News

Diamond 9: Bolivar pitching standout Tom Wilson

In the years before Major League Baseball selected players through an amateur draft, players had to do everything they could to pique the interest of scouts – especially to attract them to rural communities. Former Bolivar High School pitching standout Tom Wilson did just that, as he turned several successful seasons into a contract offer… Read more »

Diamond 9: Strafford’s Sophia Alexander Denning

Years before she would become a standout softball player at tradition-rich Stafford High School, Sophia (Alexander) Denning would head over to a coach’s backyard and learn how to pitch. “There’s no telling how many tomato plants I killed in his garden,” Denning said with a smile, “by throwing wild pitches over the fence.” Denning, however,… Read more »

Diamond 9: Ozark’s Marin (Whorton) Cooney

When she first moved to southwest Missouri, Marin (Whorton) Cooney learned to pitch by throwing against the side of her house. By the mid-1990s, the Ozark High School standout was one of the area’s top arms, helping the program win 67 games in four years. Now Cooney’s career is being remembered again as the Missouri… Read more »

Diamond 9: Glendale, William Jewell standout Kristen Marshall

She was basically raised around bats, gloves and base lines before emerging as a standout softball player – first at Glendale High School and then at William Jewell College, where her name is splashed all over the Top 10 of many offensive categories. Now Kristen Marshall is being remembered by the Missouri Sports Hall of… Read more »

Diamond 9: Nixa-MSU standout Christian Overstreet

Nixa native Christian Overstreet is one of the few southwest Missouri multi-sport athletes who can say he was a preseason Louisville Slugger All-American, played four seasons of NCAA Division I baseball and that every one of his high school and college coaches were inducted into various halls of fame. Now his career will soon be… Read more »

Coach Pinkel to speak at Tiger Ball & Scholarship Auction on May 5

With former Missouri Tigers football coach Gary Pinkel lined up for a special appearance – and a goal of generating more scholarship dollars for Mizzou-bound students – the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the Mizzou Alumni Association has lined up a two-day event in May in Springfield. The association’s annual Tiger Ball & Scholarship Auction presented by… Read more »

An 11th anniversary: The Boy and The Man statue

It has long served as a reminder of what sports can and should be. Of the star athlete never forgetting the fans. Of a child’s love for the game and his hero only growing. “The Boy and The Man” life-size bronze statue – which depicts former St. Louis Cardinals great Stan “The Man” Musial signing… Read more »

Hall announces third annual Diamond 9 for May 18

Six former high school baseball standouts, including two who signed pro contracts, and a trio of former outstanding high school-college softball players will soon be recognized as the third annual Diamond 9 award recipients of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. President and Executive Director Jerald Andrews announced the Diamond 9 on Tuesday. The Hall… Read more »

Hall mourns the passing of Betty Jo Killian

The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame joins with the family of Betty Jo Killian in mourning her recent passing. Killian, the wife of the late Robert “Bob” Killian of Killian Construction, passed away on March 17. Among survivors are sons Joseph P. Killian and William F. Killian. The Killian family, through Killian Construction, has been a… Read more »

Hall to induct Cardinals speedster Vince Coleman

He was among baseball’s best speed demons, leading the National League in stolen bases for six consecutive seasons and is one of only four big-leaguers ever to steal 100 bases in a season. Next year, he will be running to our house. In an announcement unprecedented for its timing, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame… Read more »

Almost 90 high schoolers turn out for Hole in One Classic

Rogersville High School golfer Keaton Clark will gladly accept any advice that helps him gain an edge. Which is why he appreciated Monday, when the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame hosted the annual Hole in One Golf Clinic presented by the Ozarks/Coca-Cola Dr Pepper Bottling Company. (A photo gallery can be found on the Hall’s… Read more »