PLATTE CITY, Mo. — A lofty preseason goal has become a reality for the Webb City Cardinals.
Webb City took control early and earned a dominating 10-2 victory over Platte County in a Class 4 softball semifinal on a chilly Saturday at Pirate Park.
As a result, the Cardinals (27-5) advanced to the state title game, where they’ll take on Webster Groves (15-2) at noon on Friday at Killian Softball Complex in Springfield. It’s Webb City’s first trip to the championship game since 2013.
“I’m so proud of these girls,” Webb City coach Shauna Friend said. “I’m excited for them. This has been their goal from Day 1. And now they’re there. They’re ready.”
Webb City senior pitcher Haidyn Berry noted one of the team’s biggest goals of the season was to play for a state championship. That goal has now been accomplished.
“We’re overwhelmed in excitement,” Berry said. “We came out here and dominated. There was no stopping us today. That’s the mindset we had. This means everything to us. When we stepped on the field in August, we had a dream. And we’ve had this dream since we were eight years old.”
“This was our goal from the very first practice,” Cardinals junior catcher Kaylyn Gilbert added. “It feels amazing. We’ve been wanting to do this forever.”
A nearly three-hour bus ride didn’t seem to bother the Cardinals, who showed no signs of sluggishness or fatigue. Instead, it was just the opposite, as Webb City scored the game’s first nine runs.
“It was a long bus ride, but with those girls you wouldn’t think it was,” Friend said. “They’re always full of energy. They came ready to play. As soon as we got off the bus, I felt like our girls were ready to dominate. They were full of energy and intensity. We’ve got such good leaders on this team we don’t have to talk about it much. They know what their job is when they get off the bus.”
The Cardinals, who were the home team on the scoreboard, never trailed against the Pirates, who entered the day with just one loss on their record.
Berry struck out the side in the top of the first, and the Cardinals pushed across a run in the bottom half. With two outs, Peyton Hawkins was hit by a pitch before Alyssa Jennings blooped a run-scoring double into shallow center field that fell between a number of Pirates.
Webb City extended its lead with three runs in the third.
Berry doubled to right and pinch runner Ripley Shanks scored when Hawkins ripped an RBI single into left-center. The Cardinals weren’t done. Jennings singled to left and Gilbert followed with a two-run double to right, giving the Cardinals a four-run cushion.
The early run support was more than enough for Berry, who continued to put up zeros inning after inning.
In the fourth, Berry launched a two-run home run over the fence in center, making it 6-0. It was Berry’s 18th blast of the fall, the second-best all-time mark for homers in a season in Missouri.
One inning later, Gilbert reached on an error and later scored from third on a wild pitch for a seven-run lead.
After Shea’lee Key walked and Bri Batson was retired, Emma Welch smacked a two-run double into left-center to give the Cardinals a comfortable 9-0 advantage.
“The girls have done a good job of adjusting to pitching all year long and they were able to find pitches they could get,” Friend said. “They had great pitch selection. It was great to see a lot of hard hit balls and it was good to see us string some hits together. They’re coming together at the right time.”
The Pirates finally broke through against Berry in the sixth when Avery Webster singled and Grace Heater delivered a run-scoring double.
The Cardinals added a single tally in the bottom half of the sixth. Gilbert walked, Emalee Lamar singled and Hannah Wells reached on an infield single. Key then lined an RBI single into left for a 10-1 lead.
Platte County’s Demi Riechers hit an RBI double in the seventh, but Berry retired the side to secure the win. She retired Julianna Knudsen to end the game, setting off a celebration near the circle.
“Haidyn gives her best every single time and we’re doing this for her,” said Gilbert, a junior catcher who drove in two runs and scored twice.
With another stellar performance, Berry (24-5) earned the pitching victory. The right-handed Berry, who chose to wear short sleeves despite temperatures in the mid 40s, scattered six hits and surrendered just two runs in a complete-game gem.
“I just went out there and did what I normally do,” Berry said. “I didn’t think about the cold and just tried to throw my best stuff. And I knew my teammates had my back.”
Berry struck out nine and walked just one. She threw 93 pitches, and she tossed a first-pitch strike to 24 of 27 batters.
“Haidyn had a great game,” Friend said. “She’s such a competitor. She came out ready to dominate whoever is in the box.”
The Webb City defense did not commit an error.
Berry went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Hawkins had two hits and scored twice, while Welch had two RBI.
Platte County’s Emma Koeneke took the loss. She allowed nine runs, eight earned, on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. She struck out seven and walked four. Mackenzie Shields took over in the circle in the fifth. She gave up one run on two hits. The Pirates (21-2) committed two errors in the field.
While one semifinal was a lopsided affair, the other was not, as Webster Groves edged Rockwood Summit 4-3 in nine innings.
For the Cardinals, one more lofty goal remains—winning a state title.
“We look up at the sign that says 2004 and 2007,” Gilbert said, noting the school’s past state softball championships. “We want 2020 to be up there.”
“We’re just ready to go,” Berry said. “I’ve got one game left and I’m going to give it all I’ve got. We want to take home the state title next Friday.”
Class 4 semifinal
Webb City 10, Platte County 2
PC 000 001 1—2 6 2
WC 103 231 x—10 11 0
