strike one to Pikney. Y1 lined into right center. That’ll get down in the gap for a hit over to cut off McCullum and he’ll hold Pikney to a leadoff single.
Nice job by Pinkney working the inside part of his plate. You know, had to shorten up the approach on the swing. Did a good job. Kept those hands inside the barrel at all times. It kept it into that gap and a nice play made in right field by McCollum cutting him off, but a good start for the Mudcats. That’ll be Payton Becker for the leadoff hit by Pikney. Becker from Central Methodist University. And on the first pitch, there goes Pikney to second. And he’ll be in there easily with a stolen base. Pikney’s team leading 13th stolen base of the season. Mudcats ain’t wasting no time. They’re going right after Nance in this defense. And why wouldn’t you? Trying to start the month of July right. Nance his fifth appearance of the season before he made that start back on June the 22nd through shut out innings against the North Missouri Naturals on June the 19th against Carol on the 13th and against Chilikathy on the 11th. Then got to go six and a thirds. Now try to give the Mustangs plenty of length tonight. He has Becker quickly down 0 and two. O2 is popped shallow center out as Koy. He’ll make the catch to retire Becker for the first out here of the game. That’s a tough play made out in center field tonight. It’s Lucard. He he couldn’t get a good read on it in that sun, but nice job by Koi keeping eyes on it all the way off the bat, making a nice play. Good job trailing in when he knows his partner can’t get there. Now it’ll be Jordy Ventura hitting 329 on the season. Leads this team in hits with 25, doubles with six, also clobbered a homer, and driven in 13. First pitch gets away from Griffith and that allows Pikney to move up now into 90 ft away here with just one out. Something the Mustangs are going to have to really avoid giving easy advances to these base runners for the Mudcats. And here in the month of July, they just really need to hone in on how good this defense can be. They really got to rely on that. Defense elects to stay back. Snickly has Jordy Ventur down 0 and two. Basketball’s fouled off. Ventur out of North Central Missouri College doesn’t walk much. Just four walks and only one hit by pitch on the season. He gets on base by getting hits. Nance misses upstairs. Ball one. Another one fouled off by Ventur. Really giving the battle here.
He’s doing a good job in a two strike count. Knows Nance can blow him by with that fast ball. Sitting back realizing some of those off speeds are going to come later in that at bat. Doing a good job getting pieces on him, keeping this at bat alive for himself with that runner on third. Another one to offering swung on and missed. Got a piece of it on the change up just barreling. It might have caught Griffith a little bit. Mur stays alive still. Nice pitch from Nance. It did look like Ventura maybe just whiffed on it down in the dirt, but a good job once again. It’s all about just keeping yourself alive and in the count, especially with just an out. All he has to do is put something out into the outfield. And that’ll score Pinkney easily at third. Griffith the Northwest Missouri State Bearcat home plate on her giving him plenty of time. It’s one of those you catch the inner thigh area. Definitely not one that feels good. Another one-two pitch from Nance upstairs. Baltu now having quite the battle here with a runner at third and one out in the first. Full count just really got to reel himself in. Knows that he got himself ahead of this count really quickly. 0 and2 going to have to go back to those strike pitches. Fast ball maybe inside here. I’d like to see it as Ventura kind of slow around those hands. Not a full count offering outside ball for it gets away from Griffith. So first run comes across on the pass ball as Chilikothy takes an early one- nothing lead. Just can’t give any freebies like I mentioned and right there bites him once again. Pinkney advanced from second to third and third to home. Both on pass balls and unluckily Ventura on the worked a full count now is on first. So still just an out for the Mustangs. Griffith seemed to take his eyes off the ball for just a sec. Thought he had it. That ball went soaring past him. Now it’s the cleanup hitter Tanner Sears. Hit a home run as there goes to second on the first pitch. Ventur throw down goes into center field. And Ventura missed the bags. He had a retouch and was not able to make it to third. But second stolen base of the inning for the Mudcats. There they go. I mean, they’re still going after him here and Nancing this defense, especially Griffith with runners on first. That’s the second stolen base from first to second here in this first half inning. Mustangs just can’t lose themselves here in the first inning. Once again, first inning has hurt them last week on the home stand. Those Friday and Saturday games against Carol and Sadelia, the opponent struck first. Now two and one to Sears. Sears comes hitting 306. Two homers, 13 RBI’s, 19 hits. He gets jammed. High pop up shallow left. In comes Bone Nen. Calls off Cory to make the grab and two away. Just another tough play. We mentioned it every single broadcast I feel like, but this sun at the start of the game, you know, first four innings of play, that sun’s going to be brutal for the outfield to have to look up into. And just flared off the bat. Bowdenhausen was on his horse. Koi, but once again does a good job reading it off the bat there just in case Bowdenhausen was not able to make it. That’ll be John Spot in the five hole from Rock Valley College. 0 for one last night in his pinch hit opportunity against Clarinda. Back on Tuesday, he was two for five with a double and two RBI’s and a 103 win over the Mustangs. Spot hit 283 in 58 games this past spring for Rock Valley the Eagles. He grounds one found on the first baseline and finds himself in a one and two hole. I like how Nance is coming in if he gets himself down with an early ball. He’s doing a good job putting it in the zone. Kind of making the hitters go to work even if he knows he’s going to get contact on it. Just good payoff pitches working in those foul balls to get those payoffs in two strike counts. Fourth game spot has played against the Mustangs. Did not play in that first matchup. One, two against Sky to left. Takes Bowdenhausen back a little bit and he makes the grab right in front of the warning track to end the inning. One run in the inning for the Mudcats though on one hit, one runner left. We’re head to the bottom of the first. Your Mustangs coming up to the dish. His fourth start of the season will be Blake Exian for the Mudcats. He’s one and0 in 15 innings. He’s gone only f he’s gone five innings each of his first three starts. 240 erra just seven strikeouts to seven walks. not going to blow by you, but definitely going to induce that weak contact jam hitters, get hitters off balance.
Yeah, even on the strikeouts and walk ratio, you know, he’s a guy who, you know, isn’t predominantly looking for the punch out. He’s just looking to get out of the innings. Really relies on the defense. Um, and and what he’s seeing I’ve like I like what I’ve seen. 15 innings pitched a 24 RA keeps those runs off the board. And now the Mustangs looking to do something they didn’t do much last week, and that’s attack early on here in the first. You get one run down on the board, it’s time to go after Exezian here and really get some runners on base and work it.
Spartanberg Methodist College attendee will face a lineup consisting of Darius Freeman in the leadoff spot, followed by Trevor McMen Lucart back in his second game after his stint away from the team. And then the middle anchor Dom Felix, Jack Mosh, and the high schooler Chris Koy. And rounded out by Jayen Little, Parker Griffith, and Truman Bowden Housen. But it will be the man that if you had to dawn a C on a chest of it would be this guy Darius Freeman leads off. Comes in riding a sevengame hit streak here into tonight. Did not play on Tuesday in Chilikothy. So his first game of the week comes here on Thursday the 3. Guy’s a guy you really like to have in that one hole. You know, if he draws a wonk, if he gets a single, if he gets a double, great. He’s got speed. He’ll get his way around the bases. You can trust that he’ll come around to score most likely. I’d say seven out of the 10 times. He’s ahead two and0 in this count. He’s two swing and gets under it though. High pop to left and in comes Spot to make the grab to retire Freeman for the lead off out. Spott was really having a tough time reeling it in. Good, good adjustment at the last second. But having Freeman out the first batter of the day, I mean, that’s definitely a good start for Exeizian, but he’s really going to have to work here in this middle half. That’ll be Trevor McCollum in the two-hole. Column leads this team with a 360 average. He plays in his 19th game of the summer. Column was two for four on the first with a run and an RBI in that loss. Call him the most veteran Mustang here in his fourth summer. takes a big rip at a change up. It’s one and two.
Beautiful change up by Zezy there. Had McCollum ready to swing at a fast ball trying to pull it. We’ll see if Mcllum wants to have something like that again. Probably expecting maybe a fast ball up and in. There is a fast ball, but it’s right down the middle and McCollum lines a single into left for the first Mustangs hit of the evening. Beautiful approach. I love the tempo from Mcllum read it way all the way out of the step and right there watching that change up go in the quick adjustment to see how the fast ball could look out of the hand once again did a good job and now the Mustangs are rolling with one out. That’ll be the Missouri Southern attendee Braden Lukart like I said did not was not with the team last week celebrating with family and event now back at it here in St. Joe on a holiday weekend. He was one for three on Tuesday. Fourth game he’s played here against Chilikathy this season. This is the team’s sixth meeting. Mustangs lead the season series 3 to2, but Chilikathy has taken the last two in Chilikathy. St. Joe has won both matchups here inside the confines of Phil Welch. Lukart is a local kid born right here in St. Joe. And he lines one right back up the middle and it’s backto-back hits for McCollum. And Lucart Mcllum’s going to take the turn and head for third as Pikney was slow to get to the ball. Beautiful swing from Lucart. took it right where he found it back the middle. But I want to give credit to McCollum realizing the hops out in center field by Pinkney realizing he had a couple extra steps to get out after third and anything counts here for these Mustangs. And having McCollum at third with just an out with your old reliable Truman, it’s going to be time here for the Mustangs to notch this one up. Old reliable Mr. R reliable. It’s Dom Felix batting in the cleanup spot once again this season. and has a chance to drive in a run here early. Has had his way with hitters. Only given up nine hits all season. Just three in his last start at Clarinda, two in the start before that. He’s already given up two hits here in the first. Felix tattoos one deep down the left field line that is going to get foul just a bit out in front of it as the count evens.
Loved that swing. Stayed on that back leg. Really drive the upper elbow into that ball and got underneath it just enough. Waited a couple seconds more with that same exact swing. We could see a 3-1 lead here for the Stangs. Felix leads this team with 25 hits. Eight of those doubles. also a team lead. He’s also driven in 23 and walked 14 times. Dangerous hitter at the plate trying to build off an all mink first team selection from last summer. Takes one high and tight for ball two. Felix, a guy all the way out from Tucson, Arizona, plays college ball at Emporia State. Now, that runs again too far inside and the bases are going to be loaded for Jack Mosh. It’s a guy you do not want to load the bases to. Jack Mosh, one of the best hitters on the team, 21 hits on the year, also batting 328. This is a guy with the bases loaded in and out that you can really rely on to get something in play, at least out into that outfield. He knows and he’s one of the most patient hitters that I’ve seen on this lineup. He’ll definitely work something, but a nice job by Felix. Wasn’t the way he wanted to get on base, but nice job by him for taking one for the team. Definitely a patient hitter. Leads this team and leads the Mink with 24 walks this season playing in his 22nd game of the summer. Also one of five guys with 20 plus hits. He is 21. looking to add that on. There’s 22 lined in right. McCollum will score as Ventur gets the ball and quickly he throws it over the head. So Lukeart’s going to score and both Felix and Mos will move up and now here comes Felix to the plate but he’s going to be out. Mustangs try to get aggressive and capitalize off the mistakes from the Mudcats and they take a 2-1 lead.
