WEBB CITY, Mo. — Webb City bounced back from Monday’s loss to Willard in a big way, as the second-ranked Cardinals rolled to an 11-2 victory over Branson on Thursday in a Central Ozark Conference prep baseball clash at Chuck Barnes Field.
Webb City hiked its record to 14-3 overall and 3-2 in the COC. Branson fell to 4-12 and 0-5 in COC with the loss.
The hosts scored runs in five of the six innings they came to the plate.
The Cardinals plated two runs in the bottom of the first against Branson right-hander Andrew Bristow.
Devrin Weathers walked, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and came home on Treghan Parker’s groundout.
Shane Noel singled up the middle and later scored when the Pirates couldn’t corral Matt Woodmansee’s fly ball into center field. The hosts later stranded the bases loaded.
Webb City added a single tally in the second. Weathers singled before Parker and Noel both walked. Woodmansee lifted a sacrifice fly to right, giving the hosts a 3-0 lead.
The Cardinals were unable to do further damage, as they once again left the bases loaded.
In a four-run third, Jeremiah Leaming singled and Eric Fitch and Weathers both walked before Parker cleared the bases with a three-run triple to right-center.
Parker then sprinted home on Noel’s run-scoring grounder, making it 7-0.
Branson got on the board in the fourth when Ridge Schroeder homered to left.
Webb City extended its lead in the bottom half of the fourth, as Cole Gayman singled, Aiden Brock walked and Fitch delivered a two-run single through the right side to give the hosts a 9-1 advantage.
The Pirates added a run in the sixth, but Weathers delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the frame for an 11-2 lead.
Branson was limited to four hits in the game.
Senior right-hander Eli Goddard made his first start of the season for the Cardinals. He went four innings, allowing three hits while striking out three to earn the win.
Cooper Crouch struck out four in two innings of relief, while Noel pitched a scoreless seventh.
Weathers had two hits, two RBI, stole three bases and scored three runs for the Cardinals, while Parker drove in four runs. The Cardinals had eight hits and took advantage of nine walks.
Ranked second in Class 5, Webb City travels to Francis Howell on Saturday for games against the host Vikings and Rock Bridge. Francis Howell is ranked third in Class 6, while Rock Bridge is ranked ninth.
