The First Step in 2026 MINK League Playoffs: Jbirds vs Naturals 7/27/2026

The Jailbirds played in the first round of the MINK playoffs against the North Missouri Nattys and ran away to a 20-3 win. That result is tied for the biggest win in a MINK game this year.

The Jailbirds will play in the semi finals against the Carroll Merchants July 28th.

Joplin got out to a 7-0 lead in the first and never looked back. They then scored 5 in the 2nd and then 8 runs across the 4th, 5th, and 6th.

Every single Jailbird got a hit and scored a run. There were 5 home runs, with 2 coming from Eric Willaims Jr. The Birds were walked (5) more times than struck out (4). The pitching crew struck out 12 batters, walked 0 batters, and allowed only 7 hits.

Cross Dowd picked up his fourth win moving to 4-0.

Eric Williams Jr was the MAPP Technologies Jailbird of the Game he went 3 for 5, had 2 home runs, had 5 RBIs, and scored 3 runs.

Article by Austin Dye

Photo by Josh Franklin Photography