During the summer of 2015, 12-year-olds Treghan Parker, Cole Gayman and Matt Woodmansee embarked on a baseball journey of a lifetime.
The three friends were key performers as Webb City’s youth baseball team advanced all the way to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
“That was probably the top moment of my life,” Gayman said. “Being one of the few kids that gets to go to that was really great.”
“It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Woodmansee added. “It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.”
It was August of 2015 when Webb City’s little leaguers represented not only the state of Missouri, but also the entire Midwest.
Webb City, coached by Eric Parker, Jason Woodmansee and Tyler Burgess, played in front of 30,000 fans and took the field in front of a national television audience on ESPN.
Webb City dropped its first two games, but defeated Canada to end the event on a positive note. The team, which received the Little League World Series’ sportsmanship award, was welcomed home with a large rally in celebration of their accomplishment.
“It was remarkable and it’s something we’ll always remember,” Treghan Parker said of the whole Little League World Series experience. “Very few kids get to do that, so we feel very fortunate we were able to do that. It was something we’d always hoped to do. When it became a reality, it was just unreal. We made so many memories.”
The three longtime teammates made another memory together on Wednesday at Webb City High School, as the trio made their respective college decisions official with a signing ceremony in front of friends, family and coaches, ensuring their baseball journeys continue.
Now seniors at Webb City, Parker and Gayman signed letters of intent to continue their baseball careers at Missouri Southern, while classmate Woodmansee put pen to paper to play for Labette Community College in Parsons, Kansas.
“These guys have played hundreds of baseball games together and I think it’s a great opportunity for all three of them,” Webb City coach Flave Darnell said. “And I think it’s a great fit for all three of them. Those three guys have been awesome to coach. I want to see them succeed wherever they go. It’s just great to see them get the chance to play at the next level.”
Parker and Gayman have been teammates for as long as they can remember. Now, they’ll be teammates for at least four more years.
“We’ve always been teammates, so it’s going to be great,” Gayman said. “We have that chemistry on the diamond together. It’s going to be fun being teammates in college. We’re going to make our senior season the best one possible, and then hopefully we’ll make the next four years even better.”
Parker noted he and Gayman have been buddies since they were six-years-old.
“We’ve grown up together and we’ve always had a great bond,” Parker said. “We’ve been best friends. So getting to play college baseball together is something we’re looking forward to. It was something we always talked about. We’re looking to do big things there.”
The 5-11, 180-pound Parker is an infielder projected to play second base at the next level, while the 5-11, 185-pound Gayman is a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher. The two will conclude their prep baseball careers this spring for Flave Darnell. They’ll play at MSSU for Bryce Darnell.
“I loved everything about Missouri Southern,” Gayman said. “I really liked the coaches, I like the campus and I’ve always wanted to go to Southern. Growing up, I’ve always wanted to play college baseball. I’ve always wanted to play as long as I could.”
“I went on a visit and I loved the atmosphere there,” Parker said. “Cole texted me after his visit and said he was ready to play there. I was thrilled. I was ready too. It was a done deal after my visit. It’s relieving to sign and know where I’m going to be next year.”
“I’ve always known they have a great program,” Parker added. “I’m appreciative and honored that I can go and play at the next level. It’s been my dream to play college baseball, so I’m excited.”
Parker was a first-team all-Central Ozark Conference performer in 2019 after hitting .420, while Gayman earned second-team all-conference honors as a sophomore after going 7-2 with a 2.33 ERA on the mound.
A 5-10, 170-pound outfielder who will look to play a key role as a senior, Woodmansee said Labette Community College offered everything he was looking for.
“I really liked the environment there and I think it fit me the best,” Woodmansee said, noting he’d also considered College of the Ozarks. “I just think Labette was the best fit for me. It felt great to sign. It feels like my hard work paid off.”
Of course, there was no high school baseball season last spring. With that, this year’s seniors are holding out hope they get a baseball season in 2021.
“We were ready to do big things last year, so for it to be taken away from us was devastating,” Parker said. “This year, we’re going to work harder than ever.”
Doing big things is nothing new for the trio. It’s safe to say the summer of 2015 has forever linked the baseball players of Webb City’s Class of 2021.
And when their senior season arrives, the longtime teammates will have the chance to produce many more memorable moments together.
“I can’t wait,” Gayman said. “It’s going to be fun.”
