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FINAL FOUR BOUND: Webb City advances to state semifinals with nail-biting win

By:
Jason Peake

WEBB CITY, Mo. — The Webb City Cardinals are Final Four bound for the first time in 13 years.

Drew Vonder Haar scored the go-ahead run in dramatic fashion and Walker Sweet maneuvered out of trouble on the mound in the sixth and seventh innings, propelling Webb City to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Kearney in a Class 5 quarterfinal on Saturday in front of a large crowd at Chuck Barnes Field.

Webb City coach Andrew Doennig noted it was rewarding to watch his team get over the hump and advance to the Final Four.

“It’s been 13 years since Webb City has been in the Final Four,” Doennig said. “We’ve played in this game six times since I’ve been at Webb City and we’d never won it. We told the kids this was their chance and their opportunity and they did it. It was just a great job by these kids, up and down the lineup. And the kids in the dugout did a great job, too.”

Webb City (22-13) will meet St. Francis Borgia (24-5) in a semifinal contest of the state tourney at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 2 at Sky Bacon Stadium in Ozark. 

A senior right-hander, Sweet struck out the final three batters of the game after the Bulldogs put the tying run on base in the seventh inning.

“It’s a great feeling and this is a great team win,” Sweet said. “They were a tough team, but we kept battling. We stayed composed in tough situations and that’s what led us to victory today.”

Webb City senior Walker Sweet celebrates after recording the final out of the game, preserving a 3-2 win over Kearney on Saturday in a Class 5 quarterfinal at Barnes Field. Photo by Jessica Greninger.

GAME RECAP: ANOTHER NAIL-BITER 

Kearney (24-10) entered the game ranked fifth in Class 5 by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association. Unranked Webb City defeated Kearney 8-5 on April 29.

Webb City senior Kaylor Darnell started on the mound against Kearney on Saturday in the Class 5 quarterfinal at Barnes Field. Photo by Jessica Greninger.

The rematch was a nail-biter, as the final home date was a memorable one.

The contest was scoreless until the top of the fourth. 

The visitors on the scoreboard, Webb City pushed across a single tally in the top of the fourth.

A junior third baseman, Vonder Haar doubled down the left field line to get things started.

Vonder Haar went to third on junior designated hitter Christian Brock’s ground out and then charged home on senior first baseman Kenley Hood’s RBI single to right.

Kearney answered with two runs in the bottom half against Webb City senior right-hander Kaylor Darnell.

Jackson Melberg walked, stole second, went to third on Manny Lithacum’s infield hit and then came home on Chase Porter’s sac fly. Next, Kale Conway lined an RBI single into left for a 2-1 lead.

The Cardinals tied the game in the fifth.

Senior left fielder William Hayes doubled to left, senior center fielder Gage Chapman was hit by a pitch and junior second baseman Sam Weller reached on an error to load the bases with no outs.

Senior shortstop Cy Darnell grounded into a double play, with Hayes scoring the tying run on the play.

The Cardinals went ahead for good in the sixth.

Vonder Haar singled, went to second on Landon Johnson’s sac bunt and then took third on Hood’s ground out.

With Kaylor Darnell at the plate, Vonder Haar ventured off third base, drawing a throw from Kearney catcher Helberg.

Vonder Haar sprinted towards the plate and beat the throw home, allowing the Cardinals to take a 3-2 lead in exciting fashion. 

“We knew their catcher kind of struggled to throw the ball back to the pitcher, so as soon as it left his hand, I was going to go,” Vonder Haar said. “I didn’t quite see the ball leave his hand, so it was a little dramatic. It worked out nonetheless.”

“That was some great advanced scouting and a little bit of luck and just a really good play for us,” Doennig said. “Drew did what he was told to do. It worked out.”

Down one, the Bulldogs threatened in both the sixth and seventh innings.

A senior right-hander, Sweet took over on the mound in the sixth. He walked the first batter he faced, induced a ground out, but then hit a batter and walked another to load the bases with one out.

But the Missouri Southern recruit regrouped and struck out both Carson Shear and Casey Rooney to end the threat in the sixth.

“I had to get back to the basics and not let the moment get too big,” Sweet said. “I just went back to the basics and that allowed me to get those big strikeouts.” 

In the bottom of the seventh, Sweet walked Cameron Webster, who stole second to put the tying run in scoring position with nobody out.

But Sweet came through in the clutch. With the season on the line, Sweet struck out three straight batters to end the game, setting off a celebration for the hosts.

“If Walker’s in the strike zone, he’s got a chance to get anybody out,” Doennig said. “When I went out to the mound, I told him all the pressure was on those guys…they’re the ones that have to score. I told him all I needed him to do was put the ball in the strike zone. He’s got great stuff. It was a great job by him.”

Webb City’s Drew Vonder Haar slid in safely on a play at the plate in the sixth inning, scoring the go-ahead run in an eventual 3-2 win over the Kearney Bulldogs. Photos by Jessica Greninger.

NAMES & NUMBERS

Kaylor Darnell was the winning pitcher. He went five innings and limited the Bulldogs to two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out four.

Sweet earned the save, striking out five in two frames.

The Cardinals had five hits, two by Vonder Haar. Weller, Hood and Hayes had one hit apiece.

The Webb City defense turned a pair of key double plays.

Kearney’s Linthacum took the loss after allowing one run in three innings in relief of Elijah Helberg, who gave up two runs on four hits in four frames.

“That’s a really good baseball team that we just beat,” Doennig said of Kearney. “That’s a good win for us over a good team. I told the kids that’s why we played a touch schedule this year. Those games prepared us for today’s game.”

 

FINAL FOUR BOUND 

Webb City last advanced to the semifinals in 2010. The Cardinals finished second that year.

Borgia beat Glendale 2-0 in the quarterfinal round to earn a date with Webb City. The other semifinal features Festus (25-8) vs. Fort Zumwalt South (27-6-1).

The Cardinals, who captured a second straight district title and the program’s seventh district crown since 2011, are now guaranteed to have two more games this season.

They’ll end the season in a state title game or in the third-place game on Saturday, June 3. 

“It’s awesome,” Vonder Haar said of advancing to the semifinals. “We haven’t been there in a long time. These guys…we’re all best friends, so it’s awesome to make it this far with them. It’s great for the seniors. They’re a great group of guys. We really wanted it for them. Now we’re ready for the next step.” 

 

FULL STATS: Webb City HS (webbcitycardinals.com)

 

The Webb City Cardinals celebrate after beating the Kearney Bulldogs 3-2 in a Class 5 quarterfinal on Saturday. The win advances the Cardinals the Final Four in Ozark.

 

The Webb City Cardinals hosted the Kearney Bulldogs in a Class 5 quarterfinal contest on Saturday in front of a large crowd at Chuck Barnes Field. Webb City won the game 3-2 to advance to the semifinals on Friday in Ozark.

 

Webb City senior Walker Sweet delivers a pitch to the plate late in Saturday’s Class 5 quarterfinal contest against Kearney. Sweet earned the save, striking out the final three batters of the game. Photos by Jessica Greninger/SoMo Sports.

 

William Hayes slides safely into second base after a double against Kearney on Saturday.

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