Hot Start for the ’Stangs

May 28 opened the 16th season for the nine-time MINK League champion St. Joseph Mustangs as they hosted the North Missouri Naturals for another opening day in the MINK League. St. Joseph would go on to handle business opening night by a score of 11-0.

Aron Harrington started the game on the mound for St. Joseph and gave the Mustangs four quality innings, allowing five hits and striking out nine in his 2025 season debut. Manager Johnny Coy gave a few different pitchers an inning to showcase their talents. Andrew Clark, Bronco Whitt and Landon Reith are some of the relief pitchers who made their appearance on opening day, all allowing zero runs.

Offensively, the Mustangs heated up as game one progressed and put the nail in the coffin with a four-run bottom of the sixth inning.

Jack Mosh, a junior at the University of Minnesota, gave props to the 4,000-plus fans that came out on opening night in support of the reigning MINK League champions.

“If you don’t want to play in this atmosphere, where else do you want to play?” said Mosh.

Game two of the 2025 season offered a bigger fight for the Mustangs. The Kansas City Monarchs came to town boasting a 13-3 record, but the Mustangs accepted the challenge and came through late in the game to win 6-5.

The Mustangs kicked off Friday with an explosive four-run first inning. Northwest Missouri State’s Parker Griffith, a returner from last year, hit the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning that would lead the Mustangs to their win over the Monarchs.

Sam Pitts got the start for St. Joseph, allowing five runs all by way of the home run. A solo shot in the first inning and a grand slam a few innings later made up all the Monarchs’ offense Friday.

Saturday’s game was similar to opening night. The Nevada Griffons traveled from southern Missouri to clash with the Mustangs. St. Joseph sent the Griffons right back where they came from, controlling the game from the first few innings and completed their perfect homestand to start the season, winning in seven innings 11-1.

Northwest Missouri State Bearcats Jaren Guck and Parker Griffith got the start on the mound and behind the plate, respectively, on NWMSU Night at Phil Welch Stadium. Guck showed out for his school, striking out 10.

Tyler Gundelfinger was a big name at the plate for the Mustangs Saturday. Gundelfinger produced two sacrifice flies and scored once himself, helping lead to the burst of runs that secured the game for St. Joseph.

A perfect start for the Mustangs following a championship season is something every team strives for. Although, when you remember that many players’ focus in this league is to develop into a better baseball player, the success of St. Joseph becomes even more impressive. Someone who has seen that success, Parker Griffith, has claimed confidence in this year’s squad.

“It’s a developmental summer for everyone, but at the same time all nine guys out there want to win,” said Griffith.

St. Joseph is off until Wednesday, June 4, when they will face the Kansas City Monarchs in the start of a four-game homestand.

- Keaton Smith