Missouri Western will be holding a girls basketball camp for girls grades 3-8 on July 20-22.

This camp is designed to help younger players develop proper skills at an early age. A typical day includes station drills (with a twelve to one player coach ratio in order to ensure individual attention), a different individual contest each day (ie. Free throw, speed dribble, hot-shot, etc) along with game competition. We start with 3 on 3, gradually progress to 5 on 5. All games and competitions are divided among equal age groups. For an up and coming player this is a camp you do not want to miss!

– Early Bird Special-Camp costs $60 if enrolled by June 15th, 2015.
– Camp cost of $70 required with your application to reserve your spot in camp. Enrollment will be limited!

Rob Edmisson is in his third season as the Griffon’s head coach, and is the eighth head coach in Griffon Women’s Basketball history.  He came to MWSU from Oklahoma City University where he won the 2012 NAIA National Championship. Edmisson has coached 10 all -Americans, 38 all – conference players, three SAC player of the year honorees.  His overall coaching record in 24 years on all levels is 540 -178.

Go to GoGriffons.com for full details and how to sign up.

Please contact either head coach Rob Edmisson or assistant coach Roger Smith if you have any questions at 816-271-5863 or 816-271-4509.

— MWSU Sports Information —

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Despite what the scoreboard said, the Missouri Western and Missouri Southern football teams did not play a spring game at the Griffon Baseball Field. Instead it was a 20-16 win for No. 17 Missouri Southern baseball over Missouri Western that clinched the series for the Lions, three games to one.

The teams combined for 36 runs, 36 hits, 11 doubles, five home runs and four errors in a game that seemed to be headed for a run-rule in favor of Missouri Southern. Five runs from the Griffons in the fifth and five more in the seventh prolonged the game that lasted three hours. Missouri Southern jumped out to a 7-0 lead after four in the second and three in the top of the third. The Griffs added one in the bottom of the third, but two more from Southern in the fourth started a run of multi-run innings.

Griffon starter Grant Woods was chased after the second. He allowed four runs on four hits, striking out two and walking two. In the game, Missouri Western pitchers walked 13 Lion batters and hit two. Down 15-2 going into the bottom of fifth, MWSU scored five to pull within eight. Mitch Thorman got the scoring going in the inning with an RBI single that bought Trevor LaHonta home. Cosimo Cannella drove in two with a single through the left side and David Glaude put the fourth and fifth runs of the inning on the board with a two-run home run down the right field line.

The Griffons pulled within four at 16-12 in the seventh on an RBI double by Cannella and back-to-back home runs from Matt Russell and Corbin Duffy. The Griffons added one more in the eighth and three in the ninth but it was too little to late as Missouri Southern had built a 20-13 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.

Glaude finished 3-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. LaHonta was 3-5 with two RBIs and a runs scored. Woods took the loss as the first of seven pitchers used by the Griffons. The loss dropped MWSU to 18-12 on the year and 12-8 in the MIAA. The team plays next at Fort Hays, playing a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.

— MWSU Sports Information —

OTTAWA, Kan. – The Missouri Western women’s tennis team traveled to Ottawa, Kansas on Sunday for their third away match in four day. MWSU earned two victories by defeating College of Saint Mary 9-0 and Ottawa University 8-1.

The Griffons controlled the match from the start against Saint Mary, winning all three doubles matches.  Ceara Boldridge and Sofia Aguilera earned a 8-1 victory while Denise Chiao and Kayla Dysart claimed an 8-1 win as well. In the No. 3 doubles match Meara Smith and Lindsay Beger won 8-0.

In singles matches, Missouri Western continued to show their dominance with Sarah Giraldo, Mera Smith and Lindsay Begar all earning 6-0, 6-0 victories. Kayla Dysart won her match in the No. 2 spot, 6-1, 6-1. In the No. 3 position Yasmine El Ghazi won her match 6-1, 6-1 and in the final singles position Denise Chiao won 6-1, 6-0.

