By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
When McDonald County’s baseball team lost its first conference game and trailed 5-0 after the first inning in its second one, the Mustangs’ chances of winning the Big 8 West seemed unlikely at best.
But McDonald County bounced back to beat Monett 9-5 in that second game and then pounded the rest of its conference competition en route to a 5-1 record and a place atop the standings.
Head coach Kevin Burgi was named Big 8 West Coach of the Year and the Mustangs finished the year 15-14, a 5-win improvement from 2019.
“We knew we were going to start a young group with some seniors to bolster it a little bit and we had our lumps early,” Burgi said. “The young guys got better and matured and we had some arms come on late.”
The Mustangs are an optimistic bunch heading into this spring with the team returning the bulk of its production from last season. Burgi expects a rise in production after starting so many sophomores and juniors.
“I thought we were a really good defensive team and we bring those guys back so we’re looking to get better there as well,” he said. “We bring back a lot of depth on the mound and that’s where we saw our biggest hit to graduation. We lost a lot of appearances between two arms so we’ve got to find a way to replace those guys but we feel we have guys who can do it.”
The list of returners is highlighted by senior catcher Cole Martin, who was a first team All-State player in Class 5 and a unanimous All-Conference selection. He was a .418 hitter who led the team in plate appearances, runs (31), hits (38), doubles (10), and home runs (5). He drove in 18 runs and tied for the team lead with 16 walks. The left-handed hitter has signed with Crowley Community College to keep playing next year.
“He’s just an all-around really good baseball player and good leader,” Burgi said. “He was the quarterback on the football team. Anything he provides offensively is a bonus and he can provide us a lot.”
Senior Levi Helm started at second base and was a first team All-Conference pick after hitting .337 with 22 runs, 22 RBI’s, 15 walks and 12 stolen bases while hitting third in the lineup. He may start in center field this spring. He’s signed with Highland Community College as a pitcher.
“He anchored the middle of our lineup and he was a guy that took about a week to get going and then once he got going he was really good for us,” Burgi said. “On the mound we’ve got a lot of expectations for him. He didn’t throw a lot of innings last year but he’s really developed.”
Senior Colton Ruddick should be another key returner. He only pitched about 10 innings last year with nine strikeouts but looks like an answer as Burgi tries to replace some pitching. He’s also a utility player who stole four bases and scored four runs while appearing in 12 games.
Junior Weston Gordon earned second team All-Conference honors as a pitcher and is the most experienced arm back. He led the team with a 6-3 record as a sophomore, pitching 48.1 innings with a 2.61 ERA and striking out 59. Burgi said he’s a strike thrower who commands three pitches and he’s also a “very, very good” defensive first baseman.
Junior Cross Dowd was a second team Big 8 infielder and the team’s starting shortstop who also pitched quite a bit. He batted .253 with 17 runs, 12 RBI’s and 12 stolen bases and added 32.2 innings on the mound with 39 strikeouts. His brother Destyn Dowd played some third and second and was an honorable mention All-Conference utility player. He pitched 22.1 innings with 18 strikeouts and batted .253 with three doubles, 17 runs and 12 stolen bases.
The Mustangs return their starting left fielder in junior Isaac Behm, who had some big RBI’s in clutch moments. Fisher Sanny played some at third base, and junior Jack Parnell returns after starting every game as an outfielder. He drew 10 walks and scored 15 runs. Lane Pratt could fill in defensively and also pitch. And Tucker Walters, a sophomore, could play on the infield and take on a larger role.
McDonald County’s baseball field will have a new look this season with a turf playing surface, giving the program an opportunity to play more games in the summer. The Mustangs will get their first game action on it when they host Neosho on March 22. The regular season begins March 18 at the Harrison, Arkansas tournament.
The team’s jamboree is still to be determined, depending on completion of the turf project. McDonald County typically hosts it with East Newton, Diamond and Purdy joining.
