The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame soon will bestow its President’s Award on John Cyrus, who recently retired after almost 27 years with the Missouri Highway Patrol, and will recognize the Diamond 9, a group of former high school, college and pro baseball and softball standouts who made positive impacts in the game.
The honors are part of the Hall of Fame’s Baseball Luncheon presented by the Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company, President & Executive Director Jerald Andrews announced Tuesday. The luncheon is set for 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 24 at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield.
That day, the Hall of Fame is inducting former St. Louis Cardinal Rick Ankiel, the St. Louis Browns Baseball Club, late Glendale High School baseball coach Howard Bell, retired Centralia High School softball coach Jill Angell, Ozark High School baseball coach Mike Essick, and the Ozark High School Baseball Program.
The Diamond 9 presented by B.J.’s Trophy Shop features Clint Anderson (Willard High School, Crowder College & Charleston Southern University baseball), Nolan Fogle (Plato High School baseball & USSSA/ASA/NSA softball), Jamie Holmes (Republic High School, Crowder College & Columbia College softball), Tina Ruble Helm (Lebanon High School & Southwest Baptist University softball), Greg Lindstrom (Glendale High School & University of Missouri baseball), Jarrod Mays (El Dorado Springs High School, Missouri State University, Team USA & Cleveland Indians baseball), Raeven Replogle (Webb City High School & Missouri State University softball), Carlie Rose (Nixa High School, University of Missouri & University of Central Missouri softball) and Blake Wixson (Hillcrest High School & Drury University baseball).
A sponsorship table of eight is $400 and includes an autographed print along with recognition in the printed program. A head table ticket is $100, while an individual ticket is $40, or $50 at the door. Numerous other sponsorships are available, including congratulatory ads. Call 417-889-3100.
John Cyrus – President’s Award
The President’s Award is bestowed on individuals who go above and beyond in their support of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. A longtime Mount Vernon resident, Cyrus is the 2014 U.S. Senior Long Drive champion and a 2016 Regional Champion in the World Long Drive Championships. For nearly a decade, he has helped fund-raise for the Hall of Fame at its Celebrity Golf Classics by hitting long drive shots for participating players and also has played in pro-ams of the PGA Web.com Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper. Cyrus is a 1981 Camdenton High School graduate who played football, baseball, basketball and competed in track there before attending Southwest Baptist University and Missouri State University. Cyrus later played men’s major slow pitch softball with Bolivar-based MFA Oil and Springfield’s Mazzio’s Pizza.
Clint Anderson, Willard High School, Crowder College & Charleston Southern
Anderson was a two-time All-State selection in 2002 and 2003 for Willard High School, leading the Tigers to the Final Four his senior season with both his bat and arm. That year, he struck out 93 batters and also set the school record with a .559 batting average, which stood for eight years. He then was a two-way player for Crowder College, hitting 12 home runs, driving in a team-best 46 runners and striking out 30 in 46 innings. He went on to play for Charleston Southern in Charleston, South Carolina. Anderson now works for CoxHealth in Springfield.
Nolan Fogle, Plato High School & USSSA/ASA/NSA Softball
These days, Fogle is President of Fogle Enterprises restaurants in and around Branson, often dedicating his time to fundraising for law enforcement and firefighters. In 2017, he and his family ratcheted up their efforts by creating Benefit the Badge, a softball tournament and other sporting events. It has since raised $180,000, which goes to finance National Law Enforcement Week, with remaining proceeds paying for equipment and safety devices for law enforcement agencies. Fogle is the all-time home run champ (and single-season record holder) at Plato High School. Since 1987, he has been heavily involved in softball, including 29 years as a player and 25 years as a player/sponsor. He played for and sponsored Team Whippersnappers (1993-2003) as well as Team Honor Bound (1998-2002), Team 2 League & Tournaments (2003-2006), Missouri Powerhouse Tournaments (2007-2009), American Mayhem Tournaments (2010-2011) and Team Nightmare USSSA Conference and Tournaments (2012-2017).
Tina Ruble Helm, Lebanon High School & Southwest Baptist University
Helm was a multi-sport athlete for Lebanon High School before graduating in 1986 and then went on to Southwest Baptist University. She owns SBU’s second-best single-season batting average (.419 in 1989), fourth-best slugging percentage in a single season (.638) and had 10 triples combined in 1987 and 1988, when she also was the MVP of the MIAA. After college, Helm went into education and recently retired from the Waynesville School District.
Jamie Holmes, Republic High School, Crowder College & Columbia College
Holmes was a three-time All-State selection (2006-2008) in softball for Republic High School and then went on to a remarkable collegiate career, first at Crowder College and then at Columbia College. She helped Crowder win two Juco region championships. At Columbia, she started 85 games her final two seasons and, as a senior, was a First Team All-American Midwest Conference and the AMC Player of the Year. That season, she finished with a team-best .406 batting average and 67 hits that included 12 doubles, four triples and five home runs – among her 32 RBI. Holmes is now a substitute teacher in the Springfield area.
Greg Lindstrom, Glendale High School & University of Missouri
Lindstrom was an All-State pitcher for Glendale, helping the Falcons to the 1988 state tournament before graduating in 1990, when he batted .549. He was a three-time All-Ozark Conference selection and two-time American Legion All-Star. He then was a four-year letter-winner for the University of Missouri baseball from 1992 to 1995, and part of its starting rotation his final three years. He is employed at Nixon & Lindstrom Insurance in Springfield.
Jarrod Mays, El Dorado Springs High School, Missouri State University, Team USA & Cleveland Indians
Mays was a two-time All-State selection for El Dorado Springs and later returned as its head coach. At Missouri State, he was part of the Bears’ 1995 and 1996 NCAA Tournament teams and earned All-Valley Tournament team both years. Mays is one of eight Bears in history to be selected to Team USA, and was actually the second Bear ever selected. Mays was drafted in the 11th round in 1993 by the Philadelphia Phillies out of high school but chose to pitch for MSU. After college, he was in pro baseball for six seasons, five in the Cleveland Indians farm system. These days, he owns his own construction business.
Raeven Replogle, Webb City High School & Missouri State University
At Webb City, Replogle was an All-State outfielder in 2007 – her fourth year as a starter. That concluded a stretch in which she helped the Cardinals to 112 wins in 121 games and two state championships, including a 32-0 season as a freshman. At Missouri State, she was a key role player and became a senior captain in 2012, a year after helping the Bears reach the NCAA Tournament. Replogle is now working as a counselor at Webb City Junior High School.
Carlie Rose, Nixa High School, University of Missouri & University of Central Missouri
She was a two-time All-State selection for Nixa’s softball team in 2010 and 2011, signed with the University of Missouri and finished her final two years at the University of Central Missouri. In Warrensburg, she started 108 out of 109 games as a utility player and had 94 hits and 56 RBIs. Her .342 average and 42 RBIs as a junior were second-bests on the team. She’ is now living in Springfield and working at Bank of America.
Blake Wixson, Hillcrest High School & Drury University
Wixson was a First Team All-State, All-District and All-Ozark Conference selection at Hillcrest High School as a pitcher, graduating in 2007. He then pitched for Drury from 2008 to 2011 and graduated as Drury’s all-time leader in career strikeouts (181) and currently owns the strikeout record for a single game at 11. These days, he works for PJC Insurance in Springfield.
