WEBB CITY, Mo. — A late rally fell just short for the Webb City Cardinals.
In the season opener of the 2022 prep baseball season, Logan-Rogersville bent but never broke in the game’s final inning, and the Wildcats left town with a 7-6 win over the Cardinals on Saturday afternoon at Chuck Barnes Field.
Trailing by three entering the bottom of the seventh, Webb City pushed across two runs in the final frame to make things interesting, but the hosts stranded the potential tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position.
“We had our chances,” Cardinals coach Flave Darnell said. “We had guys at third with less than two outs a couple of times and just didn’t get it done. That’s the way it goes. You have to tip your hat to them (Rogersville). It’s just the first game, but you take the good and the bad from it. We’ve got to be a little bit better in a few areas. I think if we can do that, we’re going to be a good team.”
The Wildcats held a 7-1 lead after the top of the fifth inning.
“They got some timely hits early in the game and they were able to do some damage,” Darnell said. “It’s hard to come back from 7-1. We could not get the bats going early.”
The Wildcats pushed across a single tally in the top of the first by taking advantage of two Webb City miscues in the field.
The Cardinals tied it up in the bottom half. With two outs, Kaylor Darnell and Aidan Brock both walked before Kenley Hood delivered an RBI single into left field, allowing Darnell to score.
The Wildcats took a 3-1 lead in the second on run-scoring singles from Brady Buckman and Logan Taylor. One inning later, Rogersville extended its lead to three after back-to-back doubles from Hunter Lewis and Noah Carrow.
The Wildcats plated three more runs on four hits in the fifth to go up 7-1. And after the top of the fifth, the Wildcats had out-hit the Cardinals 10-1.
Webb City finally generated some offense in the bottom of the fifth. McQuade Eilenstein doubled to left-center before pinch runner Kolton Eilenstein scored on Cade Wilson’s RBI single into left.
After Eric Fitch walked, Kaylor Darnell followed with a run-scoring single into right, cutting Webb City’s deficit to 7-3.
The Cardinals added a run in the sixth on Wilson’s fielder’s choice, with Evan Freeman scoring.
Webb City rallied in the bottom of the seventh.
Brock reached on an error, Hood walked and Cy Darnell delivered an RBI single to left.
Gavin Stowell followed with a single before Hood charged home on a wild pitch. That trimmed Webb City’s deficit to one, and also put Cy Darnell on third and Stowell on second with no outs.
But Rogersville’s Ross Lawrence struck out both Brantley Carter and William Hayes and then induced a game-ending fly ball off the bat of Wilson to end the game.
The Wildcats recorded 11 hits. Taylor, Lewis, Carrow and Lawrence contributed two hits apiece for Rogersville (1-0).
Ten Cardinals had one hit apiece. Eight of the 10 hits came in the final three frames of the game.
“We were able to execute a couple of bunts for base hits that sparked our offense and we had a couple of guys, McQuade Eilenstein and Jeremiah Leaming, that did a good job off the bench and sparked us,” Coach Darnell said.
A senior who bats in the leadoff spot, Wilson drove in two runs.
Senior right-hander Cooper Crouch started on the mound for the Cardinals. Crouch went 2 1/3 innings and allowed three earned runs on six hits while striking out three.
Walker Sweet went 2 2/3 and gave up three runs on four hits while fanning three, while Kaylor Darnell tossed two scoreless innings, striking out three.
“Our three pitchers struck out nine and only walked two today, so that was awesome to see,” Coach Darnell said.
Rogersville’s Blythe Blakey was the winning pitcher. He limited the Cardinals to one run on one hit while striking out seven in four innings. Lawrence surrendered four earned runs on eight hits in three innings of relief.
The Cardinals were originally scheduled to open the season on Friday night, but the game with Verdigris (Okla.) was canceled due to the weather.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Webb City (0-1) is scheduled to host Branson on Tuesday, with first pitch set for 4:30 p.m.