Wow. I mean I love the aggressiveness. I mean, the Mustangs trying to wreak havoc on the base paths. Did a good job. I really give credit to Braden Lucart realizing the ball got away, making a nice move over to third, but Felix right there. Just a tough break. He had a good jump up to home, but a nice play made by Exezian. Just a last second toss and a nice tag put on. And that’ll be two runs on the play and Jack Mosh still in scoring position for Koi is the Benton High School graduate from now about a month and a half ago. Chris Koy, Johnny Koy’s nephew, University of Nebraska Omaha committing. He takes one right off the shoulder blade and gives a little toss of his bat. Second time Exezian has drilled a Mustang up and in. Two of the last three hitters now drilled just in that back area. Both right-handed hitters. And it’s that righty righty matchup. I mean, Exeizian has what he has to do to get the ball kind of cutting across the plate right there. He just wants to paint that inside part of the plate. And it looks like he just missed it. But two similar pitches have hit both Felix and Koy. But Mustangs can’t complain too much when you got MS and Koi on base. I mean, this is a good spot for Little to put something into a gap and score both. Jane Little with two outs. and a runner in scoring position. Asha swiped five bags in seven tries. Koi nine for nine on his season. Jaden Little, another local product, attends Lincoln University, playing at first base tonight. That first pitch down away. Mosh got a great read and both runners move up on the pass ball and now it’s two in scoring position for Mr. Jaden Little.
A little bit of a late reaction from both, but I just love how they read that ball off the glove of Buché. Just kind of trailed off and it kept rolling. So it gave them a little bit extra time to move over. Now Little a single could score too. Little does swing, but it’s rolled over to Becker at second. And he will throw out Little to end the threat. But the Mustangs play two runs on three hits. Two men left. They found themselves down 10 entering the inning. They leave it up 2-1. We’re headed to the second. Your Mustangs lead the Mudcats two to one. You get a look at your Mustangs defensive line tonight. Bowdenhous and Luke Harton. McCollum is your outfield trio. Dom Felix making yet another start in the hot corner with Chris Ky shorts stop. Jack Mosh his counterpart in the middle. Jane Little at first. And your battery tonight, Ashton Anson and Parker Griffith. Mustangs up 2-1. Fireworks here early. It’s the 678 hitters here for Chilikathy. Led off by Garrett Ginan. Just making his second start of the year and appearing in only his second game. His first game was against St. Joe. He was two for two with a walk and two runs scored. It’s a good day for him a couple days ago. really contributed to that big of the run lead win and he’s trying to do the same thing here at Phil Welch. Mudcat scored eight runs off Mustang starter Landon Re. First time that the team had roughed up wreath like that. Only made it four innings before being relieved. Didn’t want to go around but he does now gaining in a one and2 deficit.
Big swing to not want to go around on. He was really wanting it out of the hand, but just before kind of curled up that wrist trying to pull that bat back, but it’s too far gone. One, two. Nance thought that was strike three. Took started his strike out trot around the mount. Had to quickly put it in reverse. Genan from Chandler Gilbert Community College out in Arizona. Doesn’t offer at the breaking ball. Count goes full. I like it. He’s playing it close to the zone. Nance really trying to work his stuff just so Guinan has to stay not comfortable. I mean, he’s putting it close enough to where he’s going to take some big league takes. Swung on and missed. First strike out of the night. Rash and Nance the victim Garrett Ganan.
When the offense just isn’t working, when it’s not finding that part of the zone, what do you go back to? His reliable reliable fast ball. That thing is so fast out of the hands him to Santiago. They got some of the most heaters in this le in this game with the Mustangs and in the mink. I mean, it’s tough to see with Nance on the mound. That’ll be Bruce Bush hitting right at that Mendoza line. 2006 for 30. He takes a breaking ball strike one. He swings it. The second pitch flies to left. Bowden has another opportunity and he makes the grab for out number two. Great pitch from Nance. Put it on the inside. It was a nice swing from Buchet. Just got two under it, but Bowdenhausen had to get a little bit of a lucky step back. He kind of went forward off the bat. He couldn’t really see it in that sun, but did a good job backpedaling enough and making a nice play out in left.
Ali the eight hole hitter. Ethan Murakoshi, Hawaii Pacific attendee, starting off with strike one and done a very good job so far. Eight batters into his start getting ahead with strike one. Three/4er arm slot from Nance. Not as far low as Jace Johnson, but not totally over the head. Now one and two. Love the confidence I’m seeing from Nance. He knows that he can work these counts as far as he want. These mudcats really haven’t been heavy swinging. Love what I’m seeing. Marco hitting 237. He’s one for three with a run scored against St. Joe on Tuesday. Nance missed a spot inside. gets another crack at it. Two, two, swung on and missed. Pulled the string on Murakoshi. And it’s a one, two, three inning for Ashton Nance. Two strikeouts in the inning. We’re headed to the bottom of the second as you’re watching St. Joseph Mustangs baseball here on It’ll be the Bearcat back stop to get your Mustang started here in the second. Parker Griffith leads off. 229 hitter so far on the summer. Does have a team leading two homers though. He’s also driven in 11 RBI’s. Griffith just a guy who loves to put the bat on the ball any way he can. had a big double last Saturday to start out the inning in the 11th for the Mustangs in the walk-off win. So definitely a guy you want to have leading off the game or the inning, my apologies. He’s just a guy who’s really confident at the plate. The 891 here for the Mustangs. That sun still hurting these fielders back down the pitcher mound now, but still the outfield and those middle infielders having to deal with it. It’s tough. I mean, looking over, we’ve been in that outfield before and in that middle infield trim and it’s just it gets bright. I mean, it just holds over the grand stand and it’s so tough to see and that’s all you can really see. The glare fouls went off easy in ahead. One and two. One, two, breaking ball that stayed up and Griffith makes pay with a leadoff single here in the second. Same swing approach I saw last Saturday here in this booth. He found something up and inside. He did a good job at keeping the should keeping his arms tucked into his body around that bat and getting some good speed around in time. Knock it and pulled it to the left side and left field. Did a good job watching that all the way in. And that’s something that’s so important that Griffith does best.
Natalie Truman Bowdenous rounding out this Mustang lineup. Odenhausen comes in hitting 295 on the season. 21 hits, 19 runs driven in his 20th game here of the summer as a Savannah kid quickly ahead 2 and 0. Two is upstairs now. Three and0. Not too many walks on the season, just the seven, but nine stolen bases. So, a guy in that nine-hole spot. They really like to balance him out between the one and the nine. They know they can either have him start off or anchor this whole offense really well. He’s taken all the way. 3-1. upstairs. Ball four. So after the leadoff single by Griffith, Bowdenous works his eighth walk of the season. Now the Mustangs really have something brewing here in the second as the lineup card will flip over for Darius Freeman. Uh-oh. This is what should be saying in the Mudcat’s head right now with Darius Freeman coming to bat. Still no outs. Double play still in commission, but with the way these Mustangs run on these base paths, that first base could not be occupied for too long. And we’ll have to see. Really going to have to have Buché behind plate watch everything in and try and block as much as he can. Another pitch misses. Ezian struggling with command so far to start his outing. He hit two batters in the first and he’s already walked a batter here in the second. Now it’s the Kansas City, Kansas kid. Swinging 10, grounding it foul just down the third base line. Freeman got jammed but thought he did enough with it. It looked good. But I think that just clipped that outside part of the bag. Just hopped over it. But they might have just saw it kind of went trail towards the line a little bit more. But a good swing. Freeman’s timing him up pretty decent. Need to get a little bit more in front. Now he taps another one up the third baseline. But again, foul. Freeman attends Central Methodist University. He’s teammates with Payton Becker and Tanner Sears tonight. They are opponents. Sears in that hot corner. Raymond looking to go that way. Stays alive. Freeman hit 327 his all mink first team selection last summer sitting at 324 now he had 48 hits last summer he’s got half that 24 in his 21st game definitely on pace to replicate those numbers from a year ago he is back to being the Darius we all know and love. And right now, two balls, two strikes. He’s worked himself back into a nice count. I just want to see him shorten his approach. I want to see him maybe get an early step on Exezian and see if he can slap something on the pole side. Fouls another one off. Fifth game Freeman is playing here against Chilikathy. Six for 14 in the previous four. He’s driven in a run in each of it the previous four games. Driven in eight total. Also has mashed his only home run, a moonshot three-run homer back in game one of a double header on June the 24th. Game that after the second inning experienced a rain delay, but then the Mustangs came out hot. Is another one blooped past third and Lance foul again. Fifth foul ball. Freeman is lined down the third base line. So, we’ll do it again at two and two. It’s a tad bit earlier. That’s all we’re looking for from Freeman. Even if it is on that third base side, he can still bloop something on. I mean, these pitches haven’t really been too fast for Freeman to have to deal with. He can probably bloop something in that left field area and try and get Griffith around. Two is in the dirt. Three and two. Good blocked by Buché. Parker Griffith led off this inning with a single. Truman Bowdenhousen followed up with a walk. Griffith has stolen three bases this summer, but you have to think with the lefty Freeman. Don’t want to test it as Freeman lines it right back up the middle into center field for a hit. Griffith makes the turn. He will score easily without a throw. And Darius Freeman comes through to extend his hit streak to eight games. Right there. Shorten the approach. Keep the hands in. He was trying to keep those hands out in those inside pitches. Nice swing from Freeman in a big spot. Griffith gave him enough time out in center field. Pinkney couldn’t get a throw in. And Freeman doing his job like he always does. Pikney’s playing very deep out there in center. So didn’t have a chance at it as Freeman not the prettiest swing but got all barrel on that one and just lined it right back up the middle for hit number 25 and RBI number 23. Both of those tie Dom Felix for the team lead now has an RBI in another game against the Mudcats. He’s definitely doing his thing against Chilikathy this season. Feels comfortable. I mean, back at home after just the one game on the road in the off day. I’m loving to see the comfortability so far. I mean, only in the second already three runs. Looks a lot more confident they than they did last week. Now, McCollum trying to continue it. Still no outs and it just flips once again. Runners on first and second. After the mouth is Trevor McCollum who singled and scored last inning. 40% of Freeman’s RBI’s up to this point have come against the Chilikothy Mudcats. A team where if the season ended today, these two teams did not face each other in the postseason until the championship series. McCllum skies one deep right center, long run for Ventura, but he’s under it. He’ll make the grab. Bowdenhousen tags and heads to third. So it’s a productive out nonetheless from Mcllum as now runners are at the corners with one away.
