One year ago, Republic fell behind 5-0 in the district championship to Webb City before coming back for a 7-6 walk-off win. Friday night, they fell behind to Webb City again, but this time, there was no comeback. Webb City scored single runs in the first, third, fourth, and fifth innings to capture a 4-0 win and the district championship, ending Republic’s season.
Webb City pitcher Haidyn Berry continued her mastery over Republic. After allowing just one run on six hits during the teams’ regular-season meeting, Berry pitched a five-hit shutout Friday, striking out 12 batters.
Two of Republic’s five hits belonged to senior Megan Weis, playing in her last game as a Lady Tiger. Weis singled in the first inning and doubled in the sixth, but both times she was left on base. The sixth inning was Republic’s most serious scoring threat. After Kaitlyn Ragsdale was called out at first on a close play to lead off the inning, Weis doubled to the fence and AJ Fenske followed that with a line drive to the outfield to put runners at the corners, but Berry struck out Katie Anderson to end the inning.
Avery Romans kept Republic close with a gutsy pitching performance, working out of trouble several times, including the first inning. Webb City scored one run and had the bases loaded before Romans got a strikeout to end the inning. In the fourth, Romans coaxed a bases-loaded ground ball that led to a force out at home, then got the next batter to fly out to end the threat.
Romans pitched six innings, allowing four runs on 13 hits and striking out four. She also walked a batter.
The loss marked the final game for five Republic seniors: Katie Anderson, Jessie Jones, Riley Laub, Whitney Weaver, and Megan Weis.
Republic ends its season with an 18-10 record.