That’s a winner, folks!

Willard tops Webster Groves, wins Class 5 Missouri baseball championship in Ozark
For the second time in four years the Willard High School baseball team is the Class 5 state champions, after defeating Webster Groves, 5-1, in Ozark on Saturday, June 1.
The Tigers jumped on the board first, scoring a single run in the top of the first inning. Landon Moore opened up the inning with a double to left center and would come around to score when Matthew Angel grounded out to the second baseman.
Neither team would score any more until Webster Groves was able to score a single run in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at 1-1.
After another couple of scoreless innings, Willard was able to put together a solid sixth inning and plate two runs. Jarrett McGee singled to left field, advancing to second base on the throw, while driving in both Levi Hilton and Collin Spering to give Willard a 3-1 lead.
Willard added their final two runs of the game in the seventh inning, after Jacob Hearon tripled in Angel and then scored on Hilton’s single up the middle to complete the scoring.
Moore finished the game 2-2 with a run scored, Angel was 1-4 with an RBI and a run scored, Hearon went 1-2 with a run scored and an RBI, Hilton was 1-3 with an RBI and a run scored and McGee finished the game 1-2 with two RBIs.
Kaelin Adams got the win on the mound, going five innings, allowing one run with three strike outs, and Hilton went two innings, allowing no runs, while walking two and striking out two.
Semifinal
Willard reached the championship game by defeating Ft. Zumwalt South in the semifinals in Ozark on Friday, May 31, 5-4.
The Tigers had a four-run first inning, as Moore scored the first run on a throwing error before Hilton drove in two more runs on a single to center field. Willard scored their final run of the inning on another error by Ft. Zumwalt South, to take an early 4-0 lead.
Willard scored their final run of the game in the fourth inning when Hilton scored on a ground out by Moore to increase the Willard lead to 5-0.
Ft. Zumwalt South would score three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the Tigers lead to 5-3 and then would add another run in the bottom of the fifth inning to edge a little closer at 5-4, but that is how the game would end, sending Willard to the Class 5 state championship.
Moore was 1-3 with a run scored and an RBI, and Hilton ended the game 2-3 with a run scored and two RBIs.
Hayden Larson got the win, going three and a third innings, allowing one unearned run, with two walks and three strike outs, and Cameron Jennings went three and two thirds of an inning, allowing three runs, two earned with two walks and two strike outs.
Willard finished the season with an impressive 34-5 record. The Tigers also won the Class 5 state championship in the 2020-21 season.