OZARK, Mo. — After Webb City broke through with a run in the top of the 11th inning, Fort Zumwalt South rallied with two runs touching home for a 4-3 walk-off win in extras in the Class 5 third-place game on Saturday at Sky Bacon Stadium.
The Cardinals got back-to-back one-out singles from Gage Chapman and Sam Weller in the top of the 11th before Cy Darnell was eventually walked intentionally to load the bases. Shaun Hunt followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Chapman for a 3-2 lead—the first lead of the game for Webb City.
The Bulldogs opened the bottom of the 11th with consecutive singles from Carter Cox and Connor Mendell before being sacrificed to second and third on a bunt from Jacob Reynolds. Evan Fulhorst was intentionally walked to load the bases to bring the force out at home into play. Connor Henke followed with a game-tying single through the left side of the infield, with the winning run coming around to score on an interference call at third base for a 4-3 victory in 11 innings.
SEASON WRAP
Webb City finishes the season with a 22-15 record, making it to the Final Four for the first time since the 2010 season.
The Cardinals graduate seniors Cy Darnell, Kaylor Darnell, Chapman, Evan Freeman, William Hayes, Kenley Hood, Landon Johnson, Tyler Marbut, Elijah Miller and Walker Sweet.
ON THE MOUND
Henke started for Fort Zumwalt South and took a no-decision after allowing two runs on seven hits, two walks and six strikeouts in eight innings. Gavin Reidel earned the win in relief after allowing one run on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts in three innings.
Drew Vonder Haar started for Webb City and took a no-decision after allowing two runs on six hits, a walk and three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Sweet struck out the only batter he faced. Chapman was saddled with the tough-luck loss in relief after allowing two runs on three hits, a walk and two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
GAME ACTION
Fort Zumwalt South took the initial lead in the first inning with a run coming home despite the ball not reaching the outfield.
Webb City’s Cy Darnell gave the Cardinals their first runner in scoring position with a leadoff triple over the Bulldogs’ left fielder’s head in the top of the fourth inning. Unfortunately, Darnell was stranded 90 feet away following a groundout, pop up and flyout to end the inning and the threat.
The Bulldogs added to their lead with an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth after Fulhorst, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning, came around to score on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead.
Webb City rallied in a big way in the top of the seventh inning when Hayes came up with an RBI single with runners on first and second before Chapman reached on a Bulldogs’ fielder error to allow the tying run to score and knot things up at 2-2.
The Cardinals loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth before an infield fly and a tapper back to the mound turned into a 1-2-3 double play to get the Bulldogs out of the jam. Webb City also had runners at second and third with one out in the 10th but couldn’t push across a run before breaking through in the 11th.
IN THE BOX
Cox had two hits and scored a run to lead Fort Zumwalt South at the plate.
Chapman had three hits, scored a run and drove in one, while Hood finished with two hits to lead Webb City at the plate.
