The Cardinals captured the Class 5 District 7 championship with an 8-3 triumph over Carl Junction.
A rematch of last years title bout was once again played at Warren Turner Field on the campus of MSSU.
The home team in the game, the Bulldogs struck first in the bottom of the first. Three singles and a double gave Carl Junction a quick 2-0 lead.
Webb City finally got on the board in the third. After a one out single from Mason Williams, Brock Renfro reached on an error with Mason Young coaxing a walk to load the bases. One out later, Brody Eggleson drove in the first run with a ground ball into left field. The inning ended with the bases loaded.
Another run in the fifth tied the game. Once again it was a two out base hit from Eggleston that sent Williams across home plate again. He had reached on an error to start the frame.
Meanwhile, Luke Beverlin settled in on the mound. After being touched for the two runs in the first, he retired the Bulldogs in order in the second, third and fourth. A single to start the fifth broke up the string of 10 hitters set down in a row, but he took advantage of the gifted out on a sac bunt then a strikeout. With two outs, it appeared the Bulldogs had got the hit they needed to get back on top, but second baseman Cohen Epler leapt high snagging a line drive for the final out of the inning.
Each team scored single runs in the sixth. Epler led off the top of the inning with a triple to left, scoring on a base hit from Andrew Young. The Bulldogs got their run on a lead off double and a throwing error later in the inning.
The seventh inning started off innocently for the Cardinals. Luke Beverlin started the inning with a single and advanced to second on a bunt. A fly ball out left him stranded at second with two outs. Webb City then took command with five hits in a row. Epler dropped a single down the right field line to score Beverlin to break the deadlock. Back to back base hits from Braden Strickand and Andrew Young then loaded the bases. Mason Williams smoked a single back up the middle that ricochet off the second base bag sending Epler and Strickland home. Young, running hard all the way, went from first to third with Williams moving up to second on the throw. That proved to be key when Brock Renfro singled to center to score them both. Webb City now led 8-3, three outs away from the title.
Tate Lewis, who had taken over on the mound in the previous inning, helped his cause when the lead off hitter grounded to first base, pulling Beverlin away from the bag to grab the ball. Lewis, breaking to cover first, took the feed from Beverlin to get the first out. He struck out the next hitter swinging and the final Bulldog looking to set off the celebration.
Six different Cardinals had two hits to lead the 13 hit attack. Mason Williams recorded two of the hits, scored three times and drove in two to lead the offense. Brock Renfro and Brody Eggleston each drove in two.
Luke Beverlin did not figure in the decision, working 5 plus innings, striking out six without issuing a walk. Tate Lewis earned the win, striking out three without allowing a hit over the final two innings.
The win earned the Cardinals their fourth consecutive district title and the right to host the quarterfinals next Friday. New this year, the quarterfinals are scheduled to be a best of three series. They will host Platte County in a single game on Friday with game two on Saturday. If necessary, game three will follow immediately after.