ANDERSON, Mo. — Levi Helm came through in the clutch for the McDonald County Mustangs.
Helm delivered a game-winning two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift McDonald County to a 2-1 win over Webb City on Tuesday in a non-conference prep baseball clash between state-ranked district opponents.
Webb City (6-5) entered the day ranked sixth in Class 5, with McDonald County (7-3) ranked eighth.
In a game that featured just five combined hits, the Mustangs trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning.
Webb City’s Walker Sweet struck out the first two batters of the frame before Cole Martin was hit by a pitch and Weston Gordon doubled to left, putting runners on second and third.
A senior, Helm smacked a 1-1 pitch into center field, allowing the tying and winning runs to score.
Helm was also the winning pitcher. He went the distance, limiting the Cardinals to one run on two hits while striking out four.
Isaac Behm, Gordon and Helm had the lone hits for the Mustangs, while Eric Fitch and William Hayes had Webb City’s hits.
Sweet took the loss for Webb City after giving up two runs on three hits while striking out four in 2 1/3 innings.
Webb City starting pitcher Cooper Crouch didn’t allow a hit in 4 1/3 innings. Crouch walked four, hit one and struck out five. He left after consecutive free passes in the bottom of the fifth.
After the Mustangs stranded two in scoring position in the bottom of the third, the Cardinals got on the board in the top of the fourth.
Fitch singled to left to start things off before Cy Darnell reached on an error. After Jeremiah Leaming moved the runners over, Kenley Hood’s RBI groundout gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
The Mustangs loaded the bases with one out in the fifth after Fisher Sanny and Colton Ruddick walked and Martin was hit by a pitch.
Sweet struck out Gordon and then induced an inning-ending pop out off the bat of Helm to end the threat.
The Cardinals got the leadoff man on in the sixth, as Hayes singled. But he was picked off first base.
The hosts had two on and one out in the sixth, but the Mustangs failed to score.
The visitors went down in order in the top of the seventh before the Mustangs rallied.
Webb City is at Joplin on Thursday, while McDonald County hosts Jay (Okla.) on Thursday.
