NEOSHO, Mo. — On a day where runs were at a premium, Webb City rallied late to earn a 4-1 victory over Neosho in the Central Ozark Conference opener on Thursday at Roy B. Shaver Field.
Webb City improved to 7-5 overall and 1-0 in the COC after snapping Neosho’s seven-game winning streak.
The Wildcats are now 8-2 overall and 0-1 in the COC.
The conference opener was a classic pitcher’s duel between Neosho’s Kael Smith and Webb City’s Landon Fletcher.
A sophomore right-hander, Fletcher earned the win after striking out 10 and limiting the Wildcats to three hits and two walks. He only threw 81 pitches.
A senior right-hander who no-hit Webb City last season, Smith took the loss but only allowed four runs. He scattered 11 hits and struck out two on 89 pitches.
Neither team made an error in the field.
The Wildcats manufactured a run in the second inning without a hit. Wyatt Shadwick walked, stole second and later scored from third on a dropped third strike.
The Cardinals tied it up in the fourth. Shaun Hunt singled to left, with Eli Miller pinch-running. Miller took second on a wild pitch, went to third on Drew Vonder Haar’s ground out and scored on Kenley Hood’s grounder to short.
Webb City scored the go-ahead run in the sixth.
Kaylor Darnell singled to center and went to second on a wild pitch. After an out, Vonder Haar lined a run-scoring single into right-center to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
The Cardinals added two key insurance runs in the top of the seventh.
Cy Darnell reached on a fielder’s choice before Kaylor Darnell singled to put runners on the corners. With two outs, Shaun Hunt ripped an RBI single into left for a two-run cushion.
Next, Vonder Haar singled to load the bases before Hood drove in a run with a fielder’s choice.
Fletcher gave up a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh before the Cardinals recorded the final three outs, with a nifty play at shortstop by Cy Darnell key to retiring the side without any damage.
Three players recorded two hits apiece for the Cardinals — Kaylor Darnell, Hunt and Vonder Haar. Gage Chapman had the game’s lone extra-base hit, a double.
Neosho’s three hits, all singles, were recorded by Shadwick, Carter Fenske and Colton Southern.
Webb City hosts Glendale at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Neosho meets Miami (Oklahoma) at 10 a.m. and Carthage at noon at the Mickey Mantle Classic. Both games will be played at Miami High School.
