WEBB CITY, Mo. — Faced with a win-or-go-home scenario, the Webb City Cardinals used painful memories of past postseason exits as extra motivation.
And with plenty of incentive to put the heartbreaking setbacks of years past behind them, the Cardinals simply rose to the occasion in order to keep their stellar season alive.
And now, for the first time in seven years, the Cardinals are in the semifinal round of the Missouri state softball tournament.
With a solid overall performance, Webb City earned a 7-3 win over Bolivar in a Class 4 quarterfinal on a windy Thursday at Webb City High School.
“I’m so proud of these girls,” Cardinals coach Shauna Friend said. “They’ve worked so hard all year to get to the Final Four. I couldn’t be more proud.”
The Cardinals (26-5) advanced to Saturday’s semifinals, where they’ll play at Platte County (21-1), with gametime set for 2 p.m. in Platte City.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be going to the Final Four,” Webb City senior center fielder Alyssa Jennings said. “I couldn’t be any happier. This is what we wanted all year.”
Webb City last advanced to the semifinal round in 2013, a year that saw the Cardinals fall in the championship game to Lee’s Summit.
Webb City fell short of its ultimate goal the past three years, falling in the sectional round last fall, in a district championship game in 2018 and in the quarterfinals in ’17.
This year, the Cardinals got over the hump.
“We fell short the last three years, so winning this game means everything to me,” Webb City senior Haidyn Berry said, noting the extra motivation. “It feels good to win, and it feels even better to win like that. This is what we’ve been working for since August. I’m excited.”
Ranked first in Class 4, Webb City beat sixth-ranked Bolivar 2-1 on Sept. 14. The rematch wasn’t as close, as Webb City scored the game’s first five runs to take control early.
The visitors on the scoreboard, the Cardinals pushed across a single tally in the top of the first inning. Peyton Hawkins reached on an error and then went to third when the Liberators couldn’t corral a hard grounder off the bat off Jennings.
The miscues in the field cost the Liberators, and Hawkins’ aggressive baserunning paid off, as she scored a few pitches later on a passed ball.
“That was excellent baserunning,” Friend said. “She took advantage of a mistake. At this point of the season, you have to take everything you can get.”
While Berry kept Bolivar’s bats silent, Webb City added three runs in the game-changing third inning. With one out, Berry launched a solo home run to right field.
The Cardinals weren’t done. Hawkins walked, Jennings singled to left and then Kaylyn Gilbert was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Emalee Lamar recorded a run-scoring ground out and Hannah Wells followed with a sharp two-run single through the right side, giving the Cardinals a comfortable 5-0 lead.
“We put some hits together and did what we needed to do,” Berry said of the big inning.
Bolivar got on the board in the bottom half of the fourth when pitcher Katie Brooks homered to center.
Webb City got the run back in the top of the fifth. Jennings drew a one-out walk and Gilbert reached on an infield single. Lamar then came up big with an RBI single into left, making it 6-1.
“I’m extremely proud of the offense,” Friend said. “They made things happen. The girls did a good job.”
The Liberators pulled within three in the sixth when Brooks reached on an error before Avery McClure smacked a two-run home run over the fence in left.
Webb City added an insurance run in the seventh when Jennings singled and later charged home on Wells’ ground out, giving the hosts a 7-3 cushion.
Bolivar threatened in the bottom of the seventh, as Ashton Lynn singled and Jadyn Hamilton walked, putting two on with no outs. That resulted in a meeting in the circle. Whatever was said worked, as Berry retired the next three batters.
After striking out Shae Smith to end the game, Berry jumped into the arms of her catcher Gilbert and the Cardinals celebrated a historic win in front of a large hometown crowd.
“It’s awesome to get a victory like that,” Berry said. “We came out and we played ball today.”
Berry hiked her pitching record to 24-5. The right-hander scattered four hits, walked one and struck out 11. Berry tossed 81 pitches and threw a first-pitch strike to 24 of 27 batters.
“She’s been on a great run and she’s throwing some of her best stuff right now,” Friend said. “I’m sure she didn’t like giving up those home runs, but she threw a great game against a good team.”
Jennings, Gilbert and Wells had two hits apiece for the Cardinals.Wells drove in three and Lamar had two RBI. Jennings scored three runs.
A right-hander who has committed to play for the Kansas Jayhawks, Brooks was charged with the loss. Brooks, who threw 150 pitches, struck out 14. Bolivar ended the season with a record of 16-7.
CROWD SUPPORT
The Cardinals noted they had amazing crowd support for the contest, as the entire area surrounding the softball field was packed.
“This was the biggest crowd we’ve ever had,” Jennings said. “We had so much support behind us. We wanted to show them that we can go all the way.”
“It was awesome,” Berry added. “We play for the community and we play for the little kids that come out and watch us play. And playing for my family and my teammates and coaches means everything to me.”
“We had a lot of support and this is a great community,” Friend said. “I’m thankful we have so much support.”
ALL ALONE IN SECOND PLACE
The third-inning blast was Berry’s 17th home run of the season. That puts her all alone in second in the state record books for homers in a season. Carlie Sanders of Hillsboro hit 21 in 2017.
As a team, Webb City has now hit 45 homers this season, which is good for second all-time (Hillsboro hit 52 in ’17).
SEMIFINAL IS SATURDAY
Platte County defeated Grain Valley 3-1 to advance.
Saturday’s other semifinal features Webster Groves (14-2) at Rockwood Summit (11-3). The semifinal winners meet in the championship game on Oct. 29 at Killian Softball Complex in Springfield.
Friend noted her squad will be ready to go on Saturday.
“This group is amazing,” Friend said. “They just need to play with confidence and stay calm. The Final Four is a great place to be. The girls are pretty darn excited about it and the coaches are, too. We’ll get back to work tomorrow and get ready for Saturday.”
