The Nixa Eagles baseball team kicked off its 2024 season on March 15 and 16 in southern California, facing the South Hills Huskies and the La Mirada Matadores. 

In a low-scoring affair that needed extra innings, the Huskies edged Nixa 3-2 in the ninth inning on a walk-off single with two outs. Nate Uber tallied the Eagles RBI, finishing 2-for-4 at the plate. Rylan Michel scored both runs for the Eagles.  

Click here for the box score: Nixa vs. South Hills.

The Eagles had to quickly regroup as a doubleheader awaited Nixa in less than 24 hours against the Matadores. Despite dropping both contests, 4-2 and 8-0, Nixa starting pitcher Colin Kelley threw 5 ? strong innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out six, in the first matchup. Alex Thomason hit his first home run of the season on a solo shot, while Michel's sac fly RBI scored Nixa's remaining run.

Click here for the box score: Nixa vs. La Mirada Game One.
Click here for the box score: Nixa vs. La Mirada Game Two.

Following the Southern California Tournament, the Eagles returned to their home diamond on March 19 for a district matchup against Glendale. The game was dominated by pitching, and Glendale took a 1-0 lead in the third, Nixa tied the game in their half of the third on an RBI single from Caeden Cloud, scoring Wyatt Vincent. The Falcon's run in the sixth inning, eventually, was the deciding factor in the 2-1 victory. Eagles SP Jackson Gamble struck out nine batters in 5 IP and allowed just one earned run in the no-decision effort.

Click here for the box score: Nixa vs. Glendale.

Two days later, Nixa notched win No. 1 on the season behind the bats of Vincent and Michel with a 4-1 triumph against Springfield Catholic on the Eagles home field. The duo both hit back-to-back HRs in the third inning, giving Nixa a 3-0 lead. In the proceeding inning, a bases-loaded walk scored Nixa's final run. SP Kelley was stellar on the mound and threw a complete game with an ER and seven Ks.

Click here for the box score: Nixa vs. Springfield Catholic.

The Eagles gained momentum following the victory vs. Catholic, as the offense began to find its rhythm and helped lead to four additional wins: Branson (5-4), Springdale, Ark. (10-2), Fatima (11-1), and Kennett (7-2). 

Against Branson, it was a back-and-forth matchup that saw both teams take leads in the early innings, but Nixa's two-run seventh inning in a tie ballgame sealed the victory. Vincent began the frame with a single to center. Then, Cloud scored Vincent with an RBI triple, and Jack Edwards' sac fly that scored Cloud was the eventual game-winning run. Branson scored a run in the seventh, but Thomason was able to close the door.

Click here for the box score: Nixa vs. Branson.

Nixa's bats were red hot in the victories vs. Springdale and Fatima, tallying seven hits against the Bulldogs and nine hits against the Comets. The offense was led by Cloud's four RBIs in game one and Thomason's three RBIs in game two. SP Uber earned the victory vs. Springdale, tossing 5 IP with seven Ks, and Grady Eoff picked up the win in his first varsity start vs. Fatima in a CG effort. The game concluded in the sixth, as the mercy rule was enacted.

Click here for the box score: Nixa vs. Springdale, Ark.
Click here for the box score: Nixa vs. Fatima.

Seven different pitchers and the bats of Vincent and Cloud led the charge for Nixa's victory vs. Kennett. Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead early and never looked back. Vincent finished 3-for-3, including two triples and four runs scored, and Cloud went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Thomason, Elijah Adams, Drew Creed, Connor Fangrow, Parker Mann, Michel, and Vincent all threw an inning on the mound.

Click here for the box score: Nixa vs. Kennett.

The win moves Nixa to 5-4 on the year as the Eagles head into the loaded Red and Blue tournament on March 29-30 at Nixa. Nixa faces Lee's Summit North and Kearney on the opening day, and Liberty North and Lee's Summit West on Saturday.