​The Joplin Junior All-Stars softball team saw its bid for a state championship end abruptly after a pair of losses on opening night of the state junior softball Little League tournament at Blinzler Fields on Thursday. In the first game, Joplin was overwhelmed 15-0 by the Twin City All-Stars from Crystal City, as Twin City pitcher Carlie Heiligenmann dominated on the mound. Heiligenmann threw a complete game no-hitter, facing the minimum with seven strikeouts and just one walk. She also showcased her power with an inside-the-park homer in the bottom of the fourth inning, helping her team to a dominant performance.
Joplin’s defense struggled mightily, recording nine errors in the game, which amplified the challenge they faced against Twin City. The 15 runs by Twin City came on 10 hits. The game got off to a rough start for Joplin, as Twin City plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning and followed with four runs in both the second and third innings, then added five more in the fourth. Heiligenmann finished 2 for 3 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBIs, and teammate K Prock also contributed a 2-for-3 line with three RBIs and a run. Natalie Washum was the lone Joplin baserunner to reach safely through a walk in the top of the third inning. Joplin starter Cartie Barber struggled from the outset, giving up four earned runs (15 earned runs overall) on 10 hits over three innings. She struck out four and walked five in the loss.
Later, Joplin faced Harrison County and fell 26-7, a defeat that eliminated them from the tournament. Joplin briefly surged to a 6-4 lead after the first inning, but the error trouble resurfaced as Harrison County exploited Joplin’s mistakes to pull away. Harrison County’s offense exploded for 27 runs on 17 hits. The Tigers jumped out to an early four-run first inning, but Joplin responded with six runs in the bottom half. The visitors then took control with nine runs in the second inning, eventually pushing the score to a commanding 26-6 lead after four innings before Joplin managed one final run in the bottom of the fifth on Merit Rosenow’s score on a wild pitch.
Barber led Joplin at the plate in the loss, going 1 for 2 with one run and one RBI. On the mound, she allowed 14 earned runs (24 total) on 17 hits, striking out four and walking seven over 4 2/3 innings. Harrison County’s offense was paced by three players who each totaled three hits: Kiara Tucker went 3 for 4 with four runs and three RBIs, Hadley Williams was 3 for 3 with three RBIs and three runs, and Ella Cook also finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Joplin’s bid for the state title is now on hiatus as the team looks to regroup from an opening-night schedule that proved challenging on both ends of the field.