By Wendell Redden
sports@joplinglobe.com
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Kirk Harryman’s game plan was simple.
Don’t let Nicole Hudson beat you with her bat. Joplin issued Hudson four intentional walks, but the plan backfired early as top-ranked Webb City, with Morgan Coleman driving in three runs, scored seven runs in the first two innings en route to an 8-0 victory over Harryman’s Eagles in the semifinals of the Class 4 District 12 softball tournament.
Host Carthage surprised second-seeded Neosho 9-4 in the second semifinal played at the Fair Acres Sports Complex.
“We knew our best chance (of beating Webb City) was to keep the game low scoring,” Harryman said. “We’re a young team and haven’t faced a pitcher like (Hudson). We had a plan of attack going in. It worked out a couple times and a couple times it didn’t.
“Our plan was not to let her (Hudson) beat us with her bat. That’s a double-edge sword. If you walk her, you’ve got to take your chances with the other hitters behind her. Give Webb City credit. They came up with some big hits with men on base.”
With one out in the first, Hudson drew her first free ticket to first. Kylie Jones promptly singled her to second and she scored on Coleman’s double to left center. With two out, Laney Kneib singled Jones and Coleman home.
Webb City scored four times in the second on two-out walks to Brooklyn Farrell, Hudson and K. Jones, Coleman’s two-run single to left and a two-run outfield error.
The Cardinals of Coach Walter Resa added their final run in the sixth on a two-out triple by Farrell and a wild pitch.
Hudson also received intentional walks in the fourth and sixth but didn’t score.
A senior right-hander, Hudson said she was surprised Joplin walked her all four times. “Usually I get walked a couple times, but get to swing the bat. That was a little disappointing,” she said.
Hudson, 16-2 this season, permitted only three singles and struck out 14, including eight in a row at one point.
“That was a pretty typical game for her,” Resa said. “She had 16 strikeouts in one of her losses. I was surprised she walked four times, but she’s walked a lot this season. She may be on a pace to set a state record for walks.”
The victory sends the Cardinals into the championship game against Carthage, 19-11, at 1 p.m. today.
The Carthage-Neosho game was scoreless for three innings. But the Tigers scored three runs each in the next three innings to take command. Courtney Borland unloaded a three-run home run to left center with Sheyan Irwin and Sam Bogle aboard in the fifth.
“The long ball worked for us today, and the small ball worked for us,” said Tigers coach Gordon Godfrey. “The last time we played these guys we had some inner turmoil going on. We got rid of that. We told our players that they had to prove to themselves that they could beat Neosho.
“I was happy to see Borland hit the home run. She’s in that (four) spot because she’s a good power hitter. She gave it a good ride. We didn’t hit the ball very well (Thursday, 2-1 win over Hillcrest), but this is what we’re capable of doing.”
Carthage collected 12 hits off Neosho pitchers Shea Wyatt and Quinn Hobbs, including two doubles and two singles by Jesika Crisman and three singles by Irwin.
Neosho, blanked for four innings on four hits by senior Denise Taylor, scored single runs in the fifth and sixth and added two in the seventh. Kreslee Ketcham tripled home a run in the seventh and scored on a single by Brooke Hulsey. Ketcham and Dimtra Boman had two hits apiece for the Wildcats.
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