NEOSHO, Mo. — Third-seeded Webb City saw a three-run lead evaporate by the sixth inning only to rebound for three runs in the seventh inning on the way to a 6-3 win over second-seeded Willard in the Class 4 District 6 semifinals on Thursday at the Neosho Athletic Complex.
The Cardinals (16-12) used home runs in the first and third innings to build a 3-0 lead over the Tigers (22-8). Willard threatened in the first four innings before breaking through for two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to tie the game at 3-3. Webb City responded with three go-ahead runs on three hits in the seventh inning to advance to the district championship.
“They set their goals early in the preseason and this is where we want to be—the district championship game,” Webb City coach Shauna Friend said. “We want to continue what we started last year and this was a game we had to win. We knew Willard was a good team that beat us earlier in the season. Our goal was to come out and want it more than they did. It was a great, hard-fought game by both teams. The senior leadership showed through for us.”
The Cardinals advance to their fourth straight district title game and will match up against top-seeded McDonald County with a 5 p.m. matchup on Friday.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this group of seniors,” Friend said. “They are a great group of kids on the field, off the field, on the bus, wherever they’re at. It just makes me not only proud of them, but I am just thrilled for them to be able to continue on in the postseason.”
IN THE CIRCLE
Freshman Laney Taylor started and earned the win after allowing two runs on seven hits, a walk and a strikeout in five innings of work. Senior Peyton Hawkins allowed one run on two hits, two walks and a strikeout in two relief innings.
“Laney did a great job of coming out and throwing five solid innings to get us where we needed to be,” Friend said.
Sydni Fletcher took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits, two walks and six strikeouts in three innings, while Hannah Burks allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits, a walk and five strikeouts in four innings of relief.
GAME ACTION
It didn’t take long for Webb City to grab the lead in the semifinals, as Hawkins led the game off with a solo home run to left to put the Cardinals on top 1-0 one batter into the game.
Hawkins singled to lead off the third inning before the home run ball came back into play for the Cardinals, with senior Kaylyn Gilbert driving a 1-2 pitch over the wall to the opposite field in left three batters later to extend the lead to 3-0.
Willard threatened in the first four innings with nothing to show for it. The Tigers stranded six total runners through the first four frames and had a runner on third three times, with Taylor able to work out of traffic.
“I felt like Laney went out there and did a fantastic job of keeping her composure in pressure situations,” Friend said. “She has built up to that, pitching a lot for us this year. She did what she had to do to keep us in the ballgame, and she has been doing that for us all year.”
The Tigers finally broke through in the last of the fifth inning when Harley Durr doubled to right-center to score a run. Alyson Miller added a sacrifice fly later in the inning to bring the Webb City advantage to one run, 3-2.
Jaz Rennison singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the sixth for Willard before Burks doubled to deep right-center field, tying the game at 3-3. Burks tried to score on a ball in the dirt later in the inning but was called out at home.
Webb City rallied in the top of the seventh to swing the momentum back in its favor. Hawkins got into scoring position with a one-out double at the base of the wall in left-center. Following a walk to senior Emma Welch, fellow senior Hannah Wells singled to the opposite field to bring home Hawkins to give the Cardinals a 4-3 lead. Gilbert followed with a two-run single to left before ending up on third following a fielding error on Willard to add a pair of insurance runs and make the score 6-3.
“That is nothing but senior grit,” Friend said about her team’s ability to rally right away after giving up the lead late. “They didn’t want to give up. I knew right there at the start of the seventh that we were going to win the game because of their attitude, drive and determination.”
Willard was able to bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but the Cardinals snuffed out the rally before a runner touched home.
AT THE PLATE
Hawkins led Webb City in the box with four hits, including a double and home run, three runs scored and an RBI. Gilbert homered, had two hits, three RBI and a run scored.
Durr had three hits, scored a run and drove in one for Willard. Rennison went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
