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DISTRICT SOFTBALL: Familiar foes Webb City, McDonald County will meet in semifinals

By:
Jason Peake

WEBB CITY, Mo. — After meeting in a district championship game the past two seasons, familiar foes Webb City and McDonald County will clash in the semifinals this year. 

Led by a pair of stellar pitching performances, third-seeded Webb City defeated sixth-seeded Bolivar 7-0 and second-seeded McDonald County upended seventh-seeded Monett 2-0 on Tuesday in quarterfinal contests of the Class 4 District 7 softball tournament at the Webb City athletic complex.

The Cardinals (17-19) and Mustangs (21-9) will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the district semifinals. 

The two programs are no strangers in the postseason, as Webb City knocked off Mac County in district title games in both 2021 and ’20. 

In this year’s regular season meeting, the Mustangs edged the Cardinals 3-1.

The season is on the line in Wednesday’s rematch.

“We’ve become postseason rivals and we definitely feel like we can compete with them,” Cardinals coach Shauna Friend said. “We just played them last week and it was a hard-fought game. I think the girls are going to be ready to go tomorrow. I think it’s going to come down to whoever comes out ready to play.”

WEBB CITY 7, BOLIVAR 0

Webb City’s Laney Taylor had a night to remember in the circle, as the sophomore right-hander tossed a one-hit shutout, striking out eight in a complete-game gem. 

Taylor had a perfect game with one out in the seventh before Bolivar’s Carly Cribbs drew a walk and Kacee Jenkins blooped a single into right. Taylor then retired the side to secure the victory.

“Laney had a great night,” Friend said. “She was hitting her spots all game. She came out ready to compete and she did a great job. I wish she could have made it all the way through the seventh (without giving up a hit or a walk)… but she did a great job. And our defense was outstanding behind her.”

The hosts got the bats going early in this one.

The Cardinals pushed across a single tally in the first on Lily Hall’s RBI double. 

Webb City added two runs in the second. Makenzie Wynn’s squeeze bunt allowed Sydney Strickland to score from third before Kyley Senter came home on a throwing error.

The hosts extended their lead to 5-0 in the third after run-scoring base hits from Alex Maturino and Jensyn Pickett.

“It definitely helps your pitcher when she gets some early run support,” Friend said. “Getting some runs early builds confidence. Our girls just came out and did a great job tonight.”

Liz Rhuems hit an RBI single in the fourth and Kylee Sargent blasted a solo home run in the sixth for the final margin. 

Webb City, which featured six freshmen in the starting lineup, recorded 10 hits. Rhuems went 3-for-3, while Sargent had two hits and scored three runs. The Cardinals did not make an error in the field.

Bolivar’s Makayla Methvin took the loss after surrendering six earned runs on 10 hits and a walk in six frames. 

 

MCDONALD COUNTY 2, MONETT 0

A pitcher’s duel went Mac County’s way.

McDonald County’s Nevaeh Dodson was dominant in the circle. Dodson struck out 13 and gave up just two hits and walked none in a masterful performance. 

Helping her own cause, Dodson homered in the bottom of the first inning.

Mac County added a run in the third when Maggie Pratt scored from third base on a wild pitch. Those were the lone runs of the game.

Dodson and Pratt had McDonald County’s lone hits.

Kilee Wilson was charged with the loss, but she threw well in defeat. Wilson allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out 11 in six innings.

Recording Monett’s hits were Madeline Mettlach and Natalie Rivera. 

The Cubs end the season with a record of 8-23.

 

NOTES: Fourth-seeded Willard beat fifth-seeded Carl Junction 14-3 in the first quarterfinal (See a related story). 

Top-seeded Nevada meets Willard in Wednesday’s first semifinal at 5 p.m. 

 

FULL STATS: Webb City HS (webbcitycardinals.com)

 

RELATED STORY: DISTRICT SOFTBALL: Willard rolls past Carl Junction in district quarters – SoMo Sports (somo-sports.com)

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