Sports

Cassville aims to fuel offense in postseason
It has been a season of close games for the Cassville girls soccer team.


Southwest qualifies 4 events to sectionals
Led by junior Tobi Smith and freshman Sidney Roe, the Southwest High School advanced from District to Sectional in four events at the Class 2, District 6 Track Meet at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar. The team advanced in the boys 4x800 relays, with Smith, Braydan Rose, Victor Tellez and Brody Osborne finishing second to Stockton with a time of 9:05. Smith also qualified in the 2-mile placing 4th. Roe advanced in both the mile and 2-mile, finishing runner-up in both events. The Trojans also finished fifth in three other events (300 hurdles, high jump, and 4x400 relay) and narrowly missed advancing other athletes.
District seeds delivered
Five Barry County baseball teams will compete in three district tournaments this week and next, one of which is being hosted by Purdy.

Opportunity shouts
Cassville athletics fans know the name Kyler Hayward for her years on the basketball and softball teams, but the senior recently signed to a collegiate program for a sport she has not participated in since middle school.

Kelley clinches state qualification
Enduring inclement weather and a rain delay, one member of the Cassville boys golf team has extended his season another couple weeks.
5 events move to sectionals
For three individual thinclads and one relay team, qualification to the Class 3 2025 Track and Field Championship is within grasp.

Small schools, big ballpark
Thirty-seven high school baseball players from Purdy and Southwest enjoyed the opportunity of a lifetime on Saturday, getting to play a regular-season spring baseball game in a ballpark larger than either of their coaches have ever played in.

Roadrunner on the track
Cassville senior Makaiden Bolles hopes to emulate her new team mascot in the fall, as she has signed to run track for State Fair Community College in Sedalia in the fall.

On the diamond for the Valor
Cassville senior Lauren Sparkman is continuing the family trend of signing for a collegiate athletic scholarship, as she penned her name recently to a letter of intent to play softball at Evangel University in Springfield.