Baker soccer team clinches outright title

Lamoni, Iowa Baker University’s soccer team clinched the outright Heart of America Conference title by blanking Graceland, 1-0, on Monday.

Mark Robertson scored off an assist from Sean Hughes for the Wildcats, 12-3-3 overall and 8-0-1 in the conference. Graceland fell to 8-9.

The Wildcats, ranked 20th in the country, finished ahead of No. 4-ranked Lindenwood.

“One of our goals was to go undefeated and win our conference and we accomplished that. It’s difficult to win the conference with the No. 4 team in the country in our league,” said seventh-year coach Ron Pulvers, who has led the Wildcats to four league crowns.

“It was a great effort by our team. They’ve battled through some difficult times. It was cold and rainy and we persevered and battled through difficult conditions again. It’s the fourth time we played in conditions like today and persevered every time.”

Baker will play host to a Midwest Regional semifinal game at 1 p.m. Nov. 13, against a yet-to-be determined opponent.

South completes undefeated season

Olathe The South Junior High ninth grade football team capped another undefeated season by hammering Olathe Chisholm Trail 52-3 on Monday.

Kristian Pope scored five touchdowns, on runs of 30, 22, 5, 7 and 10 yards. South also got touchdowns runs from Nolan Kellerman and Kameron Demby.

This group of South ninth-graders, 8-0 this season, never lost a game in junior high, including a win against Kansas City powerhouse Rockhurst earlier this season.