Good out. I love it. Put it deep enough. Ventura did a nice job getting over to it. But I like Bodenous speed over there. He definitely likes to read it all the way in. And now runners on the corners. One out. We’ll likely see Freeman might steal second here. Freeman is 15 for 17 on his season. Last summer he was 25 for 28. So again on pace to replicate if not more of those numbers. But it is Braden Lukart extended his hit streak to five games with a single to center and he also came around to score on the Jack Mosh single. I like this righty lefty match up here for Lucart. He’s got good holes on both sides of the middle infield. Takes strike one in the outer half of the plate. Lart in his first summer up here with St. Joe. He hit 347 in 53 games for Missouri Southern. 74 hits, nine doubles, three triples, seven long balls, drove in 52, also had 32 walks, and just 18 strikeouts in 213 at bats. That’s amazing. That’s amazing. Just a 8% strikeout rate as Freeman. There he goes for second and he will be in there. The ball kicks off the glove of Kalano. Freeman’s going to get up. He’s going to make the turn. He’s headed for the plate. But what a throw online to nail Freeman at the plate. Oh, what a job by Freeman. He kind of kicked it off himself. It looked like with those wheels. I was for certain Freeman could get around. I like the aggressiveness, but I mean, shout out to Kalcano at short putting a strong throw. and Buché second time he’s tagged someone out. It was Felix the first time. Now tough with Freeman, but nonetheless, a run does get home. Bowdenhousen does walk home easily for run number four. Now Lucart with nobody on. Blueart has continued those disciplinary ways. Only five strikeouts in 57 at bats. Easy. Evens the count. Two a piece. Takes one just below the knees. Count goes full. right there. It shows Lucart knows what he wants and he knows what he loves in the zone. And that was not it. And he knows his zone so well. Him and Mos to mention just know their zone so much better than any other player I’ve seen. Ball outside. Walk number 14 for Lucart with two outs. Mustangs have another base runner. That’s tough. Two outs. You want to continue the inning. Saw something outside. Just cut outside at the last second. I love Lucart’s approach. Just goes up, isn’t looking to do anything fancy, just trying to put himself in a good position to contribute. And walks are been a big part of his game this season. That’ll be Dom Felix who was drilled by a pitch. His first played appearance and then was caught at home trying to get aggressive and score on an overthrow from Ventur. And right Felix hit 291. past spring at Emporia State. He’s also coming off an all mink first team selection last summer after hitting 321. Nice rip. I like it. Koi had to get out of the way over at third the third base coach over there. But I like the rip and Felix. Just got to shorten the approach. Maybe fasten up that tempo. Trying to wait on it.
Ky didn’t pull anything. having to make a quick reaction and jump out of the way. Zezes has Felix down 0 and two. Breaking balls popped up. It’ll get out of play and Felix stays alive. Good payoff swing. You know, just found that one off. Saw something very similar. This one just a little bit more off speed and it was just too off speed for him. Couldn’t get around on it too in time. But here in an O2 count, he’s definitely got to widen widen up his zone approach. That hit by pitch in the first. Felix has now reached safely in 21 of his 22 games played. Impressive. Only game he didn’t reach base. He’s 0 for three on an RBI against these mudcats as he waves and misses for the strike out to end the inning. But not before your Mustangs play two more on two hits. One runner left. We’re added to the third. It’s an early romp for your the Mustangs as they lead 4-1. It is the Fourth of July weekend, so thought get some Fourth of July trivia out there. And first one of the night have it all this weekend. But what is the most commonly consumed food in the United States on the 4th of July? is a apple pie, b cheeseburgers, c banana splits, or d hot dogs. And I will remind fans the famous Joey Triani quote from the episode, one of the Thanksgiving ones, the one with the rumor. When Monica says that she’s not going to make a turkey, Joey says the line, “But you got to have turkey on Thanksgiving. It’s like Fourth of July and no apple pie.” Oh,
don’t don’t know if that you know don’t know if that was a hint viewers, but
Jackson, you got any thoughts?
I do. I’m gonna go hot dogs. I feel like that’s an American classic under the summertime, especially outside. I’m go hot dogs.
Meanwhile, Raphael Kano on one two pops it in the infield and Chris Koy’s under it for number one. Job by Koi just doing his job again in the infield. He’s been a big big front man and a big captain a part of this infield and he’s doing a good job tonight. Now back to the top man who has the only hit tonight so far for the Mudcats. Jiren Pikney was named offensive mink league player of the week this past week for his efforts. He continues to swing a hot stick. He does. I like his approach. You know, his stance. It’s very wide, so he can get around pretty quick on anything. He has the bat kind of up high on his shoulder. Truman, I don’t know about you. What is your What What’s your answer? Are you sticking with apple pie or
Well, I know the answer, so I can’t share it.
Oh, that’s very true. Aiden, what about you? Our our our producer in here, what what’s your answer?
Cheeseburger.
He says cheeseburgers.
Producer is thinking cheeseburger. No one going with the banana split. Another breaking ball found off by Pikney. Ahead one and two. He had four multi-hit games in the final four games of June after only having two up to last week. definitely found his stride at the plate. He was 11 of 19 last week with a homer, three runs driven in, seven runs scored, and seven stolen bases. He got on base at a 619 clip. That’s reason why. Great vision right there. Just lays off the breaking ball. 3-2. Want to see if Nance goes back to that fast ball here. Tries to blow it right by him. does go back to the fast ball. He fouls it off. Spartanberg Methodist attendee like tonight’s Mudcat pitcher Blake Exasian. Hit 365 in 49 games. Drove in 39 and stole 23 bags. Another 3-2 chopped up the middle. Koy to his left. Going to have to make a quick throw and he does. Retires the speedy Pikney for two outs. Mr. Fundamentals Chris Koy does a good good footwork. It was chopped up that middle part of the area. Did a good job putting the glove on it. And that was just a good job by Nance. You know, he could have gone to off speed, but he went back to the fast ball. Kept it more outside this time. Kept Pinkney guessing. And I liked the approach from Nance there. He has two quick outs. He said Mr. Fundamental there. I thought you were talking about Tim Duncan.
Oh, Hall of Fame power forward for the San Antonio Spurs, but it’s a good pull. Chris Koy, the young guy, the young gun again, only 18 years old, committed to play baseball at Nebraska Omaha. Breaking ball just misses here to Payton Becker. He popped out to Koi. His first trip to the plate. Now he finds himself down on the count one and two. Becker a utility guy. He’s found himself tonight at second, but he’s played short. He’s played third. Couple games in the outfield as well. He comes in over in his last four games. The last time he got a hit was June 27th. That one round to the right side. Sliding play bane by Mosh. Saves my announcer Jinx. And it’s another one, two, three inning for Ashton Nance. Nance has set down eight in a row. We’re heading to the bottom of the third here. And Phil Welch. Still 4-1 Mustangs. A short outing, shortest of the season for Blake Exeizes as Max Wagers takes over. Makes his sixth appearance of the season. First time out of the bullpen for Wagers in five starts. He’s 1 and2 in 23 innings. 313 ERA, 135 whip, 18 strikeouts to nine walks. And he gets the 567 do up here in the third. Mustangs just did a really good job attacking Exe four runs on five hits. Love to see the aggressiveness to open up the game. It’s Jack Mos who worked his team leading 25th 22nd hit, excuse me, back in the first. A two-run scoring hit. He finds himself down 0 and two. Doesn’t chase the change up in the dirt. Wagers pitched here against St. Joe back on June the 11th. went four and a third innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. Struck out three and didn’t walk anybody that two landed fair up the third baseline and down into the left field corner. Mossh will easily make the turn and cruised into second and it’s a leadoff double for Jack Mosh. Saw an outside pitch, was behind on it, but did a good job. It just fell fair on that third base line. Really hard to see from our angle, but Mosh watched it all the way in and got a good jump off the out of the batters box. And now a leadoff double. Second hit for him. He’s having himself a day. Ash had been three for 16 in his last five games. He’s broken back out with a vengeance. Now two for two. That’ll be for Chris Koy who was hit by a pitch his first time up. Almost hit by a pitch again as that one runs high and tied again. Man, he’s just getting the unlucky stuff out of the hands. Oh, runs up near that chin guard. looks at a breaking ball for a strike. Koi hitting .279, 19 hits and 68 at bats. Now he lines one into left field and down. MSH will get waved home by Johnny Koy. Throw in cut off and it’s another RBI hit for a Mustang. First of the night for Koy as he drives in his 15th the run on the season. Great swing approach from Koy inside. Hands around, drove it into left field. Love how comfortable he is. He just is so patient and really waits for that pitch and he doesn’t really try and get very erratic and jump on it. He does a good job sticking to himself, sticking to the same swing every time. And he’s having himself a great freshman season back home in St. Joe. Now it’ll be Jaden Little. He grounded to second to end the first, but he lines a first pitch past the diving glove of Calcano. Three straight hits to open up the third. Now runners at first and second for the catcher Griffith. Wagers kind of struggled last time out on the 11th. And Mustangs fresh out of the pin. And it’s where they like to attack. We saw that against Sadelia. Had to get Russo out of the pin for them. And Mustangs ate him up. And here with Wagers, they’re looking to do the same thing. Still no outs. The Mustangs bats really coming alive. Wagers did throw six shutout innings against Carol back on June the 28th, the game the Mudcats lost 4 nothing. Their last loss. for that he threw two innings on June the 24th in that start that had a rain delay so he was taken out gave up one run on one hit Griffith singled and scored in the second originally from Lee Summit Missouri Now Griffith ahead two and one. Griffith clubbed his first homer of the season back on June the 6th against these Mudcats. In that game, he was one for two. With that homer, he also walked twice, stole a pair of bags, and scored two runs. Now Wagers is risking walking the bases loaded. He’s down three and one to Griffith.
He just doesn’t want to give him anything in the zone. Griffith had a nice job last bat. Pulled one into the left field gap between third and short. Doesn’t want to do the same thing, but definitely don’t want to load it up. 3-1 shot foul. Griffith this past season at Northwest Missouri. Shady hit 184. 34 games he got 87 at bats, 16 hits. One of those was a double and four of those were the long ball.
Go Bearcats. Now it’s ball four upstairs. So after three straight hits, wagers walks Griffith to load the bases for the RBI man himself, Truman Bowdenhousen. Here he comes up. I mean, drew the walk last time, came around to score. He’s he’s ultra comfortable in these situations. No outs, bases loaded, and this is a guy who’s not a typical nine-hole. We talked about that last time. He’s a guy who definitely knows how to keep the Indians alive. This isn’t a guy that you have to look at and say, “We can pitch to him. He’s not heavy.” Bowdenhousen is one of the heaviest 9hole hitters I’ve seen. And I know this is a guy that can make the job done here with bases loaded. Bowdenhausen is the definition of your second leadoff hitter. Sometimes what they call that nine-hole hitter. By no means quote unquote worst hitter in the lineup. He’s a guy who can get a hit, jump start the offense for the top of the lineup in Darius Freeman who waits on deck. He has a chance to drive in his 20th run and maybe more. Wagers just looking for that first out. Mustang hitters have been on him early. Mosh led off the inning with a double. He was driven in by a koi single and then Little followed that up with a single. Carter if it’s worth the walk. 01 flared down the right field line coming over his Ventura. He can’t get there. Oden Housen also has had several opportunities out in left field. After this past spring, he became the first player at any NCAA level, college baseball level to win back-to-back gold gloves in back-to-back years, but at two different positions. He’s won one at second base and now at shorts stop for North Central Missouri College. He knows how to get it done anywhere you put him on the field. He’s a utility player at heart and I love how Johnny Koi really knows how to facilitate this lineup. He really goes from top to bottom with guys he can trust no matter where they’re at. Having his best summer with the Stangs 348 hitter.
