OS.Net Poll of the Week

What was the most shocking week 1 result?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
Blog Directory

Scores, Scores, and More Scores

Greetings from the Motor City.  For those of you who are interested, it’s Wisconsin vs. Boston College tonight for the national championship.

But closer to home, Cassville’s Travis Northern continues his scoreless inning streak to start the year.  It’s now 14 innings, as he throws 5 scoreless last night in the Wildcats 11-0 win over Reeds Spring.  Bo Blisard went 3 for 3 with a homer and 5 RBI to lead the offense.  Liberal remains undefeated with 10-0 win over St. Paul Kansas Thursday.  And the Red & Blue tournament is in full swing in Springfield.

BASEBALL

4/7

  • Wheaton 14, McAuley 1 (5 inn)
    • Wheaton: Jakob Beck – W, 2-hitter; Blake Dilbeck – HR, 3 R, 3 RBI
  • Rogersville 10, Fair Grove 2
  • Joplin 18, Skitook, OK 11
  • Joplin 9, Perry, OK 1
    • Joplin: Adam St. Peter – W, 2 hitter
  • Jefferson City 14, Lebanon 11

Continue reading Scores, Scores, and More Scores

2009 Regional Football Preview

“Playoffs?” - Jim Mora

Yes, coach.  We’re talking about the playoffs.  Because they’re here.  Thirty teams from the Ozarks seek the state championship in five different classifications.  Thirty teams are done for the year.  At least nine more schools will start basketball practice after tomorrow night.  Here’s what to watch for.

CLASS 1

  • Lockwood (6-4) at Thayer (8-1)
    • This one is simple.  Can Lockwood contain the running attack of the Bobcats?  Josh Huckabee is the big dog.  But Cameron Carey & Ethan Leisenring are equally able to run for big yards.  The weather should be good giving the Tigers and Blake Abbiatti a chance to make some yards through the air.  But if the defense doesn’t play their best game, it won’t matter.

    Continue reading 2009 Regional Football Preview

Week 10 review

It was simply a glorious couple of nights for football.  While I enjoy catching a game indoors, I think football should be played outside.  The elements are part of the game.  And Thursday night was a football cathedral.  Wind & rain.  Mud & muck.  Slipping, sliding, sloshing.  It was beautiful man.  A perfect end to a great regular season.  Yes, some teams lost that wouldn’t have if the weather had cooperated.  But that’s just another nuance that we all love.  Unless it’s your team that loses.

Last year I picked the playoff games and did really freaking good.  But, I’m not doing it again.  I’m going to sit back and enjoy them myself instead of rooting for someone because I picked them.  You’ll still get a preview before each round so you’ll know what to look for.  But I’m shutting down the prediction machine until next year.  I’m done channeling my inner Carnac.  The crystal ball has left the building.

Shed no tears my friends as we say good bye to this year’s last…

gbu1

The Good

Week 9 review

Some teams rise up when the stakes are high.  Others fall flatter than a Kansas wheat field.  Seeing a team make the transition from one who falls to one who stands strong can be exhilarating.  Watching a team go the other way can be painful beyond all measure.   Friday’s action showed off some of both.  And for many of you, you don’t have to search your memory very much to find those teams who have changed lately.

A couple examples of teams that have changed for the better?  Cassville.  0-10 a few short years ago and a team that won only 1 district title from ’05 to ’07 despite losing only three games during that stretch.  Now, the defending state champs have consecutive wins over excellent teams to win their district title.  How about Lebanon?  After breaking a 14 year losing streak to Camdenton last year, they put a huge crimp in the Lakers playoff fortunes by starting their own winning streak in the series.  I won’t point out teams that have changed for the worse.  I’m sure you can come up with those on your own.

Remember to slow down and savor your next to last helping of…

gbu1
Continue reading Week 9 review

Week 7 review

I think it’s safe to say we had the upset of the year this weekend.  I had Greenfield/Lockwood on my ‘Games to keep an eye on’ list, but only thought it would be closer than expected.  Lebanon has found the power switch after a slow start to the season.  They’ll need it going into a district that features undefeated Rolla, a Camdenton team that is lethal when on, and a Waynesville squad that has one two of their last three.  Webb City & Cassville look to be in great form to defend their titles, Mountain Grove may have found the springboard they need to get them to the Dome, and our favorite Eagle continues to soar.  All in this weeks hermetically sealed version of…

gbu1
Continue reading Week 7 review

Week 5 review

Just call me butter baby, because I am on a roll.  Only one ugly game this week and it truly was ugly as Rolla & Joplin slugged it out in the slop.  Other than that, I only missed close ones.  So, yes.  I am feeling better about myself.  I am somebody.  Wednesday we’ll debut the rankings for each class along with the undefeated & winless lists.  But rest assured, I’ll be studying hard to do even better this week in the meantime.

Because I’m not happy, until all the ugly is eliminated from…

gbu1

The Good

  • Nixa (3-1) at Webb City (4-0) (#1 class 4)
    • Prediction: No matter who’s at QB, the Cardinals take it.
    • Result: Webb City 42, Nixa 21.  Braxton Baker & Maddy Johnson rush for 3 TDs each.  Patrick Drake returns to go 11 of 18 passing for 173 yards.

    Continue reading Week 5 review

Week 4 picks

“Oh, it’s on.  It’s definitely on.” – Double Down Trent, Swingers

Yeah, that’s right.  Three weeks of chaos is enough.  I’m bringing the heat this week.  Takin’ it to the house.  Goin’ all the way.  Throwin’ down at the hoedown.  No double digit misses this week, no sir.  In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if I had a perfect week.  That’s right.  And while we’re at it, I might as well pick the Super Bowl winner for the next 10 years, the winning power ball numbers, and the number of weddings to be held in Burkina Faso during the third week of July, 2018.

In other words, it’s been a rough first 3 weeks for the picks.  But we’ve got another great week of games lined up to enjoy at least.  A clash of state ranked squads in Thayer as Mt. View-Liberty tries to continue their great play against Thayer.   A few teams have a chance to pick up a big win & prove themselves this week.  Including Catholic hosting Bolivar, Jasper taking on visiting Miller, Parkview with 3-0 Rolla coming to town, Ava trying to down Salem, Marshfield looking to upend Branson, and Seneca taking to the road against Carl Junction.

Teams looking for an unlikely 4-0 start include the aforementioned Catholic Irish and Jasper Eagles, as well as Osceola who takes on 0-3 Northwest.  Should be another fun week out there, so without further ado, here’s the…

Week 4 Picks

Game of the Week

Week 3 review

As Monty Python sang, always look on the bright side of life.  My picks have been sub-par, but it’s made for some exciting football.  For example, I took Mountain Grove to beat Mt. View-Liberty.  But it was flat out exciting being in the house as the Eagles beat the Panthers for the first time in nearly 20 years.  I picked Nixa to beat Branson, and Rogersville to beat Bolivar.  But how can I feel bad about having a wrong pick when the games were so great.  And I picked Waynesville to beat Parkview, and Lamar to drop Aurora.  But I can’t feel bad about the Vikings and Houn Dawgs getting a win right now.

Yeah.  I’m just rationalizing.  My picks stink so far & I hate it.  On to this weeks calcium fortified version of…

gbu1
Continue reading Week 3 review