Webb City falls to John Hersey in close contest
Mar. 26—WEBB CITY, Mo. — Webb City exploded for six runs in the third inning to tie the game, but a fifth-inning run from John Hersey High School from Arlington Heights, Illinois, was enough to hand the Cardinals their first loss of the season.
John Hersey (3-2) held on to that 7-6 lead to claim victory. The Cardinals (5-1) managed one base runner in the bottom of the fifth by a walk, none in the sixth and two in the seventh by errors. They couldn't get a hit late in the game off Hersey pitching.
That pitcher was Riley Blackwell, who struck out six batters, allowed just one hit and walked one through 4 1/3 innings of work.
Webb City gave up that fifth-inning run on miscues of its own. With two outs in the frame, Landen Piette hit Brady Klehr with a pitch. Then Drew Phillips reached base on a throwing error by Drew Vonder Haar, allowing Klehr to move up to third base. Klehr later scored on a wild pitch from Piette.
The Cardinals got just two hits compared with Hersey's nine. Sam Weller and Shadrach Salazar had those hits.
Designated hitter Bryk Barnard led Hersey's offense with three hits, and added a run scored and an RBI. Diego Garcia led the team with two walks and two runs scored. Charlie Arvanitis' two RBIs led the visiting Illinois squad for runs driven in.
Webb City is home again at 4:30 p.m. Thursday against another team from Illinois. This time, it will be Lake Community High School from Lake Villa, Illinois.