Chops one over to short for Calc. He’ll go the long way across. throws out Bowden, but Koi crosses the plate for run number six. It’s exactly what he’s told to do. Put the ball in play and deep enough. Not on the third base side or first base side where it was a play at home. Nice job. Just line it up the middle. Play was not at home. Nice run. And still two runners in scoring position with an out. Back to the top. 20th RBI of the season for Bowdenhausen. That ball was not hit hard enough to roll two as now it’s Darius Freeman who drove in a run with a single in the second has a chance to drive in more here in the third. That ball up the middle and pass under the glove of Calcano and Freeman will do just that. Easily in to score as Little easily home is Griffith and it’s a two-run single for Darius Freeman. looks carbon copy of the last swing. Just this one was on the ground. Just put it right back up the middle. Enough velocity to get out of the infield escaping the glove of Kalano. And a good jump from Griffith. He got enough down the line. Tory had a good opportunity to score. Two runs come across on another single from Freeman. He’s also having himself a night. Third RBI of the night for Freeman. He’s now two for three as it brings up Trevor McCollum who’s one for two. And he swings, launches one left field. Back is spotto, but right in front of the warning track, he’ll make the grab as the Phil Welch graveyard claims another victim. Wow. Out number two. It just really the the outfield is so big, especially for these guys coming in wood bats this summer. It’s hard for them to get that exit velocity they’re used to with those metal pieces. But nonetheless, great swing from a column. Just has to go up there and look to do the same exact thing. He’ll probably get a different result if he keeps doing that. Now Brain Lucart making his third plate appearance in three innings. He’s one for one locking a single on his line. Wagers just trying to get out of it. Already allowed four here in the inning. He’s another guy who plays ball at North Central Missouri College. appeared in 14 games this past spring as Luke Cart fouls one off his foot. 56 and two/3 innings. He had a 429 RA, 45 strikeouts hit 267 off him. The Mustangs have jumped on him here as there goes Freeman to second. Pitch was up. Throw down by Buché and it basically took Calc right into the sliding Freeman for the out. Freeman wanting interference. Kalano gives him a bump on his head and that’ll end the inning. Wacky end of the inning as Freeman is caught stealing for just the third time this season. Mustangs do play four though. They continue to grow this massive lead. It’s now 8-1 as we’re a third of this way through this game headed to the fourth here at Phil Welch on a holiday weekend. 8-1 Mustangs. After the Mustangs played four more in the bottom of the third, we get you back to your first trivia question of the night here on the holiday weekend celebrating United States independence and all those who have served our country past and present. But what is the most commonly consumed food on Fourth of July in the United States? And Jackson, you are correct. Yes, the answer is indeed hot dogs.
Yes.
Sorry if I led any of you astray thinking it might have been apple pie, but it is indeed a ballpark staple and a classic. The American dog.
How could it not? Meanwhile, another dog. This one a DWG dog. Ashton Nance back out for his fourth inning of work. He’s retired eight mudcats in a row. It’s the 345 here to face him. Jordy Ventur leads off and on a 10, it’s a one hopper to Chris Koy. And Mr. Fundamental easily makes the play now. Nine straight retired. Right at him. Didn’t really have to move. Just read it. Good nicely off the hop. Good. Good confidence booster. Makes it nine in a row. Nance still working. Now they Tanner Sears batting in that cleanup spot. He’s 0 for one. Flyed out to Bowdenhausen and left his first time up. Sears riding a nice little four-game hit streak including three hits and a homer against the Mustangs on Tuesday. Both his home runs this season have come against St. Joe. Drove in that three that day. drove it in seven over this nice little four game hit streak. Now that one is launched deeper left center overs Lukeart and he runs it down in the alley for out number two. Good read Lucart right off the bat. I mean this outfield so speedy as it is, they put the fastest guys out there for a reason. And off those types of hits, it’s going to be tough for most to get over there, especially in as wide as an outfield as Phil Welch is. Great play by Lucart.
Abby John spot. He also flat out to Bowden in his first time up. Got jammed on the pitch. This Mustangs outfield no matter who Johnny Koy slots in. Continue to make plays. That one under the glove of the diving Mosh to break the streak of 10 consecutive mudcat retired. Second hit of the night for Chilikathy. First for spotto first sense first hit since the leadoff man Pinkney as well and Nance has really kept the firepower off the bats and big pops and right there he just got a good piece. It was just an unlucky spot for Nance out of the hands. Spottto got a good piece of it. That’ll be Garrett Genan was retired for the first time this season. Only his third at bat. He struck out swinging in the second. Ant has continued to impress here in his starting roles. I’m sure if you asked him, his biggest start of his baseball career certainly came in May down in Ozark, Missouri at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex. A class 6 semifinal game as that one lined up the middle into center. Now, backto-back two out singles here for the Mudcats. We’ve seen it here with the Mustangs and most of these teams that come in with two outs. You just get comfortable with your zone and you just think you can just kind of get through with putting them there. And now the Mudcat’s kind of figuring out Nance as they get later into this ball game. And N still with two outs. I mean, you can’t really worry about too much who’s on. He’s just got to get himself out. Just keep throwing his pitches, but maybe loosen up on the, you know, on the inside of the zone a little bit more. Did fall behind Ganon in that count. Now he falls behind Buché here. Bush 0 for one. Getting right at that Mendoza line this season. Jackson, you know who the Mendoza line is named after?
I do not. Enlighten me.
Named after Mario Mendoza. Mario Mendoza.
Consistently under the 200 line. It was deemed the Mendoza line for a player’s ability to never seem to climb that hill. does suck. That is an unfortunate way. That’s an unfortunate line to be at. You know, you want to break 250, maybe just get past, but yeah. Now, Nance gets back in the zone, has Buché down one and two. And really, the 200 mark is the only line that really has a name. I mean,
yeah,
a player’s able to hit 400, it means the 400 club, not really named that, but it’s really just that 200. Guess anything worse, you’re just bad and anything better, you’re you’re pretty good. Breaking ball breaks too far outside the zone. Two and two. You definitely don’t want to be under that Mendoza line. If you are just trying to find yourself again and just try and get more bats on the ball, but now 22 rolled off the end of the bat. It’ll bounce foul count remains. Battle between Buchet and Nance. You know, Nance has really been working on that outside half part of the plate majority of this at bat. I want to see with that fast ball. The fast ball’s been that two strike killer for these mudcats. I want to see if he wants to try and plate that more inside. I want to see if he wants to get Buché thinking it’ll be outside, open the hands and just completely miss it on the inside half. Another two- two misses high and away. 3-2. So, both runners will be off on the pitch. Fielders have to stay home and throw across. 3-2 top four. Mustangs lead 8-1. First and second here with two outs. Bush the seven hole. Chops one foul. Won’t do it again. Good battle. Buchchet doing a good job getting the payoff pitches the way he wants them to. He’s gotten kind of lucky with some of these if they were in play. Definitely could have been an easy ground out, but he’s just still looking to stay up there and see if he can catch a good barrel. Another full count delivery from Nance. This one’s lined off the glove of Chris Coin into left center. Spott will score. Lukart gets the ball in quickly as three straight singles here with two outs. Plates Chilikathy’s second run. Now it’ll be runners on the corners for Ethan Muroshi. Just a beautiful swing from Buché. just enough to get on that top of the part of the glove of Koi and just kind of pop off the glove. And that deflection kind of gave enough time for Spot to come home to score. Genanon’s going to be held at third. Still two outs. We’ll see if the Mudcats continue to work. Ky tried to extend all of his six foot frame, just wasn’t able to get it. Clipping off his glove, keeping alive. Marosi struck out swinging to end the second. He takes a rip at the 10. Sky deep center. Lukart calls everyone off and he makes the two hand grab to retire Muroshi but not before the mud. Cats strike with two outs and three straight singles to play to run. They chip away at the lead here in the fourth, but the Mustangs still take an 8-2 lead head to the bottom of the fourth. Beautiful night out here tonight at Phil Welch. Currently 85 degrees. We’ll stay in the low 80s here throughout the rest of this game. Sun has started to set. Shadows cover the ballpark as the Mustangs looking to respond after the Mudcats put up a run at the top of the fourth.
They did. They did it in a good job. Two outs. Looked very comfortable in the spot where they knew they had to keep the inning going. They got some nice hits and they just worked around the bases. Got home a run. And you know, anything counts when you’re trying to chip away a lead that the Mustangs have. That’ll be brain Lucart who takes a rip at the first pitch and lines it into center. His second hit of the night. It’s a leadoff single here in the fourth.
