Morning clouds and light rain gave way to sunny but very windy conditions for the start of the 2026 Rock River League season in Neosho.

I tried flying my drone to get an aerial view of the field and game in progress, but the wind proved too much for my lightweight drone. It struggled at five feet, so I didn’t bother putting it up any further for fear that I would have to chase after it.

Johnson Creek scored three runs in the top of the first and plated another in the top of the second. Neosho cut the score in half in the bottom of the 3rd. Creek scored two more in the 4th after a double, hit-by-pitch, and a pair of singles. In the 6th each team score a single run. Johnson Creek scored on a homer to right and Neosho scored on a double over the head of the left fielder following a leadoff walk. JC finished the scoring in the top of the 7th. An error, pair of walks and a pair of singles – not in that order – resulted in 3 more runs to make it 10-4. And that is how the game finished.

Johnson Creek’s pitching battery consisted of Eddie Eveland (4), Dugg Hartwig, and Bo Hartwig. There are a number of photos of Eddy and Bo. Their deliveries are fluid and nice to photograph. I’ve only shown a few of what I took. Dugg’s time on the mound was brief. Fortunately, I have some photos of him pitching against Helenville the week before.

Neosho countered with four pitchers: Matt Sutter (3), Grey Johnson (3), Tucker Crabtree (1), and Austin Geller (2). Geller offered a bright spot by holding the visitors scoreless and recording 6 strikeouts.

I think the cooler morning and stiff wind kept the crowd pretty small, but it was not a surprise for an early season game. A few in the crowd and concessions staff were pleasant to converse with.

Speaking of concessions, the grilled brat was great. After grilling, the brats are soaked in a warm broth. Hmmmm. I was told the burgers are pretty good too. Brat and soda – $4.

The Neosho team looks different from last year. The Neosho coach told me they lost 11 players. That’s a lot of change to absorb and not be impacted. I was aware a few relocated, and at least one of their pitchers has an injured “wing”.

As for Johnson Creek, i don’t know too much about them. They look like a pretty young team. Pitcher, Eddie Eveland pitched last year for the Dairyland Collegiate League’s Johnson Creek Mapaches. The left fielder who stroked the homerun has a nice swing, and it sure looked like the first basemen (#6) is very familiar with his position.

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