WEBB CITY, Mo. — Every game is a good learning experience when you have a lineup loaded with underclassmen.
That realization was a positive takeaway for the Webb City Cardinals following an 11-1 non-conference prep softball setback to Wyandotte (Okla.) on Tuesday.
Webb City features a new-look lineup with plenty of youth this fall. The Cardinals had six freshmen, a sophomore and three juniors in Tuesday’s lineup.
“Every time we step on the field the girls are improving and learning,” Cardinals coach Shauna Friend said. “They’re getting more experience, which will definitely help us down the road. Today was a good learning experience for the girls.”
The Cardinals couldn’t generate much offense in this one, as the hosts managed just two hits—one apiece by Dawsyn Decker and Alexandra Maturino.
The Bears plated four runs in the top of the first inning on two hits, two hit batters, a walk, a fielder’s choice and an error. The biggest blast of the opening frame was Brylen Bartley’s two-run double to left.
Wyandotte added a single tally in the fourth on Kaydence Harjo’s RBI double to left.
The Cardinals, who dropped their season opener at Nevada one night earlier, had runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth, but they were stranded.
Wyandotte added two insurance runs in the sixth before pushing across four more runs in the seventh to blow the game open.
Webb City’s lone run of the game came in the bottom of the seventh, as Maturino singled to center, went to second on Rylynn McFarland’s sacrifice bunt and then scored on an error when the Bears misplayed Sydney Strickland’s grounder.
“We made some mistakes early and gave them some free baserunners,” Friend said. “But overall, we didn’t hit the ball like we needed to. That’s something we’ll continue to work on throughout the season.”
Freshman Karsyn Cahoon started in the circle for Webb City. A right-hander, Cahoon took the loss after allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits and three walks in five innings.
Cahoon, who struck out six, settled in nicely after a difficult first inning.
“She’ll do fine for us,” Friend said. “That was her first varsity start, so we expected her to be a little nervous. After the first inning, she came back and did a good job for us.”
Sophomore Laney Taylor pitched the final two frames for the Cardinals. She gave up six runs, none earned, on five hits.
Starting for the Cardinals on Tuesday were freshmen Cahoon (P), Liz Rhuems (C), Lily Hall (2B), Kylee Sargent (3B), Madeline Barchak (DP) and Makenzie Wynn (1B), sophomore Addison Brown (LF) and juniors Strickland (RF), Decker (CF) and Jensyn Pickett (SS).
Wyandotte, already playing its 17th game of the season, received a stellar pitching performance from Josilynn Wyrick. Wyrick allowed just one hit and struck out 10 in five innings to earn the win.
Bartley tossed two innings in relief for the visitors, who improved to 13-4. Harjo drove in four runs on two hits for the Bears.
“Wyandotte is a good team and they have good pitching, so that was good for us to see,” Friend said.
Webb City (0-2) is at Monett on Thursday.
The Cardinals will also compete at the Paige Neal/Christina Freeman Invitational on Friday and Saturday at the Joplin Athletic Complex.
“That will be another good experience for us,” Friend noted.
FULL STATS: Webb City HS (webbcitycardinals.com)
