Willard broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the bottom of the 4th, then pulled away down the stretch in an 8-3 win to capture the Class 5 District 12 championship. Luke Latham and Kyle Smith had two hits apiece for Willard, who advance to the sectional playoff round against Nixa next week.
Willard broke ahead 2-0 with single runs in the 1st and 2nd innings. Republic tied the game in the top of the 4th on RBI singles by Austin Beckner and Riley Crews.
Willard countered with two more in the bottom of the 4th, including a disputed run that scored on a passed ball. With Willard leading 3-2, Jordan Stevens got caught between 3rd and home on a wild pitch. Republic Catcher Creed Smiley waited at the plate for Stevens to run the final 15 feet to the plate, but the umpire said Stevens slid underneath Smiley’s tag. After an ensuing argument which ended with Tigers coach Howard Quigley being ejected, Republic starter Austin Beckner shut down the Willard rally.
Republic scored a single run in the 5th to make it 4-3, but that’s as close as they’d get. Willard added two in the 5th and two in the 6th to get some breathing room and put the game away.
Tayler Austin was the winning pitcher for Willard, allowing three runs — two earned — in four innings of work. Nick Hopper worked three innings in relief. Austin Beckner took the loss, allowing four runs — two earned — in four innings. Beckner walked one and struck out one.
Republic ends its season with a 13-13 record. The game was the final one in a Tigers uniform for five seniors: Beckner, Crews, Smiley, Dustin Eby, and Cole Hurst.
