WILLARD, Mo. — With a share of the conference championship on the line, Willard defeated Webb City 3-2 on Thursday afternoon.
Willard and Republic finished as COC co-champs after going 8-1 in conference play.
Webb City and Nixa finished 7-2 in COC play.
Ranked second in Class 5 by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association, Willard improved to 22-8 overall after an 11th straight win.
Webb City fell to 16-10 overall.
As expected, the game was a good one.
The Tigers pushed across a single tally in the bottom of the third inning after Owen Bushnell doubled to left before Klayton Kiser delivered an RBI single into right.
Webb City junior Christian Brock launched a game-tying home run over the fence in left field in the top of the fifth inning.
The game wasn’t deadlocked for long.
The Tigers re-took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Kiser homered to right-center to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage.
The Cardinals tied it up in the sixth when Kenley Hood was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The visitors were unable to do further damage in the frame, however, as they stranded the bases loaded. And that proved key.
Willard went back ahead in the bottom of the sixth on Cameron Jennings’ RBI single into right.
The Cardinals threatened in the seventh, as Gage Chapman reached on an error and Cy Darnell singled with two outs. But the Tigers retired the side to secure the win.
Webb City was limited to three hits, singles by Shaun Hunt and Cy Darnell and Brock’s homer.
Drew Vonder Haar started on the mound for the Cardinals. He went five innings and allowed two runs on five hits.
Gage Chapman and Walker Sweet pitched in relief. Chapman allowed a run on two hits in the sixth. Sweet recorded the final two outs of the sixth.
Willard left-hander Hayden Larson was the winning pitcher. He tossed 1 2/3 innings in relief. Larson allowed one hit and struck out two.
Willard southpaw Chris Massey started and went 5 1/3 innings. He allowed two hits while striking out nine.
Webb City has a pair of non-conference games in Arkansas on Saturday, as the Cardinals take on Springdale Har-Ber at noon and Fayetteville at 3 p.m.
