BY JASON PEAKE
The Webb City Cardinals pulled off an improbable lategame comeback to force extra innings.
But a second rally never materialized, and the Cardinals suffered an 11-9 setback to Strafford in nine innings on Saturday afternoon at Barnes Field.
Ranked No. 1 in Class 3 by the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association, Strafford held a 9-2 advantage as the Cardinals came to bat in the bottom of the seventh. Down to its final three outs, Webb City erupted for seven runs.
The late rally was something Cardinal coach Garry Highfill was pleased to see.
"It's tough when you're down that many runs, but our guys decided in the dugout they were going to battle and compete," Highfill said. "They found ways to score. Their pitcher helped us out a little bit with some walks, but our kids did a great job at the plate of being patient."
The Indians pushed across two runs in the top of the ninth inning and the Cardinals were unable to respond in the bottom half.
"Give Strafford credit," Highfill said of last year's Class 3 runner-up. "They're ranked No. 1 for a reason. They've got some good players."
The Cardinals dropped to 0-2 on the season, as the team lost at Bentonville (Ark.) 7-5 on Friday night.
Highfill noted the recent weather hasn't allowed his team to get much work done outdoors as of yet.
"That was evident today," Highfill said, noting a few miscues in the field. "Our catchers haven't got any work in. We haven't worked on throwing to bases and holding runners and things like that. But it's early. We've got to keep working and we've got to get better."
Webb City senior righthander Cade Beason allowed three earned runs on four hits while striking out eight in 3 2/3 innings.
"I thought he had a pretty good day," Highfill said. "He threw some balls in the dirt that we didn't do a good job of blocking. And I expect Cade to get better and better."
Wyatt Hodson and Cole Gayman pitched in relief. Gayman was charged with the loss after allowing two runs in the ninth.
Beason went 3-for-5 with three RBI at the plate, while sophomore second baseman Treghan Parker went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Strafford's Dillon Turner drove in three runs on two hits, while Dillon Hester went 3-for-5. Tony Caldwell started and gave up one run in five innings while striking out six. Hester earned the win after recording two scoreless innings in relief.
After stranding the bases loaded in the first, the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the second when pinch runner Landry Delgado came home on an error.
Taking advantage of three errors and a wild pitch, the Indians plated three runs in the third. Strafford added three runs in the fourth to take a fiverun cushion.
The Cardinals got a run back in the fifth when Parker tripled to right and scored on Beason's RBI ground out. But the Indians went up 9-2 in the sixth.
In Webb City's seven-run seventh, three-straight walks loaded the bases before Beason lined a two-run single to right. After another free pass, Jacob Monroe recorded a two-run double to left and Cale McCallister followed with a sac fly, making it 9-7.
Next, Monroe and pinch runner Devrin Weathers both scored on wild pitches, tying the game before the Indians recorded the third out.
In the top of the ninth, Strafford's Turner singled before Caldwell laid down a bunt. There was a collision at first base, the ball scooted down the right field line and Turner scored the go-ahead run all the way from first.
"That was a really good bunt, and in hindsight, we should have just held on to it," Highfill said. "It was a bad situation for us. The ball got away. Our right fielder (Monroe) was playing in the gap and he had to run a mile to get the ball."
Nick Oliver added an RBI single to give the Indians a two-run lead.
The Cardinals had the tying run at the plate in the bottom half after McCallister drew a one-out walk. But the Indians turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the game.
In Friday's season-opener at Bentonville, the Cardinals were limited to four hits—one apiece by Weathers, Beason, Bryson Matthews and Kade Hicks.
Webb City is at Rogersville on Monday and home against Nixa at 4:30 on Tuesday.
Joplin Globe 03/17/2019 (Used by permission)