Short stop Cohen Epler erupts after making the last out Monday for the district championship.

Cardinals win district, play Saturday in state tournament at Kearney

Shaun Hunt and Drew Vonder Haar race back to their teammates after receiving the district championship trophy.

Bob Foos

May 22, 2024

The Webb City Cardinals are back in the state baseball tournament after winning their third-straight district championship Monday with a 3-1 win over Carl Junction.

The Cardinals will enter the tournament at 2 p.m. Saturday at Kearney. It’s the same quarterfinal matchup as last year when Webb City advanced by defeating Kearney here 3-2.

The winner this year will go on to the final four at 4 p.m. Friday, May 31, at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark.

On Saturday, June 1, the third-place game will be at 4 p.m., followed by the championship game at 7 p.m.

Webb City finished fourth in the state last year.

District final moved to MSSU

The Class 5 District 7 championship game was moved from Belton to Warren Turner Field at Missouri Southern State University, which allowed both teams to be supported by a large number of fans.

Webb City got on the board first with two doubles in the second inning. Shaun Hunt’s was the first, and he advanced to third on a passed ball. Christian Brock walked, and then Hunter Shull brought home both Hunt and Brock with his double.

The Cardinals got an insurance run in the third inning as Andrew Young’s leadoff fly to center was misplayed and he raced to third base. He came home on Mason Williams’ sacrifice fly.

On the mound for Webb City, Luke Beverlin held the Bulldogs scoreless on two hits until allowing one run in the sixth inning.

Coach Andrew Doennig called in Brett Korth with one out and runners on first and second in the top of the seventh.

On a 3-2 count, Bulldog Braxten Jones hit a fly to center field. Young made the catch and threw to second base before the lead runner got back to the bag for the third out – and the dogpile celebration by the Cardinals.

Hunter Shull hits a 2-RBI duble.

Second baseman Sam Weller is pumped after making an out.

First baseman Shaun Hunt stays on the bag while making a crucial out.

Andrew Young makes the most of his hit that sailed over the center fielder’s head, sailing past second to third.

Brooke Hedger and Evan Stevens lead Cardinals to state track championships

Webb City will have four first-place qualifying events at the state meet Friday and Saturday at Jefferson City.

Evan Stevens accounts for two of those events, the 1600 and 3200 runs.

Also winning a gold medal at the Class 5 Sectional 3 at Waynesville was Brooke Hedger in the 800. She also placed third in the 1600.

The boys 4×800 team is Webb City’s fourth sectional winner. Team members are Dakota Grove, Evan Stevens, Noah Lankard and Mason Hedger.

Also competing at state will be:

Chase Stilley in girls high jump (qualifying 3rd).

Girls 4×800 relay team of Olivia Klotz, Araceli Perez, Emma McKinzie and Brooke Hedger (4th).

Eric Lathan, shot put (4th).

Nate Miller, discus (4th).

Tucker Libgeratore, javelin (4th).

The boys squad finished seventh at Waynesville, and the girls came in 10th.