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.