Willard used a mixture of small ball and pitching to defeat host Carthage on Thursday afternoon, 6-1

Willard started the scoring in their half of the first. CF Cole Teaford led the game off with a single to left field and after advancing to second, would come around to score on an RBI double to left center off the bat of 1B Jed Owen, putting Willard up 1-0.

Carthage would respond, scoring their only run of the game in the second inning. 1B Dalton Stafford led the inning off with a single and would advance to second on a botched pick off attempt. DH Kyle Lee would deliver a one out RBI single to left center, scoring Stafford.

Willard threatened in the top of the fifth, after Cole Teaford led off with a walk, and stole second and third with no outs, but the Willard offense couldn’t get him across the plate, eventually being tagged out attempting to steal home.

In the sixth, the Willard offense would explode for five runs, with the bottom of the line up pacing the offense. A leadoff single by DH Ryan Stewart would get things started; followed by consecutive bunt singles by SS Austin Pippin and LF Justin Atchinson loading the bases. A bases loaded walk to Tyler Hampton followed by an RBI single by RF Michael Burgess would extend the lead to 3-0. Atchinson would come around to score on a passed ball and a 4-0 lead. 2B Jay Snook would walk, loading the bases again, and 3B Trevor Bowling would ground into a fielder’s choice scoring Hampton. Burgess would score the last run of the inning when Owen reached base on an error, putting Willard up 6-1.

Austin Reaves picked up the win, going six innings scattering four hits and striking out seven batters.

No. 3 Vianney lost for the third time in four games, this time being upended by Francis Howell North 11-5, in the third meeting of the two teams this season (with Vianney winning the previous two). Tyler Ehlman led the North offense, with a two run home run and a two run single. Cale Laughlin contributed with three hits on the afternoon. Tyler Stevenson picked up the win on the mound.

 

No. 7 Clever, behind Jordan Burnett’s no hitter defeated Spokane 6-0. Burnett fanned twelve batters on the afternoon.  Tyler Martin had two hits and two RBIs for Clever, improving their record to Clever to 9-1.

 

No. 15 Westminster won their seventh game in a row, defeating Lutheran St. Charles 8 to 5. Tate Matheny went two for three with a home run, triple, two RBIs and two runs scored.

 

No. 16 Francis Howell Central beat Summit 7-1. Clayton Lulley threw six innings of shut out ball. Ryan Howard had three hits, two of which ere doubles. Jayden Lumpa collected two hits with a triple.

 

No. 19 Francis Howell got by Cape Central 7-6.

 

Branson defeated Ozark 2-0 in a big statement game in the COC, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Parker O’Dell smacked a one out double to left field and would come around to score on a single by Tyler Whiteis, advancing to second on the throw home. The next batter, Alex Stevens, doubled, driving home Whiteis. That is all the run support starting pitcher Sam Perez would need, throwing a complete game three hitter, striking out five batters. Branson is now 8-4.

 

Pacific’s record remained unblemished (10-0) by beating up on St. Clair 12 to 2.  Josh Moore went five strong innings, striking out twelve batters. Andrew David led the offense with a two for four afternoon with two RBIs and two runs scored. Nathan Bruns contributed going one for three with two RBIs.

 

Sikeston used an eight run, fifth inning to beat up on Jackson, 8-0. Trey Tigert recorded the win for Sikeston, while Cord Sheehy and Jake Hampton each went two for four at the plate

 

O’Fallon Christian picked up a walk off win over Orchard Farm, 3-2. Josh Walker was the hero, with a game tying sacrifice fly in the sixth inning and a walk off RBI single in the eighth inning.

 

Conway got by Mansfield 6 to 3. Kory Keeth threw a complete game, striking out twelve batters while scattering six hits and surrendering two earned runs.

 

Saxony Lutheran beat up on Meadow Heights 27-3. Ethan Mirly led Saxony with four innings pitched and eight strikeouts, and went two for four at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored. Jake Lake had a two for four afternoon, with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Trent Stevens went three for three with three RBIs.

Montgomery County won two tournament games, combining for twenty-six runs n the two games.

In their first game Montgomery County beat up on Winfield 9-2. Jackson Bishop picked up the win going five innings with eight strikeouts, fanning eight, surrendering three hits, and allowing one earned run.  Luther Harris went two for four with three RBIs. Colt Ellis and Taylor Deves each had two RBIs, with Ellis scoring two runs.

In the second game, Montgomery County slammed Mark Twain 17-1. The Montgomery County offense pounded out nineteen hits, led by Taylor Deves’s perfect three for three game with a home run and three RBIs and Cameron Parrish’s three for four effort with a homerun, two RBIs and three runs scored.

Zach Lavy struck out eleven batters in a 4-3 victory over Hallsville.

Cairo defeated Madison, 5-1.  Brad Roberts threw six and a third innings, surrendering one earned run, two hits, and striking out twelve.  Aaron Barratt and Caleb Keen each went two for four with a double in the win.

Dexter won a pitchers duel over New Madrid, 1-0.

Charleston beat upon Crossroads 14 to 3.

Timberland over Webster Groves, 6-3.

Sullivan defeated Union, 3-0.