By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Two years ago, Willard was about to play for a state championship.
At the time, the Tigers held a 3-1 lead with one set to go in a semifinal game against Marquette. Willard allowed three runs in the seventh inning and lost 4-3.
Almost the same scenario played out on Friday. Willard refused to let history repeat itself.
The Tigers saw their 3-1 lead fade in the seventh inning, but responded with a draw win in the eighth to defeat Ft. Zumwalt South 4-3 in the Class 5 semifinal at US Ballpark in Ozark. .
“It was just a great game to play, whether you win or lose,” said Willard, sophomore and first baseman Cooper Hampton, who scored the winning point.
With goals loaded and two strikeouts, rookie Willard Landon Moore fired a goal to tackle Hampton and win the game.
Hampton started the round with a brace. A pair of walks loaded the groundwork for Moore.
Moore and Hampton are two of a young Willard roster who have found their identities over the past month or so – do whatever it takes to win.
“They really took in the team mentality,” said Willard coach Scott McGee. “These young players really like these seniors. And the seniors have been really inclusive with them – this is not a situation where the seniors speak contemptuously to freshmen. So the freshmen feel like they have a chance to shine too. “
Willard will face Grain Valley (27-8 overall) in the Class 5 State Championship game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the US Ballpark in Ozark.
Willard plans to start senior Gavin Burk (5-1 overall, 2.24 ERA, 40 strikeouts and 25 walks in 53 2/3 innings) on the mound.
“(Winning state) has been a goal all season long for us,” said Hampton. “Everything we did was to get to this point. “
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The Tigers are at the dawn of school history.
No Willard boys team has ever won a state championship.
The only other Willard teams to reach this stage – the 2003 baseball team and two basketball teams (1966, 2006) – all lost in their state championship games.
“We took a bump here today,” said McGee. “Out of all the years of Willard Sports to be just the (fourth) boys’ team to qualify for a state championship game is pretty impressive.”
Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Ft. Zumwalt South tied the score with an RBI from Andrew Castelli and a RBI of fielder’s choice by Brady O’Brien.
It could have been worse. The Bulldogs had the bases loaded with no outs.
“We were able to contain the damage,” McGee said. “We gave up two, but that’s all they got. To be able to get out of this inning, I felt good about our chances with the hitters we had to come. “
McGee admitted the late rally caused flashbacks to the 2019 loss to Marquette.
In the midst of FZS ‘comeback, Willard opted to keep starting pitcher Dalen Stewart in the game. Stewart said he didn’t feel the déjà vu happening.
“I was just thinking about being a competitor and competing right now,” said Stewart. “We did it, we came back and we are here now.
“I knew my boys had it. They support me.
Stewart canceled a full play effort. He pitched 106 pitches and allowed six hits, three walks and three runs. Stewart, a senior southpaw, also had six strikeouts in his last career start.
Stewart calmed down after a shaky start. He only needed five pitches to remove FZS in sequence in the fourth inning.
“Dalen is made up, he makes his points and he’s really tough to face,” McGee said. “Even when you come into contact with him, it’s almost like an accident.
“He can take shots better as the game progresses because he can make adjustments with himself. He doesn’t fit into his head, he just makes adjustments. He’s getting stronger.
Willard took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, with an RBI single from senior Evan Gaunt and a bag-fly RBI from rookie Hayden Rakestraw.
The Tigers took advantage of a Ft. Zumwalt South threw a mistake in the sixth inning to score a key insurance run and go up 3-1.
Willard (26-10 overall) has won 11 of 13 games since April 29.
“We’re just a great team with a great team bond,” said Stewart. “We’re hot right now.”