July 1, 2021
By Brennan Mense
JOPLIN, MO—Christian DeJesus struck out a season-high ten batters over 5.0 innings and Ontario native Caleb Feuerstake hit two doubles and drove in three runs on Canada Day to lift the Joplin Outlaws to a 4-2 win over the Sedalia Bombers on Thursday night.
Feuerstake's second double came with two on and two outs in a tie game in the eighth, giving Joplin (11-8) their first lead of the game, which they would never relinquish.
Sedalia (10-10) took the lead in the second inning against DeJesus, as Brandon McGinnis was hit by a pitch, before a sacrifice and throwing error put runners on second and third with nobody out. After a strikeout, Duffin Makings lofted a sacrifice fly to left field which scored McGinnis to put the Bombers a 1-0 lead.
An inning later, the Outlaws answered back. Cam Pfafman led off the third with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice, then came home on Jeb Jenkins' two-out RBI double.
DeJesus tossed a scoreless fourth before issuing a leadoff walk in the fifth. Following a sacrifice and a strikeout, McGinnis rolled a single through the right side of the infield that scored Spencer Nivens from second to give the Bombers a 2-1 lead. DeJesus recovered, though, to finish the inning with his tenth strikeout, becoming the first Outlaw since 2018 with double-digit K's in a game.
In the sixth, the Outlaws successfully chased Sedalia starter Chase Carson with a two-out rally. After a flyout and strikeout began the inning, Carson walked Logan Cline and Ethan Ellis, the latter of which was an 11-pitch battle. Feuerstake then strode to the plate and lined Carson's first pitch just inside the right-field line for a game-tying double.
From there, Austin Gottula kept the Bombers quiet. Gottula entered the game to begin the sixth and allowed a bunt single and two walks to load the bases, but he successfully induced a fly out to escape the jam, then set down all six Sedalia batters in the seventh and eighth.
Those efforts would be rewarded in the bottom of the eighth as the Outlaws once again struck with a two-out rally. Cline reached on an error with two outs and Ellis walked again, setting the stage once more for Feuerstake. On his homeland's independence day, the Canadian came through again, roping a two-run double to left-center, staking Joplin to a two-run advantage.
Justin Schrader entered for the ninth inning looking to nail down the victory. In Joplin's three previous games, the Outlaws had blown a league in the eighth inning or later, and on Thursday, the ninth got off to an ominous start with a leadoff single.
However, Schrader buckled down and punched out Spencer Nivens looking, then induced a ground ball to short from Gideon Antle, which the Joplin infield converted into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
Feuerstake stroked two doubles and drove in three runs, while Cline added two hits, a walk, two runs scored, and four stolen bases.
DeJesus worked 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on two hits, walking three, and striking out ten in a no-decision. Gottula (2-0) earned his second win by pitching 3.0 shutout innings, allowing a hit and two walks with one strikeout. Schrader threw a scoreless ninth with a strikeout and one hit allowed to earn his second save.
Joplin continues their homestand tonight with their first home contest against the Jefferason City Renegades this season. First pitch is at 7:00 p.m. and the broadcast will be available on UclickTV on pay-per-view, as well as with all Joplin Outlaws and MINK League season passes.
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