It said everything about how depleted the Midwest Nationals’ pitching staff became recently that they sent out seven pitchers for their Show-Me Collegiate League playoff game with the Queen City Crush on Thursday.

Bryant Avery’s stint in the Show-Me Collegiate League ended on an upswing, thanks to him no longer having an upswing.

Ace Akers is having the summer of his life and college coaches are taking notice.

Nixa grad Brett Hammit takes pride in the exceptional stretch of producing NCAA D-I players that the Eagles’ baseball program is enjoying. 

Blake Mozley isn’t allowing himself to think about the possibility of landing the starting shortstop job at Missouri State as a true freshman. Likewise, his focus isn’t on him and fellow Ozark grad Carson Shaver continuing to contend the Show-Me Collegiate League’s batting title. 

Nationals center fielder Will Larson tracks down a Crush base hit off the right-center wall.

The dramatic change in Adam White’s fortunes on the mound have much to do with his changeup.

The new baseball coaches at Sparta and Spokane are already familiar names at area ball diamonds.

Ozark’s Parker Hanks was part of the sell-out crowds at Busch Stadium over the weekend that cheered wildly for former Cardinal Albert Pujols before each of his at-bats during his return to St. Louis.

Trent Turner chases down a fly ball.

Luke Burk, of Galena, throws out a batter from third base.

Forrest Barnes offers a delivery home.

Queen City's Stephen Randazzo and Trent Turner share a high-five.

Nixa’s baseball team received the No. 36 ranking in the National High School Baseball Coaches Association final rankings, as announced by the NHSBCA this week.

Hunter Crabtree won’t be waiting for a call from the Midwest Nationals asking him to fill in again for a Show-Me Collegiate League game. After all, nobody calls any more.