CARTHAGE, Mo. — Presley Probert delivered a two-run double into left field to lift the Carthage Tigers to a 5-4 walk-off win over the Ozark Tigers on Thursday in a Central Ozark Conference softball clash at the Fair Acres Sports Complex.
With an eighth straight win, Carthage is now 18-11. The Tigers finished 7-2 in the COC.
Carthage trailed 4-3 entering the bottom of the seventh, but the hosts would not be denied.
Mary Grace Richmond reached on an error to start the inning and Kate Potter singled to left, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Landry Cochran was retired after popping up a bunt attempt for the first out.
Facing a 2-2 count, Probert smacked a fastball all the way to the fence in left field, driving in the tying and winning runs.
The host Tigers had to overcome a three-run deficit.
Probert’s sacrifice fly to right gave Carthage a 1-0 lead in the third, but Ozark plated three runs in the fourth and one in the sixth to take a 4-1 lead.
Carthage pushed across two runs in the sixth, as Jordyn Jones and Jensyn Elder contributed run-scoring singles to trim the hosts’ lead to a single tally.
A senior shortstop, Probert drove in three runs on two hits. Richmond had two hits and scored twice.
Elder was the winning pitcher. She struck out 10, walked two, scattered seven hits and allowed three earned runs.
Jordyn Foley took the loss. She allowed four earned runs on 10 hits and struck out six.
Abby Ford had two hits and an RBI for Ozark, while Courtney Merrell and Karissa Roberts had one RBI apiece.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Carthage is hosting its annual invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Tigers meet Kearney at 3 on Friday to begin tourney play.
Also of note, Carthage is the fifth seed for the Class 5 District 6 tournament. The Tigers take on fourth-seeded Kickapoo at 3 on Tuesday in Nixa.
WEBB CITY, Mo. — On the day they debuted their newly-renovated softball stadium, the Webb City Cardinals put together one of their best performances of the season.
Solid in all facets of the game, Webb City rolled to a 10-0 run-rule win over Neosho on Tuesday in a Central Ozark Conference clash.
Before Tuesday, the Cardinals had played all of their home games of the 2021 campaign at Chuck Barnes Field. They finally got to host a game at their improved facility, which features new seating options for fans, a new backstop, new dugouts and a turf infield playing surface.
“The seniors were really excited about getting back on our field,” Webb City coach Shauna Friend said. “It was great to start off with a big win here in a conference game. I think the girls were focused today and they really wanted to give their best on this new field.”
Laney Taylor delivers a pitch to the plate for Webb City on Tuesday against Neosho.
The Cardinals got the bats going in a big way, took advantage of Neosho’s miscues in the field, played nearly flawless defense and received a solid pitching performance. It all added up to a convincing win.
“I was really pleased with our offense today,” Friend said. “I think we bounced back from our last few games where we struggled a little bit offensively. Neosho’s always a tough team. We know they’re always going to give their best, so it was just a good conference win for us.”
Neosho stranded eight runners on-base and never recorded a timely hit.
“I’m very disappointed in the way we played today,” Neosho coach Catie Cummins said. “Lili Graue got on-base with no outs every time she was up to bat and we couldn’t score a run. That’s unacceptable. If you can’t score, you can’t win. We’re missing a few players due to illnesses and that’s been a challenge, but that’s not an excuse. We’ve got to be better.”
Webb City is now 11-9 overall and 4-3 in COC play. Neosho fell to 11-8 and 2-4 in conference action.
After the Wildcats stranded a pair of runners on-base in the top of the second, the Cardinals pushed across a single tally in the bottom half to take a lead they would never relinquish.
Emma Welch tripled to right field and later scored on Ripley Shanks’ infield single.
The hosts added four runs in the third. Peyton Hawkins and Hannah Wells both singled before Kaylyn Gilbert delivered a two-run double to left.
Welch added an RBI single before two runs scored on a Neosho error after Shanks laid down a bunt.
The visitors looked to be in business in the fourth, as Maddie Carpenter singled and Chloe Patterson doubled, putting runners on second and third with one out.
But Webb City pitcher Laney Taylor maneuvered out of trouble by striking out both Baylie Bowers and Tatiyana Douglas.
Webb City went up 7-0 in the bottom of the fourth after run-scoring hits from Wells and Welch.
Later in the inning, another run crossed home after a fielder’s choice off the bat of Shanks, making it 8-0.
In the top of the fifth, Neosho had runners on second and third with one out, but the Wildcats once again failed to score, as Taylor induced a pop out and a fly out to end the threat.
Webb City ended the game in the bottom of the fifth. Lauren Hicks doubled off the fence in right-center, and after an out, Dawsyn Decker’s line drive down the left field line allowed pinch-runner Sydney Strickland to score. The game-ending run came home when Wells smacked a single through the right side.
