Throughout the summer, the Cassville Democrat will feature the best unprinted photos from each team photographed during the 2023-2024 athletics seasons. — KT .
There was nothing the Purdy senior softball players wanted more this year than to return to the Class 1 state tournament. Freshmen when the Lady Eagles won the state title in 2021, Purdy’s seniors this year came as close as they could to a state run, falling to Ash Grove, 4-3, on a walk-off in the district championship bout.
Cassville’s girls volleyball, softball, cross country, basketball, wrestling, soccer and track programs have come together this summer to stave off the July drop-off. While fall sports volleyball, softball and cross country continue training all summer for their sports, previously, all other sports mainly lifted weights through June, but athletes went their own way in July.
Cassville senior Ashton Wheeler heads a ball on during a game against Logan-Rogersville last season. Wheeler scored 24 goals and assisted 12 in Cassville’s best season since at least 2007 at 15-8-1. Kyle Troutman/ktroutman@cassville- democrat.com
The Exeter baseball team recorded the most wins in a season since at least 2010, and the game that pushed the Tigers over the hump was a Class 1, District 5 championship win over Billings, the first district title in Exeter history.
The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) has announced two top-tier venues that will play host to the Show-Me Bowl for the next five years. In its April meeting, the MSHSAA Board of Directors voted to approve Columbia as the host city for the 2024 MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl for Classes 1-6.
Cassville’s Avery Chappell, who finished in 6th place in Class 2 last season, chips a ball onto the green during the Cassville Invitational at the Cassville Golf Club.
Cassville Primary and Intermediate held their annual Sports Day on May 7. After a fun day of various field events, races and water activities, students competed to earn the title of “Fastest Wildcat.” Primary winners, from left: Evan Bowman, Reese Artherton, PJ Boyle, Ren Hodge, Brynn Weldy and Riley Hayward.
Finishing at exactly .500, the Southwest baseball team had many highlights this season, but one-run games and untimely hitting hampered the Trojans through the spring. Derek Mann, Southwest baseball coach, said while the team ultimately fell short of its goals, it was able to accomplish plenty at 14-14.
Going 9-13 this season, the Southwest softball team consistently worked on one major goal — testing its IQ. Emily Snyder, Lady Trojans softball coach, said the team this season achieved some team goals and missed some others.