WEBB CITY, Mo. — The top-ranked and ninth-ranked high school baseball teams in Class 5 battled right down to the final pitch on Saturday afternoon at Chuck Barnes Field.
Glendale senior D.J. Cofield’s two-out RBI double in the seventh gave the visiting and top-ranked Falcons a 5-4 lead and the host and ninth-ranked Cardinals left their 13th, 14th, and 15th runners behind in the home seventh during a 5-4 win for Glendale.
Webb City left behind three runners in the first, two in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth, two in the fifth, and one in the sixth. The Cardinals collected 11 hits, worked seven walks, reached on three errors, and Drew Vonder Haar also reached on a hit by pitch.
By comparison, Glendale only left behind four runners and the Falcons plated two in the first and one in the second, fifth, and seventh innings, while Webb City scored single runs in the first and second and the fourth and fifth.
“We didn’t start the game real well, but we battled back in the bottom of the first and we got a big run,” Webb City coach Andrew Doennig said. “We kept pecking away and pecking away, and we ended up with 11 hits, but we couldn’t come up with that big inning. We left the bases loaded twice, hit a ball right at a guy, and couple other times had guys in scoring position, but couldn’t come up with one big hit we needed.”
Very early on Saturday, it did not look too promising for the home team.
Glendale shortstop Brooks Kettering hit a home run to lead off the game and Webb City starter Walker Sweet failed to make it out of the first inning.
Sweet finished with two runs allowed (both earned) on one hit and he walked three and struck out one for his only out; Sweet hit 40 pitches overall against only five batters since he reached full count on every batter.
Vonder Haar ended up taking the loss, but he tossed five strong innings for the Cardinals. He allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits and he struck out three and walked none. Vonder Haar totaled 53 pitches in his five innings, while Sweet and Payton Marshall combined for 66 pitches in two innings.
“Drew’s got good stuff when he’s in the strike zone and he lets it work,” Doennig said. “Guys don’t barrel him up real well. It’s good to get him some innings and to see him come in and pitch well. He’s going to help us out later in the year.”
Webb City seniors Cy Darnell and Kaylor Darnell combined for six of the Cardinals’ 11 hits with three each.
Cy Darnell singled in the first, both singled in the third, Cy Darnell tripled in the fourth, Cy Darnell worked a walk and Kaylor Darnell singled in the fifth, and Cy Darnell reached on an error and Kaylor Darnell singled in the seventh.
Cy Darnell scored two runs, as did junior designated hitter Brett Korth, and Kaylor Darnell drove in two runs while Shaun Hunt and Vonder Haar each picked up RBI. Hunt, Vonder Haar, Kenley Hood, Sam Weller, and Korth each had one of the Cardinals’ other five hits.
Despite committing three errors, the Falcons helped themselves defensively by turning inning-ending double plays in the third and sixth.
Kettering and Cofield each sparked Glendale (11-1 overall) with two hits and two RBI.
The first two innings lasted more than a hour, while the last five innings totaled about 1 hour and 15 minutes with relievers Vonder Haar and Glendale’s Sebastian Norman and Spencer Pottebaum finding more of a groove than starters Sweet and Glendale’s Kellen Lindstrom.
Rivals has Lindstrom, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound junior weak side defensive end, rated at four stars and ranked 133rd overall in the Class of 2024 and powerhouse college football programs interested in his services include Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee, USC, and Wisconsin.
Webb City legend and former college and NFL standout Grant Wistrom, an assistant coach at Glendale, coaches Lindstrom.
Webb City baseball dropped to 7-6 overall this season and the Cardinals return to Central Ozark Conference play Tuesday at home against Branson.
Webb City defeated Neosho 4-1 in Thursday’s conference opener.
“That’s why we schedule people like that,” Doennig said. “Glendale is obviously a great team, they’re well-coached and they have good players. I know they’re the exact same way. It gets you ready for the postseason. Class 5 No. 1 team, you have them on the ropes, I’m not into moral victories but I feel a little better about it.”
FULL STATS: Webb City HS (webbcitycardinals.com)
