WEBB CITY, Mo. — Shauna Friend focused on the positives after her Webb City softball team dropped a pair of nonconference games to two of the state’s top squads on Saturday afternoon at Webb City High School.
Undefeated Class 5 No. 1 Rock Bridge defeated Class 4 No. 1 Webb City 7-1 after Class 5 No. 3 Kickapoo topped the Cardinals 11-4 earlier in the day.
“Both teams were really good competition for us and I feel like we did compete,” Friend said. “It should be good for us going into the postseason. We saw some real good pitching.”
The Bruins also beat the Chiefs 15-2 on Saturday.
After Saturday’s games, Rock Bridge is now 24-0, while Kickapoo is 21-3 and Webb City is 22-5.
ROCK BRIDGE 7, WEBB CITY 1
The Cardinals managed just two hits—singles from Haidyn Berry and Emma Welch.
“Offensively, we came up short,” Friend said. “You’re not going to win many games with two hits. That gives us something to work on.”
Berry was charged with the loss, but she only allowed two earned runs on seven hits. She struck out five and walked three.
“The score may not have reflected it, but Haidyn Berry threw a great game against a really good hitting team,” Friend said. “I was really pleased with her performance today.”
Ella Schouten was the winning pitcher. The returning all-state performer struck out 13.
A walk, a single and an error gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the third before Abby Hay hit a two-run home run in the sixth to put Rock Bridge up 3-0.
Sophie Schupp launched a grand slam in the top of the seventh for a seven-run cushion.
The Cardinals scored once in the bottom of the seventh. Berry singled and Kaylyn Gilbert reached on an error. With two outs, pinch runner Ripley Shanks scored on a double steal, but Gilbert was tagged out to end the game.
KICKAPOO 11, WEBB CITY 4
The Chiefs used a four-run third and a three-run fifth to pull away.
The Cardinals pushed across three runs in the second.
Hannah Wells singled, Emalee Lamar and Shae’Lee Key both walked and a run scored when Bri Batson was hit by a pitch. Welch then drove in two runs with a single to left.
Webb City added a run in the seventh when Peyton Hawkins singled and later scored on an error.
Welch had two hits for the Cardinals, while Hawkins, Wells and Lamar had one hit apiece.
Lydia Lortz and Berry both pitched for the Cardinals.
Chloe Merced went 3-for-4 with a home run for the Chiefs, while Jaden LaBarge drove in five runs on two home runs. Bella Williams contributed a two-run double.
LaBarge was the winning pitcher. She struck out five and allowed three runs in six innings.
Rock Bridge, Kickapoo and Webb City are all highly-ranked by the Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association.
DISTRICT TOURNEY IS NEXT
No. 1 seed Webb City meets No. 8 Parkview (1-14) at 4:30 on Tuesday in a first-round contest of the Class 4 District 6 tournament at Monett’s North Park.
With a win Tuesday, the Cardinals will face either No. 4 Monett (12-12) or No. 5 Glendale (14-12) in Thursday’s semifinals. The title game is slated for 5 on Friday night. McDonald County and Neosho are seeded second and third, respectively.
“We’re excited about districts,” Friend said. “We’re just ready for Tuesday night and we’re just ready for the postseason.”
RELATED: Softball: Area teams ranked by MSHFCA
https://somo-sports.com/highlights/softball-area-teams-ranked-by-mshfca/
CLASS 4 DISTRICT 6 BRACKET
https://www.mshsaa.org/Activities/DistrictTournaments.aspx?alg=38&class=4&district=6&year=2020