Why not? If you like it right out of the right out of the gates. I love the swing from Lucard. Love the opening confidence. That’s a great way to start the inning knowing, hey, why wait? We can try and, you know, we’re up. We’re up by six runs, but let’s get more. Let’s start now. Let’s not wait until we can know we’re going to be comfortable. Let’s just go now. I like that approach. Max Wagers back out. Gave up four runs in the third. Looking to limit the damage here in the fourth. It’s Dom Felix who’s 0 for one. Hit by a pitch back in the first. Third straight inning. The Mustangs have gotten their leadoff man on. Able to capitalize those first two times. See if they can capitalize here. Another big hack from Felix. Fouls it straight back. One and two. He’s done a good job. Those fast balls just really been kind of hard for him to catch up to here in this at bat. And he’s doing a good job just putting a piece on it. Now I want to see if he can read the off speed maybe coming out of here from wagers. Maybe a slider cutting across. See if he can probably poke it out into the big gap between second and first. takes a big rip at a breaking ball deep left field. Back is Spot, but he has a good beat on it and runs under it to make the grab. Another victim of the Phil Welch graveyard. I mean, it it had good it had good sound off of the bat. Had a good loft and definitely just a great swing, but that those just like to trail up. There’s no wind as we see center field flag, nothing going. So that’s just all whatever bad voodoo is out there in the outfield. Goodwood couldn’t get enough on it. Now be Jack Mos. He’s two for two, two RBI’s and a double. Broke out of his three for 16 slump with quite the performance. He continues to mash here at Phil Welch against Chilikathy. Came in four for seven. Now he’s six for nine. He was definitely due. You know, he’s such a patient hitter as he is. Works a lot of walks, leads the team, but he was due to get something going with the bases with the baseball bat. And tonight, he’s been doing just that. I’m happy to see it as he’s still trying to, you know, figure out what he wants to do next spring for college. And this is a good spot to start at the University of Minnesota in the portal to see who might come a calling. only appeared in seven games for the Golden Gophers. Now he’s way ahead of wagers here. Three and 0. Mash the most patient hitter on this Mustang squad. 24 walks in 90 plate appearances. But he’s swinging three and0. He’ll sky one deep center. Pikney’s back. And the three 0 gamble for Mosh does not pay off as he’s retired for the first time tonight. He’ll probably want that one back. And I’m not talking about the swing. MSH does a good job on three 0’s. Watches him go by and maybe get on base with the walk there. But I mean, I like the swing approach. It was a good swing. Put in the center and it just dies once again. And it’ll actually look like it’ll be a it’ll be a Boach. So Mosh will stay up. A late B callled by our umpires. It’s something you don’t usually see. Usually it’s pretty immediate after the pitch is delivered. But that one took all the way. MSH connecting with it. Mosh running down the first base line. And Mosh heading back towards the dugout. But he gets new life. That’s taken for strike one. Mosh thought it was outside. First summer with the Stangs. Now count is full. back to being his true self right there. Saw something that was close enough. Wasn’t 100% certain on it. Good job putting wood on it. Now a full count. Really got to work himself. Tighten up the zone. See if he can draw something out into the gap. Full count offering in on the hands. This one fly to center and Pikney for the second time retires Mos with a fly out to center. Did not have to erase my scorebook there. Stayed back in center field. Pinkney a good read on it. Didn’t have to move anywhere. But now Koi is officially up with a runner in scoring position. Koi a beautiful swing on the inside half last time out. Looking for the same approach here. Ky one for one RBI single as last time up. He’s also hit by a pitch. Wagers hung him a breaking ball in their first meeting in the third. Koi pounced on it. Now heading to third is Lukeart. Throw is late and he’s in there safely. What a jump. It was almost a jump that way just didn’t even know what to do with it. And I just like the approach there from Lucart staying full throttle the whole way through. Ninth stolen base of the summer for Lucart. Still has yet to be caught. That was one of those that he was already threequarters of the way by the time Wagers thought about throwing. And that one little hesitation from Wagers, Lucart just committed. Wagers did not. Now Koy bloops one shallow right. In comes Ventur. He’ll lay out and it’ll get down. RBI single Chris Koy lead back to seven at 92. Second RBI of the night for Koy. Second hit as well off the you know that top part of that bat and it trailed just enough. Ventura good chase. Kind of looks a little shooken up there and right. He took a big t big dive towards it. Just got underneath his glove. The Mustangs yet another run. Ball was falling fast and Ventura laying fairly deep out and right had to make a long run and just couldn’t come up with those extra five inches. Now it’s Jane Little who’s also one for two. He scored a run last inning on a single. Little hit 280 this past spring at Lincoln University. He had 47 hits and 168 abs. 48 games played. One of the guys getting their last hurrah on the diamond. He’s done a good job. You know, a slow start at the start of the season, but he’s really developed into another good season here for the Mustangs. And I want to see if he can continue this inning with two outs. He has 17 strikeouts as he’s down one and two. But like Jackson was saying, about 13 of those came in those first eight games when he just couldn’t buy making contact. Now he’s we’ve seen him shorten up his approach.
Mhm.
Stay within himself and he’s really started to tattoo some balls nicely. Dutu from wagers fouled off. single in the third was hit number 15 of Little’s 2025 campaign. He takes a breaking ball in the dirt. Another full count to a Mustang hitter. To add on to that, just the ability to extend the at bat is the most impressive thing that we’ve seen from the Mustangs so far this season. And a guy like Little who does like to swing that bat has definitely taught himself to hold back. He rips another one. This one on the line, but again, Spot got a great jump on it to retire the side. Loud out to end the fourth. Mustangs plate one on two hits, one left. We’re headed to the fifth here at Phil Welch. Mustangs back up seven now lead 9-2. Let’s get a look at Mustangs holiday weekend schedule. They are the only Mink League game tomorrow in action on July the 4th as they host the Cadidelia Bombers and then it’ll be the Clarinda A’s back in town on Saturday the 5th. They’ll finish up that suspended game from last Thursday before playing their regularly scheduled game. We also have the police versus firefighters softball game beforehand. It’ll be a good time on a holiday weekend celebrating our freedom. It will. It’ll be police and fire. Finish up the ninth inning tied at three between the A’s and then they’ll get to the regular game following that. So it’ll be a fun weekend here with to be able to broadcast with you Truman and a short week but you know a fun one as it is the 4th of July. Ashton back out for his fifth and laying down a bunt is going to be Raphael Kalcano but what a throw by Felix. What a scoop at first by Little. Gets the speedy Calcano to start the fifth. Amazing throw. Good pursuit from Felix. But I’m going to give that credit there to Little mentioned Truman. The scoop right there was a tough throw kind of coming on the sidearm and a good first out from Nance. He’s still moving on these mudcats. Look to see maybe if he gets to two outs if he can kind of tone it down, work himself and hopefully to see a quick inning here. Now back to the top and Jerry and Pikney one for two with the with a run scored. had 11 hits last week. And already this week, he’s got two. Takes a big rip at a breaking ball, but misses. That hit back in the first inning extended his hit streak to nine games on quite the tear here at the end of the June, beginning of July. looking for strikeout number three. Doesn’t get Pikney to chase that slider. There’s some action up in that right center Mustang bullpen. Few guys walking around doing some light throwing. And there is strikeout number three. Got him on the slider. Pikney thought maybe it was a drop third strike, but he’ll high tail it back to the dugout. Another punch out for Ashton Nance. Good job mixing up the pitches right there. We saw that slider work to its best ability and it just went east to west and a way that Pinkney cannot get a bat on. When you go from the fast ball that Nance has to that slider, it’s hard to catch up to and time it. And two outs. We’ll see if he can get out of it. That’s Payton Becker 0 for two. N starts him off with a strike. Pikney laid off Slider the previous pitch and then Nance went right back to the well and he got Pikney to chase that time. Now he quickly has Becker down 0 and two. He’s looking comfortable. Let’s see if he can maybe get another punch out here. And the ending with a with a boom. Hands into the wind line up. The one two to Becker. Swung on and missed. Boom goes the dynamite to end the fifth. Five strong innings here from Ashton. And it’s taco time for the fans. But it’s another one, two, three inning for Ashton. Pair of strikeouts in the inning. We’re halfway home here on July 3rd. Mustangs still lead the Mudcats 9-2. Max Wagers looking to throw up the first zero on the Mustangs line so far tonight. Out to a commanding 92 lead with Ashton Nance dominating on the mound. It’ll be Parker Griffith getting the Mustangs home half of the fifth started. Feels like a big sigh of relief here for Mustangs fans. Last couple of games has definitely been a whirlwind coming off a loss against these Mudcats and then the day game against Sidelia. Definitely a barn burner winning that one in extra innings. But it’s just a good feeling to have the Mustangs back at home to start it with a predominant lead.
Griffith one for one, scored a couple of runs and he’s having some fun. Catch my rhyme.
I did. That was beautiful.
You call me Dr. Seuss. Meanwhile, Griffith down one and two. New trailer out for a animated Cat in the Hat movie. Don’t know if you saw that, but
I didn’t.
Biggest question is what happened to Thing Two? Thing Two was not there.
What?
Don’t know what they’re trying to do.
No.
Don’t know what’s going on. There was thing one, thing three, and a whole other things. There’s a line of contingency.
Is things plural? What would be plural for things? Or is it just things? Things is the plural for things.
I Oh no, you stumped me. Meanwhile, Griffith grounds one to third. Diving play made by Sears from his back, but the locomotive and Griffith able to chug out an infield single. Second hit of the night. I’m going to give credit to Sears. Good play in the hot corner. Got a good glove on it, but just rolled over. And that’s just a tough play to make from your bottom side. And Griffith just chugging along. Did a good job. Never gave up. And now just a quick single for these Mustangs. Griffith rolled over on the swing, but Sears rolled over on the play. Kalano was there. And again, Griffith again, not the speediest guy, but definitely not the slowest guy. Would have been interesting to see if Kalcano had gotten that ball deep. They would have had a better throw. Now it’s Truman Bowdenous 0 for one with an RBI and a run scored. Not at all. Yeah, Griffith’s came around to score both times. He’s came up to the plate so far tonight. Came from second to home. Went first to home to win the ball game against the Bombers. He’s got some speed when he’s on base. Always felt like there was a difference between just raw speed and
running the bases speed. That’s right. again taking those sharp lines full strides using the bags not as a break but as a launch padous skies one fallon out now down one and two wagers had Griffith down one and two before he was able to leg out the infield single fourth straight inning the Mustangs gotten their leadoff man on something we just were wishing they did last home stand. It’s now Bowdenhausen in the hole to Calcano. He’ll go the long way deep to throw and it’ll be backto back infield singles right there. One two like you mentioned just not the best spot for wagers to be in I guess. I mean it was in that same hole near the third base short stop side this time. Calcanyo got to it just deep enough with Bowdenous and speed getting over there. I mean, the Mustangs are putting the ball in play just in ways that this defense is having troubles to try and deal with. Now, move your eyes eight spots back to the top of your lineup card. It’s Darius Freeman already working on a very nice night. Two for three with three RBI’s. Now, that one grounded off the glove of Wagers and into left field. Griffith makes the turn. He’ll score easily. Hit number three for Freeman. RBI number four. And it’s 102 Stangs. Third hit of the ball game. It’s going to be RBI number four for Darius Freeman having himself a night. And right there was just an unlucky spot for Kano. He was coming over in that middle depth. And it just hits off the top of the glove. And like I said, the deflection. It was happened to Koy. Now it happens to Kalcano. Just gives enough time for Mr. Parker Griff with a scamper around.
Now 26 RBI’s on the season for Freeman and 12 of them have come against the team that calls Chilikathy home here from St. Joe. You take 36 East. You’ll reach Chilikathy, the land of sliced bread. We’re getting directions and we’re getting known facts. I love this g I love the geography here with Truman. Land is home of the sliced bread.
Home of sliced bread. Wow. Home of sliced bread. I drove through there last last Sunday. Did not stop for the sliced bread. Okay. It would have been soggy bread. It was It was raining.
Ah.