MWSU was able to control the tempo in their match against Ottawa, winning all three doubles matches. Sarah Giraldo and El Ghazi won their match by the score of 8-3 and Aguilera and Boldridge won 8-4 in the No. 2 position.

Kayla Dysart won her match in the No. 1 spot 5-7, 7-5 (10-4). El Ghazi, Chiao, and Smith all earned victories in their singles matches as well.

The Griffons moved their record to 8-5 overall and will return to action on April 7 at home against William Jewell starting at 2:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. –  The Missouri Western baseball team split with No. 17 Missouri Southern Saturday at the Griffon Spring Sports Complex.

The Griffons forced extra innings in game one on a bases loaded walk and took game two thanks, in large part, to a passed ball and an error.

GAME 1: #17 MSSU 2, MWSU 1 (8 innings)

The Griffons tied the game at one in the bottom of the seventh but gave up what proved to be the game-winning home run in the eighth to drop their third straight, 2-1.

Zach Taylor’s walk in the bottom of the seventh pushed Ryan Degner home to tie the game at one. With the bases still loaded, Dylon Koch’s bunt was fielded by the Missouri Southern catcher, who promptly stepped on the plate for the force out and to send the game to extra innings. A two-out, solo home run won it for the Lions in the eighth with a double play ending the game. After Orencio Fisher flied out to lead-off the eighth, Trevor LaHonta singled to center. Degner ended the game by hitting into the double play.

Mike Calimeno took the loss for the Griffons. He pitched two and a third in relief of Banks Born. Born went the first five and two thirds, giving up one run on six hits.

GAME 2: MWSU 2, #17 MSSU 0

The Griffons took advantage of some Missouri Southern miscues in the sixth to score the game’s first and only runs in a 2-0 win over the No. 17 Lions.

Trevor LaHonta scored the first run on an RBI single down the left field line by Cody Childs. LaHonta and Dylon Koch had both moved up a base before Childs’ single on a passed ball. One batter later, Orencio Fisher hit into a fielder’s choice in a pinch hit at bat for Cosimo Cannella that allowed Koch to score. Fisher’s hit looked like a possible double play that would have ended the inning but the short stop didn’t step on second, allowing Childs to advance to second and Fisher beat out the throw down to first.

It was enough for the Griffons who had just four hits in the game. A.J. Martinez went all seven innings, giving up just three hits for his first complete game shutout of the season. He moved to 4-0 on the year with the win and Missouri Western improved to 18-11 and 12-7 in the MIAA. The two teams wrap up the series Sunday with a single game scheduled for 1 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – After a home run fest on Friday to sweep Lindenwood, the 17th-ranked Missouri Western softball team pecked away at Lincoln on Saturday to sweep another doubleheader and run their win streak to 16 games. The wins improved the team’s record to 25-9 overall and 10-2 in the MIAA.

GAME 1: MWSU 8, Lincoln 0 (5 innings)

The Griffs broke a scoreless tie in the second with two runs, added another in the third, three in the fourth and two in the fifth to end game one early with an 8-0 win.

Shelbie Atwell picked up one of her two RBIs in the game, driving in Paige Shifflett with a single up the middle to put the home team up 1-0. Megan Korgie followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Katie Klosterman. In the third, Sydney Washington grounded out to short, scoring Tiffany Gillaspy. Korgie picked up her second and third RBIs of the game in the fourth on a single down the right field line and Morgan Rathmann’s triple in the fourth put MWSU up 6-0. Atwell pushed across another in the fifth and ended the game when she scored on an error by the short stop that allowed Morgan Rathmann to reach.

Janie Smith picked up the win, moving to 12-5 on the year. Kaylie Green went 2-3. Klosterman also was 2-3 with two runs scored and Atwell went 2-3 with two driven in and two runs scored.

