NEOSHO, Mo. — Third-seeded Neosho and sixth-seeded Pembroke Hill traded crooked numbers throughout the middle innings with the Wildcats holding off the Raiders late for a 7-6 opening-round win in Class 5 District 7 action on Saturday at the friendly confines of Roy B. Shaver Field.
Neosho (12-15) took control with a 5-1 lead through two innings before Pembroke Hill scored three times in the third and two more runs in the top of the fourth for a 6-5 advantage. The Wildcats responded in turn with a three-run bottom of the fourth inning to jump back in front 8-6. The Raiders pushed across a run in the sixth, only for NHS to match the single tally in the bottom half on the way to the win.
“A win at this time of the year is a win,” Neosho coach Bo Helsel said. “Our boys battled. We have been in close games all year long but we haven’t been coming out on top. That grind that we put in throughout the season shows we have the mentality to stay in the game. … We are going to get better and will be ready for our next game.”
Neosho, which won its first district game since 2017, plays second-seeded Webb City in the district semifinals on Monday.
“It is the first time in the eight years I have been here that we have hosted districts,” Helsel said. “This is the first postseason game we’ve got to play in front of our fans and they showed up and were loud.”
Kael Smith started and took a no-decision after allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits, three walks and a strikeout in 2 1/3 innings. Carson Williams earned the win in relief after allowing one run on four hits in 3 1/3 innings. Austin Rodriguez allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings.
Eli Sitzer took the loss in relief after allowing four runs on four hits, three walks and four strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings.
The Raiders took the lead for the first time in the top of the fourth on back to back RBI doubles from Phillip McMillin and Spencer Hendren to make the score 6-5.
Eli Zar tied the game back up for Neosho in the bottom half with an RBI single to right. Wyatt Shadwick followed with an RBI triple to center field to give the Wildcats the lead for the final time, 7-6. Quenton Hughes wrapped the scoring in the frame with a single to center to play Shadwick and push the lead to 8-6.
“I think having a bunch of juniors and a couple of seniors playing goes a long way,” Helsel said. “Guys kept stepping up and hitting the ball hard all over the park. That was impressive for us to do that.”
Zar had a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate, which included a home run, and finished with five RBI and one run scored. Shadwick had two hits, an RBI and scored a run. River Brill had two hits, including a double, scored three times and drove in one.