When I went through. Meanwhile, it’s Trevor McCollum. He’s ahead two and one. He’s one for three on his night. Single and a pair of flyouts. The Overland Park, Kansas native, attends Washurn University. Oh, that was a good take. Wagers frustrated with himself. Don’t know if he was saying some stuff into his glove. He missed with a breaking ball. Don’t know if he was mad about him missing his spot. Mad that it wasn’t called a strike, but he’s in danger of walking the bases loaded with still nobody out here in the fifth. And that one going to run inside and clip McCollum. So now the bases will be loaded for Braden Lukart. Yeah. 3-1 right there. McCollum’s just looking to just get on base with the walk, but getting hit. Definitely not the most likely situation, but bases loaded with Lucart on. No one out. Lucart already two hits on his night. He’s also a guy that you do not want on the plate with bases loaded the way he’s been swinging. We’ll have to see if he can join Freeman in the three hit club. Lucard extended his hit streak to five games. During that four game streak before that he was five for 16 with six RBI’s, three runs, couple of doubles, couple of walks, and a couple of stolen bases. Now make it seven for 18. Looking to drive home his first run of the evening. He scored a pair and he might drills one right field. Back is Ventur onto the track and it’s over is headed up against the yellow frog graphic sign. One’s in. Freeman’s in and it’s a two-run double for Braden Luke Carter. Now 122 St. Joe got all of it. Two RBI’s come home on it. That was looking close. It got to the yellow frog graphic sign. I was hoping that thing could have gone over for the grand slam, but Lukeart was in time due for something big. And an extra base hit from him is exactly what could propel the Mustangs here to continue to get some more. Still no outs, two runners in scoring position for Domix, but a great approach. Kept the hands inside and drove it all the way to the wall. Nice swing from Luke. 13th and 14th RBI’s of the year for Lukeart as the Mustangs have scored in every inning and they just continue to pour it on now. 12 runs on 15 team hits. Dominant man at the plate right now, Dom Felix, the only man to not reach base via hit. He’s reached base via hit by pitch, but he is still hitless here tonight. Got to get him one. Let him join the club. Be definitely one of the coolest things to see everyone get on base with a hit. And Felix a hit here. Most likely scoring both. Big rip at a breaking ball. Felix got good wood his last time up in the fourth. He skyed one to deep left. John Spot was able to run it down right on the warning track. Hit like that with driving a run on a sack fly right there. You just got to be productive and if the sack flies what your answer is, you’ll take it. Still no outs. You can maybe move Lucart over to third and put probably do the same exact thing. Goal here is just get them both home. How’s it off two and two wagers had come in with a 3-13 erra and had been very nice so far for the Mudcats, but here tonight now given up eight runs in two plus innings and really just just looking for anything. fire extinguisher, maybe a blanket, maybe a windbreaker jacket. Unfortunately, has only grabbed the can of gasoline. Full count to Felix. This one again, drill deep left, center, and back. It’s at the wall and it one hops the wall. There is the hit for Felix. One’s home, a second’s home, and it’s now 142 Mustangs. Another swing put on back to back. This one goes to the opposite side as the right-handed batter Felix got one inside. Put a nice Joel got the bat around quick and he drives both of them home. Did the job. Got the hit. Everyone has had a hit here in the lineup for the Mustangs. Dominant 16 hits, 14 runs, and we’re getting close. Maybe another run rule coming into Phil Welch and another mink league opponent. And the Mustangs looking confident as ever.
Call the St. Joe Fire Department because there’s a raging inferno here at Phil Welch and it’s coming out of that home first base dugout. But that’ll do it for Wagers. He gives up 10 runs in two plus innings and is responsible for Felix at second. Still nobody out here in the fifth. We’ll take a short break. So, you’re watching St. Joseph Mustangs baseball here on YouTube. It’ll be Brady Graswitz and hopefully he brought his fire extinguisher from that left center bullpen. Seventh appearance on the summer for Mr. Graswitz in six and a third innings. 142 RA has just given up one earned run on three hits. Four strikeouts to five walks. So has struggled with command,
but again, Jackson, in a game like this, down by a dozen runs. You’re just looking to fill that strike zone and hoping you can get some outs. Just getting ahead, right? You know, just can’t lose to these runners on base and you can’t lose the batters at the plate. No outs. You really need to keep them off. And Mosh here is going to be a tough one to face coming down to the pen. But it is a lefty lefty match up for Grasowitz. But MSH definitely looking for more. Mosh two for three, two RBI’s had a leadoff double in the third. He has a chance to drive in his third run. Two straight two-run doubles from Dom Felix and Braden Lukart. Mos looking to get his second double of the night. Another run scoring hit. This one skyed over the left. Spo a couple steps to his right. He’ll make the grab for out number one retiring Mosh. Grasitz did what he was told to do. Put it in the zone, but not enough to where they could get ahead of it and he got Mosh behind and it just trailed into left field. Good first out for Grasquitz as well. Back to a righty righty match up in Koi. We’ll see if he can put another good swing on. Grasquitz pitched against the Mustangs back on June the 11th. He threw two/3 of an inning. Didn’t give him any runs, any hits, any walks. So he came in, did his due diligence, and got out of it. Now it’s Chris Koy. Ky two for two. Two straight RBI singles. He’s also been drilled by a pitch on the shoulder blade. Coy was up in the booth with us pregame talking about getting the chance to play for the University of Nebraska Omaha and play at Charles Schwab Field. Just the cool experience that will be to be able to call that legendary field your home stadium. Two-1 breaking ball misses up now. Three and one. Nice job by Coin staying composed. Got the one out to work with. He’s got a nice spot at first waiting for him if he can stay composed and patient and continue this inning. Rascit’s last pitched against the Mustangs on July 1st. One inning, one hit, one walk, and a strikeout. No runs though. Last time he gave up an earned run was back in his first appearance on June the 5th against Sidelia. His longest outing of season though is only an inning in a third. We’ll see how long he goes tonight. 3-1 to Koy down and in ball four. Chris Koy on base for the fourth time here tonight. It puts runners at first and second for Jaden Little. There you go. Two runners on. Felix not the speediest at second, so we don’t think he’ll be moving over unless a pass ball gets on. But now with one out, you kind of want to see if you can just advance him over. But Little still looking for another hit in this ball game. Got the single back in the third and he’s wanting to get another get himself his first RBI. One for three. He’s hit safely now in three straight games. Is Little He’s hit safely in all four games he’s played here against Chilikothy. still, like you said, Jackson, still has yet to drive in a run against the Mudcats this season. He scored five runs, but that RBI versus the Mudcats here eludes him. He’s due for it. Would love to see it. Ninth Mustang to the plate here in the inning, looking to just add on. He was waiting on that one. He really liked what he saw. It was up in the zone. Wanted to see if he can maybe get a barrel up and in. See if he could drive it out into that right center field gap. Rasquitz has him down one and two. Breaking ball. Rascitz tried and deflects it right to Becker over to first and a little 143 double play. Ends the inning and gets the Mudcats out of it. But not before the Mustangs plate five runs on five hits. Two men left. We’re headed to the sixth. It’s a beatdown. 14-2 Stanks. Bronco Wit takes over for Ashton who only gives up two runs in five innings and is in line for the win. Whit came out of the bullpen to start the year, then made a couple of starting appearances. Now gets his chance to go back to his roots and come out of the bullpen. Last time he pitched was on June the 21st. Gave up six runs in just three innings against Carol. Had five strikeouts but three walks. But when he’s come out of the bullpen, he’s thrown four shut out innings. So that inflated 514 RA does not speak for how good Bronco Wit is. It really doesn’t. He’s got good velocity. He’s got good command. He likes to work the zone, but he’s not too not too comfortable with it. He knows where he needs to be. He’s a good guy to come out of the pin. You know, he wants to get maybe one, two, maybe three innings if they want to work him uh into this ball game. But if he continues to put doors on, we could see a run roll. He gets the meat, the prime tenderloin of this mudcat lineup. 345 in the sixth. Jordy Ventura 0 for one. He walked and stole a base in the first. Finds himself down. 0 and2 to Wit. Whit 14 strikeouts in those 14 innings he’s pitched. And he is two and0. coming off an all mink second team selection last summer trying to climb back that elite level. Meanwhile, the Mudcats, they’re just trying to chip away at really anything. Ventura has worked the count back full after he was down 0 and two. Whit had a 150 RA in 36 innings last year and had 40 strikeouts. So again, pretty on pace to replicate those numbers. Only gave up six runs on 18 hits. He was three and one, 16 appearances. Already had eight appearances here with just three weeks left in the regular season. And then playoff time. And Jordy Ventura comes all the way back to work his second walk of the evening. It’s a leadoff walk here in the sixth for the Mudcats. He’s had the Mustangs lose themselves, but it’s just the first batter. You know, Witch really just got to work the zone. He was trying to go outside on Ventura on that at bat as that left-handed hitter on Ventura. He was trying to work the outside part of the zone with his fast balls just wasn’t hitting and that’s how he went down with two balls and he just couldn’t work himself out. But looking to see a different result here with Sears will be Tanner Sears 0 for two fly out and lined out to Truman Bowdenous and out in left with a guy very good at pool.
Okay. Very good. got to play with him last weekend. He is very good at what he does when you put a pool queue in his hand. Love the hidden talents, you know, dual sport athletes, you love to see it at the billiards. Right now, Whit back on the mound. Dots a breaking ball for strike two. Mustangs ahead comfortably 14-2. Ashton Nance made his second start. He went five innings, gave up two runs on four hits, struck out four, and only walked one. Another impressive outing from the youngest player on the Mustangs roster this summer. Then hands the ball to one of the more veteran guys, Bronco Wit. Whit out of Maple Woods Community College. He’ll be coming to be a Bearcat this upcoming spring as well. And he gets Sears down swinging. First time Sears has struck out tonight. Third time he’s been retired. Whit able to respond after the leadoff walk with a punch out. Back to that fast ball that Whit possesses, especially with those righty matchups. Really tough to see on that inside half. And Sears try to get a bat around. Couldn’t do it. Whit nice strike out. Love to see it. Get that first out. Put the double play in. Just trying to get out of this inning with yet another donut. Now John Spot is one for two. He singled and scored a run all the way back in the fourth. Ball one high. Whit able to conjure up enough velocity out of his 5’8 175 lb frame. He’s got my type of height in a frame out there on the mound. Definitely got the arm to back it up though. I do not. Big rip by Spot. Comes up empty. Two and one. Short lead from Ventur at first. Spot swinging, slices one over the left. Bowdenhousen has a read. Makes the catch with two hands. Now backto-back punch outs by Wit with another left-handed batter. He knew he had to kind of put something in that middle half towards the inner half of the plate. Spot got what he saw, got what he wanted, but just the velocity got him around just tad bit late. It was a nice play for Bowdenhausen to make. Now it’s the coyote Garrett Ginan. One for two on his night. Three for four on the season. Still getting his feet wet here in the mink league. Late addition to this Mudcat roster. He’s doing a cannonball on the deep end. Chilikathy trying to catch Clarinda and maybe St. Joe. Those top two seeds in the mink. Nasty slider. Genan wouldn’t need an ore to hit that. And he finds himself down 0 and two. upstairs. One and two. Gaining a towering presence in the box. 6’4, 210 lbs. Get 274 for the Coyotes of Chandler Gilbert Community College. But he goes down. The high cheese can’t catch up to it. Second strike out of the inning for Bronco. Whitty works around the leadoff walk. We’re headed to the bottom of the six on a beautiful Thursday night at Phil Welch. Your Mustangs still lead the Mudcats 14-2. Going to look at another mink action here on July the 3. Clarinda hosting Sadelia. They’re up 7 to2. Clarinda looking to break out of a cold streak. And the North Missouri Naturals lead. The Jefferson City Renegades in the top of the ninth two to one. The Renegades definitely falling off as of late and they’re looking to really gain some momentum again. This season will be done in an instant, but here at the Welch, it’s 142. The Mustangs pouring it on. 14 runs on 16 hits. Everyone through nine has gotten a hit and their pitching has been absolutely fantastic.
It has. The Mustangs are looking really confident. They look like themselves like that we’ve seen the first half of the season. And it’s how you want to start July. You know, you don’t want to come into July with a cold foot. Uh it’s the month that it goes by the fastest, but it also is the month that’s the most important. And this is the time that the Mustangs really need to lock down and get going. He’s now pitching for the mudcats. The number 10, Franine Fernandez. Just looking to get out there, get a three outs. Impressive job by Brady Grascowitz. He came in, only walked one and got three outs.
