'Stangs Win It All

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. —

There is no lack of tradition at the historic Phil Welch Stadium in St. Joseph, Missouri, which has stood since 1939. From the Baseball Hall of Fame greats that have played there to the extreme lawn care precautions from the experienced Stan Weston, traditions have thrived at Phil Welch, but the Mustangs in recent years have made a tradition of their own.

Saturday, July 26, made way for the 10th MINK League championship trophy to be hoisted by St. Joseph since just 2011. Had the Jefferson City Renegades not taken the league title in 2023, St. Joseph could have potentially looked at five straight championships from 2021–2025. That just shows the dominant expectations the Mustangs have set for themselves that they keep finding ways to meet.

Although expectations were met this season, the challenge of getting to the MINK League championship was not to be overlooked. The Nevada Griffons came to town searching for an upset of the highest-seeded Mustangs. In a win-or-go-home divisional round playoff match at Phil Welch, the Griffons gave the Mustangs all they could handle before St. Joseph finally found a walk-off win in the 13th frame.

Ashton Nance began the game for St. Joseph and dominated through seven innings. Nance allowed just one walk and two hits while striking out five in his playoff start, which was a performance impressive enough to earn player of the game honors. Frank Gall brought home the first run of the game after his single to left in the bottom of the seventh that brought home Easton Phillippe. Nevada managed to tie the game with two down in the top of the ninth inning after a long single to center that sent the game to extras. It wasn’t until back-to-back team MVP Darius Freeman stepped up to the plate that someone took initiative. As Logan Miller stood at third with two outs, Freeman sent a chopper toward the first base side that he was just able to beat out in time, sending St. Joseph to another title match.

The next and final challenge that stood in front of St. Joseph was none other than the second overall seeded Clarinda A’s. The Mustangs took four of six games against Clarinda throughout the 2025 regular season and would need two more for another league title.

Game one of this best-of-three series was on the road for the Mustangs as they traveled up to Clarinda, Iowa, to open the series. Cade Perkins started the championship series for St. Joseph and received enough run support to work through the first seven innings of the game. The Mustangs' offense erupted for four runs in the first inning after a three-run double from Jack Mosh and held a 9-1 lead after five. In the sixth and seventh innings, Clarinda was able to score five runs, slicing the lead to four, but the Mustangs slammed the door in the final frames and took game one 10-6.

Game two was played at Phil Welch, where the Mustangs had only lost two games throughout the regular season all year. With a chance to close the series and win their 10th MINK League title, manager Johnny Coy threw his pitcher of the year, Jaren Guck, on the mound, and Guck didn’t disappoint. Guck threw all seven innings of the game, allowing just three hits, one walk and striking out eight. He was supported by his dominant offense that once again put up double-digit runs quickly enough to force a run-rule finish. St. Joseph threw seven runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth with help from a pair of singles by Dom Felix and Jack Mosh and a couple of errors by Clarinda. It was all over in seven innings, and the Mustangs claimed another MINK League championship. Jack Mosh was appointed MVP of the playoffs for the Mustangs as the second baseman racked up five hits and four RBIs in the two games against Clarinda.

This series puts a bow on the 2025 MINK League season and the Mustangs’ 2025 showcase. St. Joseph has put an emphasis on winning in recent years and will have an opportunity in 2026 to repeat as champions three times in a row and continue their latest tradition.