WEBB CITY, Mo. — Aidan Brock’s three-run home run highlighted a five-run third inning and top-seeded Webb City earned a 7-2 victory over eighth-seeded Parkview on Tuesday in a quarterfinal contest of the MSHSAA Class 5 District 6 baseball tournament at Barnes Field.
“That five-run inning was obviously huge,” Webb City coach Flave Darnell said. “Survive and advance. That’s what’s it all about at this time of the year.”
Ranked second in Class 5 by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association, Webb City hiked its record to 25-5.
The Cardinals are taking an 11-game winning streak into the district semifinals, where they’ll host fourth-seeded McDonald County (15-13) at 5 on Wednesday, weather permitting.
The Cardinals were clinging to a 2-0 advantage when they erupted for five runs in the game-changing third inning.
Devrin Weathers got things started with a double down the right field line. After an out, Shane Noel smacked an RBI triple to center and Matt Woodmansee followed with a run-scoring single into left-center.
The hosts were far from done.
After Cole Gayman singled to left, Brock connected with a fastball for a three-run bomb over the fence in left. The junior designated hitter’s blast gave his team a comfortable seven-run cushion.
“Aidan really came through,” Darnell said. “He’s just a good hitter. He’s been solid for us at the DH spot all year long. It was good to see him do some damage with a fastball that was up and in.”
Parkview got on the board in the fourth on Zane Englind’s RBI double.
The Vikings added a single tally in the seventh when Hunter Meek singled and later scored on Delton Orcutt’s RBI groundout.
Webb City took an early lead by plating two runs in the bottom of the first.
Treghan Parker walked and stole second before Noel singled up the middle. Parker sprinted home on Woodmansee’s infield single and Gayman made it 2-0 with a run-scoring single to center.
A senior right-hander, Noel was the winning pitcher. The Crowder College recruit went six innings, scattering five hits while striking out six and allowing just one earned run.
“I thought Shane got better as the game went on,” Darnell said. “He did a good job for us.”
Noah Mitchell recorded the final three outs, giving up one run.
Noel, Woodmansee and Gayman had two hits apiece for the Cardinals.
Parkview senior right-hander Trenton Viviano took the loss. He surrendered seven earned runs on nine hits and struck out five.
“Their pitcher was tough to get to,” Darnell noted. “I thought he did a good job.”
The Vikings end the season at 4-24.
McDonald County defeated West Plains 10-4.
Webb City defeated McDonald County 10-2 on April 5. The rematch will determine who advances to Saturday’s district championship game.
“We feel good going forward because we have a lot of arms fresh,” Darnell said. “And Shane stayed under his pitch count today, too. We feel good about our pitching. But you have to get timely hits at this time of the year to score runs, so hopefully we can keep doing that.”
