Ash Grove Sports 10-25-23

Ash Grove football falls to Sarcoxie to end regular season play
The Ash Grove High School football team hosted their final regular season game of 2023 on Friday, Oct. 20, but lost to Sarcoxie, 46-18.
The Pirates would score first on a Kyler Reece two-yard touchdown run to take a 6-0 lead over Sarcoxie in the first quarter. After Sarcoxie went up 12-6, Reece would once again find pay dirt, running it in from 56 yards out to tie the game at 12-12 in the second quarter. Sarcoxie would again take the lead, 20-12, but Reece would answer back with a nine-yard touchdown run to cut the score to 20-18. That though would be the end for Ash Grove scoring, as Sarcoxie would go on to add another 28 points in the third and fourth quarters.
Cooper Burks led Ash Grove in passing going 6-17 for 120 yards, Reece led with 164 yards on 21 carries and three touchdowns and Brady Nicholson finished the game with 72 yards on three catches.
The Pirates are now 6-3 on the season and will have a week off before they take part in the Class 1, District 1 playoffs where they will travel to fourth seeded Cabool on Friday, Nov. 3. Ash Grove is currently the fifth seed in Class 1, District 1.
Lady Pirates volleyball season comes to an end in second round of districts at hands of Skyline
The 2023 season has come to an end for the Lady Pirates volleyball team after losing in four sets, 18-25, 22-25, 25-18, and 15-25 to Skyline at the semifinals of the Class 2, District 12 tournament in Urbana on Saturday, Oct. 21.
“This season has been a wild ride,” said head coach Diana Eiberger. “These ladies have played from the heart and have had a great time. Monumental wins for these ladies have been Miller, Pierce City, Marionville, and Sparta. Along with taking sets away from Forsyth and Eldon. They also placed third in the Sparta Invitational Tournament and ended second in the Southwest Conference. Each member of the 2023 team has a lot to be proud of from the season.”
Ash Grove won their first-round game against Pleasant Hope in five sets on Thursday, Oct. 19, 20-25, 25-11, 25-17, 22-25 and 15-13.
The Lady Pirates ended their regular season with a three-set win over Greenwood, 25-13, 25-6 and 25-13.
“To our seniors: you showed us that hard work, technique, determination, perseverance, and believing in yourself will take you many places,” Eiberger added. “We wish you all the very best in your futures and know you are always a member of this family. To all returning members: Each of you have improved and pushed yourself everyday throughout the season. Your hard-work and enthusiasm is contagious on and off the floor. Keep working hard, remember the lessons from your teammates, and continue to build on the foundations set before you by your class of 2024 seniors. Also, thank you to each family member and fan of these hardworking ladies. Hearing your cheers and encouraging words on and off the floor means a great deal to each of them. Thank you for all of your support. We look forward to seeing you next season!”
The Lady Pirates ended the season with a 16-10-4 record.
 
Senior Night
Honored during Friday’s Senior Night festivities were football seniors Cooper Burks, Blake McNeece, Kaleb Mullins, Brady Nicholson, Ashton Olmedo and Jasper Seidel.