SOFTBALL:

Jones Leads Mustangs To A 4-1 Victory Over Webb City In The Semi-Finals

“Paige, my goodness, she has carried us the last two years,” Rawlins said. “Her mentality the last two weeks has been amazing. Those are two big games (Webb City and Republic) that she hasn’t thrown in before this year and she really turned in two great pitching performances against two really good ball clubs.”

While Republic had few opportunities, Rook escaped several jams throughout as McDonald County stranded 10 runners.

Kylie Helm finished with three hits in four at bats, including a seventh-inning line drive that hit Rook in the shoulder before bouncing off her mask for a hit, to lead McDonald County. The Lady Mustangs only other hit was Cloee Helm’s seventh-inning single.

McDonald County improves to 20-5 heading into its sectional game against Ozark played on Oct. 12 at MCHS. If the Lady Mustangs win, they will host a Class 4 state quarterfinal game against the winner of Blue Springs South and Camdenton on Oct. 15 at MCHS.

Webb City

After holding Webb City to one run and escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first inning, Jones shut out the Lady Cardinals on five hits over the final six innings to lead McDonald County to a 4-1 win in the semifinals of the Missouri Class 4 District 12 Softball Tournament held Oct. 6 at Joplin High School.

Webb City loaded the bases on a hit batter, a walk and a single before Jones hit a second batter in the inning to force in a run.

McDonald County answered in the bottom half of the inning, keyed by Kali McClain’s two-run double. Cloee Helm led off the inning with a single. Hanna Schmit bunted her to second before Kylie Helm reached on an error and Whitney Kinser walked to load the bases. McClain then hit a change-up to the centerfield fence to give the Lady Mustangs a 2-1 lead. Aubrie Dunn followed with a single to knock in McDonald County’s third run of the inning.

McDonald County added an insurance run in the sixth inning on a single by Jones and an RBI triple by Cloee Helm.

McClain finished with three hits and Cloee Helm two to lead McDonald County at the plate. Kylie Helm, Dunn, Jones and Stephens added one hit each in the Lady Mustangs’ ninehit attack.

Jones finished by allowing one run on six hits while striking out six and walking two and hitting two.