SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Webb City Cardinals didn’t go down without a fight.
With the state’s ultimate prize up for grabs, and down to their final three outs, Webb City rallied in both the seventh and eighth innings.
In the end, it wasn’t enough, as Webster Groves held off Webb City 5-4 in an eight-inning thriller for the Class 4 crown on a wind-chilled Friday at the MSHSAA Fall Softball Championships at the Killian Softball Complex.
“I couldn’t be prouder of them,” Webb City coach Shauna Friend said moments after handing out her team’s runner-up medals. “They fight until the end in every single game and nothing was different today. They never give up and they didn’t today either. I told the girls they have nothing to hang their heads about. They wanted to win it, it just didn’t work out.”
The Cardinals forced extra innings by plating two runs in the bottom of the seventh. And after the Statesmen once again took the lead in the top half of the ensuing frame, the Cardinals pushed across a single tally in the eighth before stranding the tying and go-ahead runs on-base.
“That’s one thing about this ballclub…we don’t stop,” Webb City two-way senior standout Haidyn Berry said. “We fought our hardest. We can look at that scoreboard and be proud. We fell short, but we competed and I’m proud of the girls. Even though it didn’t go our way today, I’m extremely proud to be the leader of this team. This was something special.”
The champions of the Central Ozark Conference, the Cardinals finished the fall with a record of 27-6. The Cardinals also have a new piece of hardware for the trophy case.
Friend said this year’s squad definitely left its mark.
“I want them to be remembered as a team that was so much fun to watch because they are,” Friend said. “They’re a great group of young ladies, on and off the field. They’re talented, but they also have the character you want to see in a team.”
Webster Groves (16-2) secured its first-ever softball championship.
NAMES & NUMBERS
Webster Groves senior right-hander Maddie Buske (12-1) was the winning pitcher. Buske allowed four runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out 12 on a day she threw 148 pitches.
“She had really good command of her pitches,” Friend said. “We struggled at the beginning, but we made adjustments and we were making better contact later in the game.”
Four players had two hits apiece for the Statesmen—Alyssa Moran, Kelly Collins, Hannah Jansen and Ava Fitzgibbon.
In the final outing of her stellar prep career, the right-handed Berry (25-6) surrendered five runs on 12 hits and a walk. She struck out eight. The hard-throwing Berry tossed 122 pitches, with first-pitch strikes to 30 of 37 batters.
Emma Welch and Shea’lee Key had two hits apiece for the Cardinals, who were looking to secure the program’s third championship.
GAME RECAP
The title game, which was played in less than ideal field conditions after several days of rain, was a memorable one.
The Statesmen struck first by pushing across two runs in the top of the third inning. Fitzgibbon singled to left and Moran reached on a bunt. After an out, Webster Groves’ Jansen lifted a two-run double to right-center.
The Cardinals threatened in the bottom half, as Bri Batson walked and Welch singled with one out. But Buske retired both Berry and Peyton Hawkins to maneuver out of trouble.
Webb City got on the board in the fifth, as Key and Welch both singled. With two outs, Berry came through in the clutch by smacking a run-scoring single into left.
The Cardinals nearly tied the game in the sixth. After a 13-pitch at-bat, senior Alyssa Jennings drew a leadoff walk. Kaylyn Gilbert’s bunt moved Jennings into scoring position. Buske fanned Emalee Lamar for the second out. Next, Hannah Wells lifted a fly ball into center, but Webster Groves’ Moran made a diving, run-saving catch to end the inning.
“That was a great play by their center fielder,” Friend said. “That was a game-changer.”
The Statesmen added a single tally in the top of the seventh on Jansen’s RBI single.
Once again, the Cardinals didn’t go quietly.
In the bottom of the seventh, Key led off with a sharp single into left-center, bringing up Batson, the nine-hole hitter.
On a 2-1 count, Batson launched a game-tying, two-run home run over the fence in left. She was mobbed at home plate after rounding the bases.
“That was fantastic to see one of our seniors come through,” Friend said. “I knew she had it in her. I’m just very proud of her.”
The team’s starting third baseman, Batson said connecting for her second homer of the season was a moment she’ll never forget.
“I went up there clear-headed and I just wanted to help my team,” Batson said. “It was a great feeling to be there for my team one last time. I felt it was gone off the bat. As soon as I saw the ball flying I knew it was gone. It was an amazing feeling.”
Webb City was unable to do further damage later in the seventh, however, and the game went into extra innings.
The Cardinals were unable to keep their momentum, as the Statesmen rallied for two runs with two outs in the top of the eighth.
Carissa Castro singled and then Taylor Knapp’s fly ball dropped in right-center, giving Webster Groves a 4-3 lead. Fitzgibbon followed with an RBI double to left for a two-run advantage before Berry got out of the inning.
“They got a couple timely hits and that was the difference in the ballgame,” Friend said.
Once again down to their final three outs, Webb City made things interesting in the bottom half of the eighth. Jennings, in her final at-bat as a Cardinal, doubled to left to start the frame before Gilbert drew a walk to put two on-base with no outs.
Buske struck out Lamar, but Wells delivered a run-scoring single into center, cutting Webb City’s deficit to one.
With Gilbert at third and pinch runner Brynna Cupp at second, Buske secured the championship by inducing a pair of pop outs off the bats of Key and Batson.
With that, Webb City settled for the runner-up plaque.
“I’m extremely proud of this team,” Friend said. “They have so much drive, so much team chemistry and really just great character with every single player. That’s what carried us this season.”
Webb City also finished as the state runner-up in both 2013 and 2000.
The Cardinals will lose key performers Berry, Jennings and Batson to graduation, but the remainder of the lineup will return with the goals set high in 2021.
Just minutes after her prep career concluded, Berry addressed the underclassmen before the team left the field.
“Haidyn is a fantastic person in general and she was a fantastic leader for this team,” Friend said. “She wants the best for every one of her teammates. She wants those juniors to come back fighting next year. I can’t say enough about her.”
A STELLAR SEASON
While they were left wondering what could have been after the season-ending setback, the Cardinals noted finishing the campaign in the championship game was a special occasion.
“This was a great experience and I’m glad we went out with a bang and didn’t give up,” Batson said. “We didn’t lay down for them. I love my team. We did what we could and I’m proud of these ladies.”
“Going out with a bang is what we wanted to do and that’s what we did,” Berry said. “This was a fun year with a fun group of girls. When I was a little girl I always wanted to play here. I’m going to remember that I had the best teammates ever and our coaches were awesome. We had great community support. It means everything to me. Even though we didn’t pull out the win, it’s a dream come true to get here.”
BOXSCORE: https://www.mshsaa.org/Activities/DistrictWinners.aspx?alg=38&class=4&id=1