GAME 2: MWSU 9, Lincoln 0 (5 innings)

Shyanne Saladino was perfect through the first four innings as the Griffons scored nine, and won another shortened game to move their win streak to 16 games.

Saladino allowed just one hit, a leadoff single in the fifth as she went five innings and picked up the win to move to 13-4 on the year. Her team gave her a big boost, taking an 8-0 lead after two innings with a six-run second. The six-run inning got started with Rebekah Mueller’s first career home run. It was a two-run shot down the right field line that also brought Brooke Schaben home.

Rathmann went 2-3 in game two with three runs scored. Gillaspy was 2-3 with two driven in and two scored. Sydney Washington also went 2-3 in game two and Klosterman was 2-2.

The Griffons improved to 14-0 at home in their 12th straight at the Spring Sports Complex. They hit the road next week, beginning with a non-conference doubleheader at Northwest Missouri State on Tuesday. The first pitch of game one is set for 2:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN 1550 AM and on StJosephPost.com.

— MWSU Sports Information —

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team dropped the first of a four-game series with No. 17 Missouri Southern, 8-0. The Griffons got only four hits while allowing 10 Southern hits.

The Lions got two on the board in the second and tacked on to the lead with six runs in the eighth. Josh Lansangan allowed just two runs on seven hits through six and a third innings. The loss dropped Lansangan to 2-3 on the year. He walked five Lion batters and struck out six. Matt Russell gave up three runs in two thirds of an inning, as did David Anderson for the Griffons.

Offensively, Cody Childs, Andrew Ramirez, Dylon Koch and Brandown Downs each finished with one hit each. The loss drops Missouri Western to 17-10 overall and 11-6 in the MIAA. Missouri Southern is now 20-4 record and atop the MIAA with an 11-2 league mark.

Western and Southern will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m. inside the Griffons Spring Sports Complex.  The games will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ AM or online at StJosephPost.com.

— MWSU Sports Information —

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western softball team stretched its win streak to 14 games with a doubleheader sweep of Lindenwood. The team moved to 23-9 overall and 8-2 in the MIAA. In addition to the 14-game win streak overall, Missouri Western is now 12-0 at the Spring Sports Complex this season.

GAME 1: #17 MWSU 5, Lindenwood 2

The Griffons extended their win streak to 13 games despite falling behind 2-0 in the first.

Janie Smith surrendered two runs in the top of the first but Missouri Western got the bats going in the bottom of the second, jumping ahead 4-2. Kailey Green drove in one in the inning with a double to right center and Megan Korgie brought two home with a single down the right field line. Janie Smith scored the fourth run of the inning when she stole home while Korgie kept the Lindenwood defense occupied in a run-down. Green made it 5-2 in the third when she lifted a home run to left field.

Green finshed 2-2 with thw RBIs and two runs scored. Korgie went 2-3 with two driven in as well. Smith went the distance allowing just two runs on seven hits, improving her record to 11-5.

GAME 2: #17 MWSU 6, Lindenwood 4

Tiffany Gillaspy hit her 10th and 11th home runs of the season as the Griffons put three balls over the fence in a 6-4 win. Gillaspy put MWSU up 1-0 in the first with a solo shot to left center. She made it 6-2 in the fourth with her second home run of the game, this time to left field. The defending National Player of the Week went 4-4 in game two with three RBIs and three runs scored.

Lindenwood took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second on a solo home run and an RBI single. The Griffons jumped back in front in the bottom of the third when Morgan Rathmann hit a homer to left center and two batters later, Sydney Washington when opposite field with a two-run home run to right.

No other Griffon had more than one hit. Washington drove in two, going 1-4 and Rathmann drove in one and scored twice. Shyanne Saladino battled through to pick up her 12th win of the year (12-4) Saladino went the distance, allowing all four runs on nine hits. Missouri Western is back in action Saturday in a doubleheader at home against Lincoln.

— MWSU Sports Information —

EMPORIA, Kan. – The Missouri Western women’s tennis team hit the road for the second straight day as they took on the Emporia State Hornets eventually falling, 6-3.

