WEBB CITY, Mo. — Noah Mitchell didn’t allow a baserunner after the first inning and the Webb City Cardinals pushed across multiple runs in four of five frames en route to a convincing 10-0 run-rule victory over Monett on Tuesday at Chuck Barnes Field.
The Cardinals kept their record unblemished, improving to 5-0.
“That was a really good win,” Cardinals coach Flave Darnell said. “I was a little fearful with the way the wind is that it might be a tough day to get runs. We kept the ball down and we had really good approaches in the box. That was really good to see. And I was very happy with our defense. That was the cleanest game we’ve played. And it’s a lot easier to play defense when your guy is throwing strikes. That’s a credit to Noah.”
A senior right-hander, Mitchell limited the Cubs to two baserunners, both in the first inning, as Estin McBroom singled and Tanner Wright reached on Webb City’s lone error.
“All my pitches worked, I was able to get them to roll over and get a lot of ground balls and I trust my defense to make plays,” Mitchell said. “The defense performed well behind me.”
Mitchell threw just 42 pitches, with 33 strikes. He tossed a first-pitch strike to 16 of 17 batters and got nine groundouts to go with three strikeouts and two flyouts on the way to his five-inning one-hitter.
“He threw his breaking ball well for a strike,” Darnell said. “His fastball command was better this go-around than last Monday. He was locating his pitches.”
As Darnell alluded to, Mitchell bounced back nicely after he surrendered six earned runs on eight hits in three innings last week against Republic.
“I felt good. I had more confidence today than I did the other day,” Mitchell said. “I was able to control the 0-2 pitch and place it where I wanted it. It was a good day for me.”
“It was good to see Noah come back and continue to throw strikes,” Darnell said. “I thought his location was a lot better and his off-speed was a lot better today. And we picked the ball up on defense. That was really good to see.”
Webb City scored its 10 runs on 12 hits. Each of Webb CIty’s starters recorded at least one hit. Devrin Weathers, Treghan Parker and Shane Noel had two hits apiece, while Matt Woodmansee drove in two runs.
McBroom took the loss. He allowed five earned runs in three innings. Daniel Geiss pitched the final two frames for the Cubs (2-4).
GAME RECAP
The Cardinals scored twice in the bottom of first, as Weathers and Parker both singled, with Weathers charging home on an error.
Noel singled, stole second and third and then came home on Cole Gayman’s RBI single to center.
The hosts added two runs in the second.
Jeremiah Leaming walked and later scored on a Monett error and Eric Fitch singled and scored on Woodmansee’s RBI groundout.
Webb City added four runs in the third to blow the game open.
Eli Goddard walked and Leaming singled. Aiden Brock drove in pinch runner Gavin Stowell with a line drive to right.
Fitch moved the runners over with a sac bunt before Leaming scored on a passed ball. Parker contributed a run-scoring groundout and Weathers later scored on a passed ball, giving the Cardinals an 8-0 advantage.
After failing to score in the fourth, Webb City ended the game by plating two runs in the fifth.
Weathers and Parker both singled to get things started. Woodmansee and Noel followed with run-scoring singles to end the game in walk-off fashion.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The Cardinals are at Springfield Catholic on Thursday.
Webb City will also play two games apiece on Friday and Saturday at Glendale.
