That’s a winner, folks

Tigers topple #1 Willard; take control of COC race
Republic walked away with its biggest baseball win in more than a decade Tuesday, beating Willard (Class 5 #1) at home in extra innings, 10-9. Republic won the game when Jared Hughes drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 10th, capping an improbable comeback that included a three-run rally to tie the game with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.
"It's the biggest (win) we've had since I've been here, for sure," said coach Curt Plotner. "They were the No. 1 team in the state in Class 5, so credit to our guys for hanging in there and battling – being down three runs in the seventh and finding a way to push three across."
Republic was down to its last out in the seventh inning when Richard Potter ripped a double to the fence in left center field to score Jared Hughes and Bryce Messier, tying the game 9-9. Before Potter had a chance to play hero, Jared Hughes had stepped up to do the same thing on the mound.
Relieving Gavyn Beckner to start the top of the fourth inning, with Republic trailing 8-6, Hughes was dominant. He struck out 11 batters over the next five innings, allowing just one run and keeping Republic within striking distance for its ninth-inning rally.
Republic had driven up the pitch count of Willard starter Dalen Stewart in the first two innings with 11 baserunners. Their early success paid off when Stewart hit his pitch limit after retiring one batter in the seventh inning. Off Willard reliever Klayton Kiser, Kyle Hill tripled with one out and Jared Hughes walked. After Brady Usgaard drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, left-handed batter Bryce Messier drew a walk off to put the tying run on first base. Willard's third pitcher of the inning, Evan Gaunt, allowed Potter's game-tying double.
Ace McWatters picked up with win with two scoreless innings in relief after Hughes left the game. Evan Gaunt took the loss for Willard.
Pyeatt had three hits and scored three runs for the Tigers, and he also walked twice. Beckner, Ryker Harrington, Hill, and Hughes had two hits apiece. Both of Hill's hits were triples. Republic left nine runners on base, and Willard left 12 runners on.
Harrington’s homer fuels win at Joplin
After Republic gave up an early run at Joplin, Ryker Harrington blasted a long home run to give Republic a lead it never relinquished in a 5-3 win at Joplin. It was the eighth win in a row for Republic, its longest winning streak since 2008. Vincent Pyeatt picked up the win and Cole Iles earned the save with stellar relief work, as Republic kept its Central Ozark Conference record perfect at 7-0.
Coupled with Nixa’s loss at Webb City, both those teams are 5-2 in conference play. Republic needs to win one of its final two conference games – against Nixa or Webb City – to clinch the COC championship outright.