WEBB CITY, Mo. — Webb City stranded the tying run at third base and the go-ahead run at second in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Willard held on late to earn a 5-4 victory over the Cardinals on Monday in a Central Ozark Conference clash between the top-ranked teams in Class 5 at Chuck Barnes Field.
The Cardinals made things interesting in the final frame, but in the end, Willard’s five-run fifth inning proved to be the difference.
“Some things didn’t go our way and the ball didn’t bounce the way we wanted it to and that’s unfortunate,” Webb City coach Flave Darnell said. “They’re a good team and we’re right there with them. We hope we get to play them again down the road. But there’s a lot of baseball to play. We have to find a way to get better.”
Willard and Webb City are ranked first and second, respectively, in Class 5 by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association.
Webb City fell to 13-3 overall and 2-2 in the COC, while Willard improved to 14-6 and 3-1 in conference play.
The Cardinals wasted little time in taking the lead, as the hosts pushed across two runs in the first inning.
Devrin Weathers singled on the first pitch of the game, stole second, went to third on Treghan Parker’s flyout and then sprinted home on a wild pitch.
Shane Noel walked and later scored on Matt Woodmansee’s RBI single into left.
The Cardinals turned double plays in three straight innings to keep their early advantage.
“We played great defense in those first four innings,” Darnell said.
But the Tigers rallied for five runs on four hits and an error in the fifth against Webb City starting pitcher Cole Gayman.
Cooper Hampton was hit by a pitch to start the inning, while Klayton Kiser followed with a single. After an out, Elliott Friend singled to center and the Cardinals committed a miscue in the outfield, allowing Willard to tie the game.
Later in the inning, Kyle Beeman lifted a sac fly to right, giving the Tigers the lead. Another run scored from third on a wild pitch.
A walk and another hit by pitch made it 5-2.
“We’re having a hard time right now overcoming mistakes,” Darnell said. “We’re having a hard time with big innings…an error here, a hit batter there and a walk here and there. We just couldn’t overcome it today.”
Down three runs and down to their final three outs, the Cardinals rallied in the bottom of the seventh.
With two outs, Weathers singled to right and then Parker was hit by a pitch before Noel walked.
Woodmansee then drew a bases-loaded walk, trimming Webb City’s deficit to 5-3.
Parker scored from third on a wild pitch, cutting the hosts’ deficit to a single tally.
With runners at second and third, Willard relief pitcher Jared Miles struck out Gayman to end the game.
Willard left-hander Dalen Stewart was the winning pitcher. A Jefferson College recruit, Stewart allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out seven in six innings.
“We battled and stayed in it,” Darnell said. “But you have to tip your hat to their pitcher. For us to come out and get two in the first and get his pitch count up, we thought we could maybe chase him earlier. But he’s a good pitcher and we weren’t able to do that. He beared down. He’s got a good breaking ball and a good fastball. He was aggressive in the zone and kept us off-balance. We didn’t really threaten much until that seventh inning.”
Kiser took over in the seventh and got the first two outs before getting into trouble. Jared Miles recorded the final out to earn the save.
A senior right-hander, Gayman was charged with the loss. He surrendered five runs on seven hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Eli Goddard went the final 2 1/3 innings, striking out three while keeping the Tigers off the scoreboard.
Weathers had three of Webb City’s six hits. Friend and Kiser had two hits apiece for Willard.
Webb City hosts Branson at 4:30 on Thursday.
