May 03, 2008 01:39 am
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By Ryan Atkinson
ratkinson@joplinglobe.com
WEBB CITY, Mo. — A five-run outburst in the second-inning and a trio of sparkling plays by the middle infield proved to be just enough for the Webb City Cardinals on Friday.
The Cardinals — aided by double plays in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings— nipped Neosho 6-4 in a Southwest Conference game at Barnes Field.
“We really took advantage of opportunities today,” Webb City coach Shawn Mayes said. “That’s what you have to do in high school baseball.”
Webb City got all the offense it needed in the second, taking advantage of two Neosho errors to plate five runs.
Austin Lepper reached on an error and later scored on a groundout before Patrick Drake, who singled, came home on another Wildcat miscue.
Darren Aggus then delivered the key blow with a high fly ball to right that found its way into the strong wind. The ball landed untouched behind right fielder Joe Hembree, allowing Aggus to circle the bases, just beating the relay throw home.
That put the Wildcats (7-13, 2-5 Southwest) in a 5-0 hole and gave the Cardinals (16-5, 6-1) a solid grip on the game.
“We just didn’t compete in the second inning,” Neosho coach Eddie Crupper said. “We let five runs score that didn’t need to score. We committed some costly errors.”
As rough as the second was on the Wildcats, they bounced back nicely, thanks in no small part to pitcher Scooter Lewis.
Lewis went the distance, allowing just six hits and three earned runs. He didn’t register a strikeout, but recorded 15 outs without allowing the ball to leave the infield.
“Scooter Lewis pitched well enough to win the ball game,” Crupper said. “Unfortunately, we struggled in that second inning. I challenged them after that inning and I think the team responded well and stepped up.”
Neosho cut the Cardinal lead to 5-2 in the fourth. Carter Marion led off with a walk and then scored when Drew Miller’s single got past Aggus in center and rolled to the fence. Miller ended up at third and scored on Kyle Dickens’ sacrifice fly.
Scott Wilson was hit by a pitch, but was cut down on the first of Webb City’s trio of twin killings.
Cody Dowell led off the fifth with a single before being erased on a 4-6-3 double play. A 6-4-3 double play ended the sixth.
“Those are huge,” Mayes said. “The defense came up big there, but that’s also a tribute to (pitcher) Kyle Hicks. He threw ground balls when we needed them.”
Hicks went 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out three.
Webb City got an RBI double from Patrick in the sixth before Neosho made things interesting in the seventh.
The Wildcats got RBI singles from Dowell and Ty Henderson and had the bases loaded before Marion’s drive to right was hauled in at the warning track to end the game.
Freshman lefty Tyler Burgess allowed Neosho’s final run, but also picked up the save by nailing down the final two outs. He entered with the bases loaded and just one out.
“Tyler had some problems the last time he was on the mound, so I wanted to get him back out there in a key situation,” Mayes said. “I have confidence in him, the team has confidence in him and he came through.”
Miller and Dowell each went 2-for-3 for the Wildcats. Drake had a pair of hits for Webb City.
The Cardinals travel to Joplin today. Neosho goes to McDonald County on Monday.
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