Oh yeah, he’s good.
Now it’s Franine Fernandez. First appearance of the season. usually a position player and he gets the 891 hitters here for St. Joe. Griffith swings, launches one left field back is Spot and it’s off the wall. Griffith makes the turn. He’s going to have to hustle and throw in in time. What a throw from John Spado to gun down Griffith who I think he was going into his home run trot. That one needed about another five feet. Third hit of the night for Griffith, but he’s gunned down for out number one. The throw from Spot right on the line from Becker. Becker, good job realizing Griffith right there, but he wasn’t his home run trot. That thing just off the wall. A beautiful swing from Griffith. You can’t be mad at that. You just got to give yourself some grace and get yourself going just in case how deep this is here.
Now Truman Bowdenhousen one for two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Bowdenous in my name doppelganger. That’s right.
Not very many Trumans in the world. I feel like
you’re the first Truman that I’ve met. Um,
feel honored since middle school. I hope I represented the name well.
You sure have.
This Truman that’s at the plate. Very good at his craft. Talk about his back-to-back gold gloves in two different positions. Also, he’s a man that when you get that bat in his hands, he uses it as a as a weapon of destruction. Little bit of an ephus there from Fernandez. Three and one. Looks like Fernandez so far, this will be his first appearance on the season. He’s new to the mound. He’s just his whole idea was just to get out here a different look for these Mustangs and just get him out of the inning. He’s doing a good job so far.
Mat’s not looking to waste pitching. And now Bowdenhausen draws his second walk of the night and it’s the ninth walk of the season. Good job from Bowdenhausen realizing those pitches just were not his at all. Five pitch walk. He looked really confident and it’s a good way to start with one out. Get back to the top of the order. Now it’s the man who’s been the hottest tonight. But you could say that about any of these hitters. Darius Freeman. Three for four, four RBI’s, a run scored and a stolen base. But have not solved the puzzle. That is Darius Freeman and he continues to rake off Chilikathy pitching this summer. So hard to figure out a man like that who possesses pretty much assets of all suits the game. He’s got defense, fielding speed, he’s got power, contact, he just knows how to get the ball in play. He’s really tough to figure out.
Now that one line right back up the middle. Hit number four for Darius Freeman. And what a night for the Kansas City, Kansas kid. And why not? Right up the middle for the third time tonight. He just is seeing everything coming in like a beach ball. It looks like he just sees it. Put bats a ball and it goes right where he wants it to. One out. Mustangs moving. And why not start it with Freeman. Now Trevor McCollum one for three with a pair of runs scored. Mustangs have yet to eclipse 20 runs this season, but anything is possible, as they say. First pitch from Fernandez clips the inside corner. One and one.
Nice job there
from Buchet to stay on top of it. Make sure both those runners don’t move up into scoring position. But Mcllum looking to do some damage here. Second hitter, second whole hitter of the night. Just the one hit back in the first pitch way upstairs would need an elevator to get to the second floor. It’s now two and one. The 14 runs tonight are the most the Mustangs have scored this season. They continue to average almost 10 runs a game. still above nine. Their offense has been redot night in and night out. It has a little bit of cold stretches here and there, but they continue to come back and show them why they run the mink 22 and two. It’s a good take kind of cut inside that zone it looked like, but looks like it was just below the that kneecaps of McCollum. Now full count. See what he can produce. Talked about Bronco wits billiards ability. McCllum not a bad billiards player himself. And he works a walk. Second time, first time, excuse me. McCollum’s walk tonight. Now the bases are loaded for Braden Lucart. It’s exactly what you want. Full count upstairs. Looks like Fernandez just couldn’t get the release he wanted. And now with one out, it’s going to be really scary here with Lucart up. two RBI double back in the fifth. He’s a scary man to have the bases loaded with.
Three for three. Two RBI’s, three runs scored. Looks at strike one. Who is the better Billyards player? Bronco.
Definitely Bronco. But
okay, Trevor McCollum could hold his own. Got unlucky when we played. Was going for a corner shot. Nick the eightball. Oh, going for the win actually. And he hit the eight ball, but the Q ball also fell in. No, that’s never good.
But in my book, a win is a win. Third straight game. Lucart’s hit safely against the Mudcats. Now driven in four runs. Guy grew up here locally in St. Joseph, like a lot of this team, Mustang’s one of the teams that they brought back a lot of returners, fused with new guys, and it has just gelled like perfection. It has. You got all assets of the game. You got youngsters and you got old guys who have been in the game for a long time. You got all sides of the game. You got guys from Arizona. You got guys back here from St. Joe. But essentially, there’s one love and it’s baseball and this community is definitely one around the team and around the fans. It’s special here in St. Joe. 3-1 offering to Lucart. Ball four downstairs. Ryan Lukeart stays perfect on the night. Second time he’s walked. Third RBI driven in. Beautifully done from Lucart. All you can ask for is just continue to extend the inning and pick up another RBI for him. And it’s going to be a tough job here as they’re going to get a mound visit here for Fernandez. One out. Felix with the bases loaded. He had a double last time out. back-to-back two RBI doubles in that inning and looking for the same result. Felix one for three, two-run double in the fifth. Has a chance to really break this game open. 15 already up. Three more ducks on the pond for Dom Felix. still struggling with command. Ball low. It’s hard for a position player getting called on to just come to the mound to just eat an inning and not have to waste one of your regular pitchers. Definitely not the night how the Mudcats thought it would go after winning the past two matchups against St. Joe and having won four in a row in nine of their last 11. It’s definitely been an off night for them and Fernandez only out on the inning was off off of an extra base likely hit from Griffith. So there’s one shallow right over is Ventur. He’ll make the grab. Tagging coming home and scoring will be Darius Freeman with run number 16. Beautifully done. Felix did what he was asked to do. picks up his third RBI on the night. And now the Mustangs up 16-2 continue to dominate. That’ll be Jack Mosh. Mosh two for four. Two run single back in the first. Got the Mustangs started. They haven’t looked back. Fourth straight inning. MSH is coming to the plate. Fifth at bat. Finds himself in an 0 and2 hole though. It’s the most confident look we’ve seen for Fernandez. Just pounding the zone. Back to back speed. Fast ball pitches there. Just really looking to get ahead with these hitters. Patient as mosh as ever. Takes ball low. He’s a guy that you think you have him down 0 and two and he works his magic and either gets a hit or works a walk. He does wonders when he’s down to his final strike. There he goes. Like you mentioned, just really making the pitcher go to work. He wants to make the mistake on the pitcher, not himself. And he does a good job at that. Mosh also to extend that and he’s also possesses some power that’s sneakily seen in batting practice. He has put a bunch of them over near the mosaic life care sign out in right field. Two- two skyed left center. Long run for both Spikney, but Spot runs it down in the gap to retire the side. But another pair home in the inning for St. Joe. Their lead now 16-2 on a holiday weekend Thursday night. We’re headed to the seventh. Mustangs looking to send the fans home happy early. 162 Mustangs as you’re watching St. Joseph Mustangs here on YouTube. from Johnson County Community College to finish off hopefully a run rule. It’s Dylan Grey Benner in his fifth appearance. Second time out of the bullpen. He made three starts in seven innings. He has a 514 RA. It’s the command that’s bit him. Six walks to just four strikeouts. Opponent’s only batting 192, but it’s been those free passes that has led to runs. Jackson, I have a joke.
What’s up?
Why was six scared of seven?
Don’t do it. Because 789, that’s the last hope for the Mudcats here in inning number seven. Bruce Bucher, Ethan Muroshi, and Raphael Kalcano. Bruce Buchet one for two RBI single all the way back the fourth inning. Modats just two runs on four hits tonight compared to the Mustangs. 16 on 18. It’s been a hit parade here for the home Stangs. They look like everything’s going their way so far tonight. That’s something you can’t complain about when it does in this game of baseball. Some nights it does, some some days it doesn’t. Nights like night like tonight you got to cherish. One, two is just upstairs to Buché. Gray Benner last pitched on June the 24th at Chilikothy in that double header. He pitched two innings in game one. gave up one run on two hits, struck out one, did get the start. Before that, he made an appearance out of the bullpen on June the 19th, a shutout inning against the North Missouri Naturals. Two and two here to the Hawaii Pacific attendee. Breaking ball just above the belt. Oh, that was close. Good take there. Good take there from Buché. But that was kind of in the wheelhouse that Grey Bunner’s been dealing with all the night, but now a full count. Buchet teammates with the guy standing on deck, Ethan Murakoshi. He stays alive. Dons a pink arm sleeve on that left arm. Kind of gives off Ronald Aunia. Definitely some flare. Again, that style that each unique baseball player has. Baseball players like snowflakes. Each one is different.
That’s right. Full count on a couple hops. Ky to his right and he misses it. So Buché will reach on the E6. Second time Buché has reached tonight. Now it’ll be his teammate Ethan Murakoshi 0 for two on his line tonight. That’s something you’re going to have to forget to be a goldfish if you’re Koi. You know, just trying to continue the inning. You’re up 14 runs. You’re just trying to get out of this inning and if you get out of it, you get out, you get to go home early. But right now, Koi’s got to forget about it. Same thing for Grey Benner. It was a good defensive pitch. Looking to do the same thing. Strike out on a fly out for just the third time. He’s got to take some hacks from that right hand batters box. Mustangs pitching staff been up and down last week up and down Tuesday, but they have come out here tonight with their teeth nashed and have just come out and have been razor sharp. That pits wasn’t razor sharp. Goes all the way to the back stop. Allows Buchet to move up into scoring position. Just lost a little control. Gray Benner just came out of the hand a little weird, but now the runner in scoring position. I mean, if you want to get out of here with a run rule, you’re going to have to come out and just dominate, dominate, dominate. Don’t be scared. Just take that same confidence that you have. Raven behind two one. a guy has struggled with command. Just one of those things. He’s had nights where he’s been razor sharp. Other nights where command is just just not the same. Bit more dull. And he’s fallen behind now. Three and one to Murakoshi. Rebound offerings low. Oh, now after the air, it’s a walk. So, first two runners on here for the Mudcats in the seventh down to their final three outs. And he’ll get a talk from Griffith up there trying to regain the control. It just looks like he just hasn’t been confident with his releases. You know, he kind of comes over the top in a way where it has to be perfect on that release if he wants to find it and he wants to play the out outer half of the zone and he wants to go up. They’re just not hitting the way Griffith is wanting them to. So, he’s going to go get a talk to Grab Banner. Raven Benner possesses the control. He just needs to get it out of him out of the pen. Now it’s Raphael Kalcano 0 for two as well on his night. Average has now dipped close to 150. Been a struggle for him to get hits. He’s worked nine walks this season in 18 games and he’s stolen 10 bases. So when he does get on, he’s effective in coming around to score. But it’s just the effort that it takes to reach base. Plenty of fans still sticking around here waiting for fireworks. Fireworks every night of this Holiday Home stand as another pitch goes to the back stop. Second wild pitch from Grey Benner in the inning. Still looking for that strike here. This is just going to have to be the payoff pitch that he’s needing. We see Little trying to cheat up, but he’s going to just trail back. But two runners on, Grey Bunner is just going to want to look at this one in the zone. And I mean, you’re up by 14. So again, if you give up some hits, not the worst thing. I know a lot of these guys are trying to,
you know, obviously they don’t want to
absolutely just perform bad. They want to want to show their coaches at their colleges that,
hey, I need to play more. But you’re up by 14. No reason to try and try and be cute around the zone and just try to find your pitch. Go right after these guys, right?