The Griffons recorded two of three wins in doubles matches. Ceara Boldridge and Sofia Aguilera won their match 8-6 while Denise Chiao and Kayla Dysart earned an 8-4 victory.

In singles matches, the Griffons claimed just one win with Boldridge winning 6-0, 7-6 (7-4) in the No. 6 spot. Dysart won her first set but eventually fell 3-6, 6-1, and 6-4 in the No. 3 position.

The Griffons now have a record of 6-5 overall and 3-3 in conference. MWSU will stay on the road with a dual match against College of Saint Mary on Sunday, starting at noon.

Singles competition
1. Griffey,Tawni (ESU) def. Giraldo,Sarah (MWSU) 6-3, 6-3
2. Ramos,Camila (ESU) def. Aguilera,Sofia (MWSU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Smith,Taylor (ESU) def. Dysart,Kayla (MWSU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
4. Clark,Kaley (ESU) def. El Ghazi,Yasmine (MWSU) 7-5, 6-4
5. Fugit,Amy (ESU) def. Chiao,Denise (MWSU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Boldridge,Ceara (MWSU) def. Khounsombath,Tiffany (ESU) 6-0, 7-6 (7-4)

Doubles competition
1. Griffey,Tawni/Ramos,Camila (ESU) def. Giraldo,Sarah/El Ghazi,Yasmine (MWSU) 9-8 (7-5)
2. Aguilera,Sofia/Boldridge,Ceara (MWSU) def. Clark,Kaley/Fugit,Amy (ESU) 8-6
3. Chiao,Denise/Dysart,Kayla (MWSU) def. Smith,Taylor/Khounsombath,Tiffany (ESU) 8-4

— MWSU Sports Information —

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Missouri Western senior Tiffany Gillaspy has been named Louisville/Slugger NFCA Division II National Softball Player of the Week for games played between March 16-22.

Gillaspy, a native Johnston, Iowa, batted .529 and slugged 1.059 to help the Griffons win all 10 games last week. The senior infielder was 18-for-34 at the plate with four doubles, four home runs and a triple. She knocked in 15 runs, scored 12 times and did not strikeout in 35 plate appearances.

Gillaspy recorded a hit in nine games, which included three, three-hit outings and a total of six multi-hit contests. She posted a pair of 3-for-4 efforts with a RBI and two runs scored in a doubleheader sweep of Southeastern Oklahoma State. The MIAA Hitter of the Week launched two home runs, knocked in three and scored twice versus Concordia-St. Paul and also went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and two runs against Wayne State College.

Missouri Western will play a doubleheader at home against Lindenwood Friday beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Griffon Spring Sports Complex.

NFCA National Player of the Week
March 25 – Tiffany Gillaspy (Missouri Western)
March 18 – Tiffany Hollingsworth (Humboldt State)
March 11 – Stephanie Mark (Northwest Missouri State)
March 4 – Jayne MacDonald (Cal State East Bay)
Feb. 25 – Ashley Walker (Winona State)
Feb. 18 – Nicole Nobbe (Cal State San Bernardino)

— MWSU Sports Information —

The recent success of the Missouri Western Softball team has vaulted the Griffons into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 poll.

It’s the first time MWSU has appeared in the poll as they enter at No. 17.  Western is now 21-9 and 6-2 in the MIAA as they’ve won 12 consecutive games.

Last week the Griffons picked up wins over Augustana, which moved from 24th last week to 18th this week, and Winona State, which was 14th but fell outside the top 25 this week.

Missouri Western is one of three MIAA teams in the Top 25.  Emporia State stayed at No. 11, while Central Oklahoma dropped three spots into a tie for 19th.

MWSU will look to extend its win streak and remain unbeaten at home when the host Lindenwood on Friday and Lincoln on Saturday in MIAA doubleheaders.

— MWSU Sports Information —