Wells drove in two runs on three hits, while Welch had three hits, two RBI and two runs scored.
Shanks had four RBI on two hits. Brannon had two doubles and scored twice, while Gilbert added a pair of hits.
Taylor was the winning pitcher. A freshman, Taylor scattered five hits, walked three and struck out three in the shutout win.
“It was a great game for Laney,” Friend said. “She works hard for her teammates.”
Neosho’s Chloe Patterson started in the circle against Webb City on Tuesday.
Neosho’s Graue went 2-for-2 with a double and a walk from the leadoff spot. Abbie Carpenter, Maddie Carpenter and Chloe Patterson had one hit apiece.
Patterson took the loss. She gave up five earned runs on seven hits and struck out four in 3 2/3 innings. Carleigh Kinnaird went the final inning, allowing two runs on five hits with one strikeout.
Three errors in the field came at inopportune times for the Wildcats.
“You can’t ask for more from our pitchers,” Cummins said. “Webb City has a good lineup, but our pitchers were getting pop-ups and ground balls and we weren’t getting outs. We have to play better defense and we have to push some runs across when we have people on-base.”
Both teams are in Class 4 District 6, so they could meet again in the postseason.
Conference action continues on Thursday for both squads, as Webb City hosts Republic and Neosho hosts Nixa.
Neosho’s Grace Johnson attempts to turn a double play after forcing out Morgan Brannon at second base during Tuesday’s game in Webb City. Photos by Jason Peake.
Webb City’s infield comes together at the start of Tuesday’s game at their newly-renovated softball stadium.
RIVERTON, Kan. — College Heights Christian last fielded a softball team in 2019. The Cougars won three games that entire season.
In just three outings, this year’s squad has matched that win total.
College Heights improved to 3-0 on the season with an 8-1 non-conference softball victory over Riverton on Friday.
“We’ve been very consistent and I’m excited about our start to the season,” College Heights coach Mike Howard said. “We’ve done well hitting. We’ve had good pitching. And when the ball has been put in play we’ve done a really good defensively.”
Freshman pitcher Maddy Colin had a stellar outing in the circle. Colin struck out 15 and allowed just three hits and one walk.
“She’s a special player even though she’s just a freshman,” Howard said. “She’s played travel ball her whole life. You can really tell that experience helps her out.”
College Heights freshman Maddy Colin delivers a pitch to the plate against Riverton. Colin struck out 15 batters and earned the win. Photo by Jason Peake.
Colin has allowed just one run in three victories.
“Maddy’s been a workhorse for us,” Howard said. “She’s really started the season well. She’s just been really consistent with her pitches.”
Kloee Williamson, Sarah Painter and Colin had two hits apiece for the Cougars, who also feature players from McAuley Catholic. Williamson and Ari Calandro scored two runs apiece.
Riverton’s Elizabeth Wells, Courtney Ross and Kayla Greer had one hit apiece.
Morgan Compton was charged with the loss in the circle. She struck out seven and allowed 10 hits.
The visitors scored twice in the first inning, as Williamson was hit by a pitch and later scored on Layne Jackson’s RBI double to center.
Later in the frame, Colin singled, Avery Good and Aaliyah Perez both walked before pinch runner Calandro scored on a passed ball.
College Heights erupted for six runs in the third.
Williamson reached on a bunt single and came home on Colin’s RBI single.
Good and Perez both reached on dropped third strikes, with Calandro scoring on the second.
Painter delivered a two-run double to left and then Lauren Ukena added a run-scoring single on a bunt.
After Jayli Johnson’s single, Ukena charged home on a passed ball for an 8-0 lead.
“Once we got on-base, we did a good job on the basepaths,” Howard said. “We were able to steal several bases and we kind of played small ball to move the runners. We did what we could to manufacture runs.”
Riverton’s lone run came on Elizabeth Wells’ home run in the fourth inning.
College Heights will host Exeter at 5 on Tuesday.
BASEBALL: Riverton 15, College Heights 0
The Riverton Rams earned a run-rule victory over the visiting Cougars by scoring three runs in the first, one in the second, four in the third and seven in the fourth.
Down 3-0, the Cougars had their chances in the top of the second.
With one out, Nathan Williams and Caleb Evans both walked before Rolen Sanderson moved the runners over with a ground out. Bo Sitton was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
But Riverton starting pitcher Kaden Hedrick induced an inning-ending lineout off the bat of Kelton Welch.
Hedrick earned the pitching victory, while CHC’s Ben Thomas was charged with the loss.
Riverton’s Kyler Harper had three hits, while Walker Mallatt drove in three runs on two hits. Noah Valenti and Ryder Phillips had two RBIs apiece.
The Cougars (1-1) were limited to two hits. CHC will look to bounce back against Exeter on Tuesday.
