​Carthage, Mo. — After dropping a 6-5 decision to Springfield in the opening round of the 11-and-under Little League District 2 tournament in Carthage on Monday, the Joplin Little League All-Stars (3-1) bounced back with a 13-5 win over Springfield (3-1) on Thursday in Carthage. The victory sets up a winner-take-all Game 3 for the district title, scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday; results were not available at press time.
In Thursday’s rematch, Springfield jumped out to an early 3-1 lead after the first inning, but Joplin answered with five runs in the bottom of the second to take a 6-3 advantage. Springfield added a run in the third, yet Joplin responded with two more in the bottom of the frame to push the margin to 8-4. The Joplin offense kept rolling, scoring five more runs in the bottom of the fifth while limiting Springfield to a single run in the top of the sixth to seal the 13-5 victory.
Four Joplin All-Stars collected multiple hits in the win. Cameron O’Dell went 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBIs, Jackson Ballard was 2-for-3 with two runs, Brody Barley went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, and Kolton Jones went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Barley pitched four innings as Joplin’s starter, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits, while striking out seven and walking four.
In other district action, Webb City defeated Carthage 19-0 in the championship game of the 10-and-under District 2 tournament at Webb City’s King Jack Park. Jude Dalton drove in six runs, while Corvin Ruehle tossed a complete-game one-hitter. Dalton finished 2-for-2 with six RBIs and two runs; Owen Dill went 2-for-2 with three runs and three RBIs, and Jett Weston went 3-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs. Webb City started strong, plating seven runs in the opening frame, followed by nine in the second and three in the third. Ruehle struck out eight without walking a batter. Major Allen collected Carthage’s lone hit, a second-inning single.
Webb City advances to the state tournament, which begins next Thursday at Sunny Jim in Joplin. The Packers wrapped up the title with a flawless 3-0 record, outscoring opponents 44-5. In another 9-and-under District 2 matchup, Webb City defeated Joplin 18-0 in the opening game of the tournament in Springfield, as Webb City’s pitchers Rayden Snyder and Camden Blackford combined for a perfect game. The Cardinals pounded out seven runs in the first inning and 11 in the third, aided by 13 walks. Wyatt Mock led Webb City at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Webb City was slated to face Springfield at 6:30 p.m. Friday, with Joplin set to meet the loser of that game at 9 a.m. Saturday. In a separate 8-and-under contest, Joplin defeated Springfield 25-17, a game featuring 69 total hits and 42 runs.