By MATT PIKE
Despite the excitement of Opening Day and a summer tradition being back in St. Joseph at Phil Welch Stadium, it wasn't the opener the St. Joseph Mustangs hoped for, falling to the Kansas City Monarchs 10-5.
After getting through the first inning with three strikeouts, along with a walk and a hit batter, Mustangs starter JT Adams gave up five runs in the second inning to the Monarchs, putting St. Joseph behind 5-0. Morgan Johnson walked with the bases loaded to score the first run, driving in Blake Kolons, before a single from Ty White scored Cam Messerchmidt. Another bases loaded walk brought home Jake Slocum and then Johnson scored the fourth run on a sacrifice fly by Devin O'Brien.
A single by Will Dryburgh off Mustangs reliever Landon Reith drove in White for the final run of the second inning, and in the third inning the Monarchs added one more run, scoring off Reith as White reached on a fielders choice, bringing home Slocum. In the bottom half of the inning, St. Joseph cut into the lead finally getting onto the scoreboard, only scoring one run though, on the first home run of the season, a solo home run from Carter Belton making it 6-1.
The Mustangs added another run in the fourth inning after Missouri Western's Seth Winkler led off the inning with a single, scoring on a triple by Lafayette alum Jayden Little to cut the score to 6-2. But in the fifth, the Monarchs added three more runs, O'Brien driving in two more runs with a two RBI single, scoring White and Johnson, Alex Lahasky moved to second base after he walked, and Lahasky later scored on a throwing error by shortstop and Benton alum Chris Coy, after a single by Dryburgh making it 9-2.
The Mustangs got on the board again in the seventh inning, another triple this time from Isaiah Ketller driving in Tyler Gundelfinger who doubled to lead off the inning. In the eighth inning, after Winkler singled to lead off the inning, and then moved to second on a single by Missouri Western teammate Micah Kobuszewski, scored an unearned run on an error by White, allowing Little to move to third base, and soon score on a single by Eden Meyers to make it 9-5.
Kansas City added the final run of insurance needed in the ninth inning, White scoring on a single from Dryburgh, after White stole both second and third base. In the bottom half of the inning, Coy singled to left with one out, but was doubled off on a ground ball double play by Winkler to end the game.
Adams took the loss on the mound, throwing just 1.2 innings and giving up five runs on two hits with five walks, striking out three all in the first inning. Northwest Missouri State's Jase Johnson threw two innings of relief striking out four, three looking, giving up one run on three hits. At the plate, Winkler was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Little was 1-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.
The Mustangs start the season 0-1 as they begin the quest for their 11th MINK League title. They are off on Thursday, and will open MINK League play on Friday against the Carroll Merchants, first pitch at 7pm.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.