Not very many balls hit hard outside of the air by Koi to lead off this inning. The defense has been phenomenal. It’s all about finding the zone though. Sometimes those pitchers, they just get the yips. It’s like the zone is the size of a dime. Not even a dime. An amoeba.
Aieba. Wow. We’re doing small. Okay,
I respect that. Full count now to Calo. Now the full count offering from Grey Benner upstairs ball four. So now the bases are loaded for Jar and Pikney at the top of this Mudcat order. That’s just not what you want to do. Bringing it back to the top of the order. Pinkney hitter of the week. This is a guy that’s that’s dangerous. And if you want to get away right here, you want to get a nice little early drive home, you want to get some you want to get some good strikes and at least just try and and work your zone. I mean, it’s just something that he’s been struggling with and it’s um something he’s going to have to reel in. Coach Max is going to come out and get a talk to him, settle some of the nerves out of the pen. He does doesn’t just look like he’s confident in himself yet, but he’ll get there. Sometimes it takes your catcher and then your pitching coach. great pitching coach and coach Mack that the Mustangs have just one of those mountain visits going out there just offering some words of encouragement. Maybe not even talking about baseball exactly. Maybe asking what his Fourth of July plans are. It’s going to be here at the ballpark, but trying to get him, you know, trying to get his eyes to settle, his pulse to find a resting place, and just him and Griffith, pitcher and catcher. That one grounded to the third from Felix. He’ll go to Amos for one. And that’s all they’ll get is they’ll trade a run for an out as Buché crosses the plate for run number three. Good swing from Pinkney. You know, he did what he was called to do. Uh just put the ball in play. Get the runner from third home. But runners on the corners. Gives a little bit of breath to Grey Benner. Double play in position. Pinkney possesses that speed. So he extends life for the Mudcats. So Gray Benner’s just trying to put doors here with an out. RBI number 11 for Pikney. Finishes one for four. So now it’s Payton Becker still looking for his first hit. 0 for three. Taking off for second is Pikney. Throw down from Griffith. Not in time. Pikney barely gets in there. his second stolen base and that’s huge as it breaks up the double play ball. It is huge. That’s a good steal from PinkB. A great jump. I’m going to give credit to that slide. Got the leg in there just in time. Love what I saw. Cats need four to keep this game alive. Becker with a huge RBI opportunity. He’s driven in 10, only 14 hits and 75 play at bats this season. There’s a nice breaking ball. One and two. It’s a great payoff pitch. He’s been looking for that second strike where he can just get ahead and that’s something that could propel him. Hopefully let him know that he can have that zone open if he wants to attack. Hopefully this pays off for him. The one two flared into right and that’ll drop for a hit. Maroshi scores. Kalcano scores. And now it’s 16 to five as three home in the inning off Grey Benner. Here you go. Magic number two for the Mudcats if they want to extend life here for themselves if they want to make it another inning. They’re doing a great job. That’s three innings now. Three runs in the inning and they’re still looking for more just an out. So the double play ball is still here in play for Grey Banner.
11th and 12th runs driven in on the summer for Becker. And now it’s Jordy Ventur. He’s walked twice and stolen a bag. 0 for one. Raven looking to deliver something low in the zone that he can get Ventur to roll over. Ventur a speedy guy though. So it has to be hit hard right at someone be able to turn two. behind two and0. There’s a bit of rustling out in the right center pen. Good. Shnie Koy hoping that Grey Banner can just get out of it. Two outs away from the run rule victory. Now three and0 in Ventura struggling with that command. You know, I I know he wants it. I know he’s trying to find it, but it’s just one of those nights where he just can’t. Tur only had four walks coming in tonight. He’s already worked two. Now there’s three. So after tonight, Ventura’s walk total will go from four to seven. That puts runners back at first and second with still only one away for Tanner Sears. Looking to see here. No movement from Koy. He still has some faith in Grey Better to get himself out of it. Now Sears is a guy who is 0 for three tonight. So it’s a good guy to attack after. But Sears does have that power in the three-hole spot. So you don’t want to give him something too easy to get something to mash it. Both of Sears home runs this season have come against St. Joe. And another one misses outside. Fortunately, Gray Benner didn’t bring any of his tools to the ballpark today. It’s been a struggle. There’s a breaking ball. Catches the corner. One ball, one strike. There you go. I like that. Doesn’t have to be a fast ball that hasn’t been hitten. Try and mix it up. Paid off for him. I just want to see another strike here. I don’t want to see anything. Trying to go too far out. I just want to see him pound something. Good block there from Griffith. Little shortstopesque having to slide to the backhand to keep that one in front. Sears tied with a team lead 13 RBI’s. Rockets one back two and two. Long break for Grey Benner. You know he’s got himself in a good spot. That slider looked like it did work. It clipped that outer part of the zone. I want to see if he maybe wants to try and go back to that. See if Sears can he can get Sears out in front. Crowd trying to get Gray Benner into it. There was that slider, but it misses. Now full count. Go back to that fast ball. I want to see him up near the hands is, but just a little bit down. I kind of want to see it at the chest level. Let’s try and blow it by Sears here. Fast ball high and away. Ball four. Fourth walk of the inning. And Johnny Koi is going to go to the pen. Not Dylan Gray. Benner’s night. Only makes it a third of an inning. Gives up three runs and is responsible for all three men on base. Disappointing for him. And I know he wanted to close it out. Gray burner out. We’ll tell you about the new Mustangs pitcher looking to close out the win right after this. is the man. Jace Johnson, transfer from Hutchinson Community College to Northwest Missouri State out of Kansas City, Missouri, making his 13th appearance. And in 14 innings, he’s only given up two runs and has struck out 26 batters to only seven walks. And he’s going to be asked to get these final two outs and mop up the mess that Dylan Grey Benner has made. It’s the man to do it. Knows how to pound the zone. Knows how to attack and had a clutch bottom of the 10th inning against Sidelia back in Saturday. Shut him down which ultimately led to the walk-off inning. So, this is a guy that they can really rely on here. Went two innings on Saturday against Sidelia. Two strikeouts in a walk. No hits, no runs. It’s John Spot who’s one for three with a run scored. Gets him to wave and miss at a change up. for strike two. Three already home for the Mudcats. Three more on the bases. That one gets away from Griffith, but B Becker at third did not get a good read, so he stays home. Griffith and Johnson having a little chuckle about it. It was a good pitch. Just missed the glove of Griffith. Ultimately lucky that these base runners did not go. Looks like first and second did, but Becker just had something in his head that was telling him no. Got to watch that lead runner in front of you. One, two from Johnson. Swung on and missed. Chase Johnson continues to mow hitters down here in the mink. Now strikeout number 27 on the season and out number two. And now the Mustangs just one out away from win number 21
right there. It’s exactly what Johnny expects out of Jayce coming out of the pen. I mean just getting the quick and easy strike out. Impressive impressive stuff from him. Now the mudcat’s last hope. Garrett Ganan. But Chase Johnson fires in strike one. gaining one for three with a couple of strikeouts. Right now, that runner on second base does manage to come home. That will extend the inning. So, all he has to do is worry about that runner on second. Now, the Mudcats down to their final strike. Crowd of just shy of 3,000. Making some noise. Mustangs looking to close out win number 21. The one two from Johnson. Breaking ball inside. Strike three. Keenan goes down for the third time tonight on strikes and that’ll do it. Saddle up Mustangs Nation. It’s win number 21 as your Mustangs improve to 21 and five and 16-4 in the mink and get win number one here in July. It’s exactly what you want. Shaky couple of last couple of games. You want to come out here and dominate and that’s exactly what they do. You win 16 to five, 18 team hits. This is what the doctor ordered right here in St. Joe. You’re back home for another home stand. Only three games, but it’s a holiday weekend and you want all the energy flowing because if you start July with a good foot that’ll propel you as in just a couple weeks, Truman, I mean, it’s coming up fast. You got playoffs here in the mink and you just want to find your best foot. And I think the Mustangs needed those rough patches to find these good patches here in these games. was quite the performance here from the Mustangs tonight. They scored in every inning and they everyone got a hit one through nine in the lineup. Ashton Ants was phenomenal on the mound. He’ll earn the win. His first of the season. He goes five innings, gives up two runs, four hits, strikes out for only walks one. Meanwhile, Braden Lukart earns player of the game honors for his three for three night with three RBI’s. He scored three runs, walked twice and ripped a double. Locart back with the team and quite a night. But quite a night for everyone through the lineup and they close out win number 21.
It was everyone did their job. Everyone got a hit. Everyone contributed and you like to have all nine and even the bullpen had a good night. Just a couple of rough patches from Gary Benner, but he’ll work on that. He’ll get back to where he needs to be. You know, every player on this team is capable of making adjustments, and I’d love to see how they do that game in and game out. I know the fans also love to see this team continue to grow and flourish, not just playing wise, but the communitywise, and just the family is just starting to grow. And here in July, it’s when stuff gets fun here in St. Joe.
Mustangs off to a great start to open the Holiday Home Stand. But that’ll do it from us tonight here at Phil Welch. Your Mustangs get it done with the 16-5 run rule victory. And what a start to the weekend. We’ll be back on the air tomorrow night. 7:00 Sadelia Bombers are back in town, but the Mustangs look to keep it rolling. But for my partner Jackson Phelps, I’ve been Truman Greel. This all Mustangs live streamed or archived at YouTube.com or the YouTube app under St. Joseph Mustangs. Go out and check out all the rest of the content on there. Andrew Clark player vlog, Mustangs miked up videos, reading with rally, Kai Turner vlog, daily highlights of games, inside the stables with Aiden Snider, and all your live streams you can go back and watch. But that’ll do it. We say so long from Phil Welch. Your Mustangs are
The calendar has flipped to July as we only have 4 weeks left in the MINK League season and your St. Joseph Mustangs continue to pace the league. The welcome the Chillicothe Mudcats to Phil Welch for the first of three over this holiday weekend. Mucats have beaten the Mustangs the last two times they’ve faced but the Stangs look for revenge tonight at 7. Truman and Jackson have your call.
Follow the Mustangs on socials:
Facebook: St. Joseph Mustangs
Instagram: St. Joe Mustangs
Twitter (X): @theSJMustangs
Find other Mustangs related content here:
https://www.youtube.com/@StJosephMustangs/videos
Missed a game catch the highlights here:
Want to watch full replays of games:
https://www.youtube.com/@StJosephMustangs/streams
#mustangs
#baseball
#baseballvideos
#collegebaseball
#stjosephmustangs
#stangs
#mustangsnation
#mustangs
#sports
#sportshighlights
NPBHUB.COM | The Fanbase of Nippon Baseball & Nippon Professional Baseball