An old adage says it's always tough to beat the same team three times in one season.
As difficult as it may be, the Nevada Tigers found a way to pull it off.
Top-seeded Nevada defeated second-seeded Webb City 6-5 in nine innings in the thrilling championship game of the Class 4 District 7 softball tournament on Monday night at Bushwhacker Field.
In a back-and-forth nail-biter that went into extra innings, the Tigers plated the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning when Kara Phillips sprinted home from third base after a wild pitch.
These teams knew each other well. Nevada won both regular season meetings with the Cardinals, winning 5-1 and 3-0. And with the season on the line, the Tigers were able to make it three straight.
But it was far from easy, as the Cardinals put up a valiant effort.
Webb City took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning, as senior Jensyn Pickett doubled to right-center before junior Addie Brown smacked a two-run home run over the fence in center field.
Senior catcher Dawsyn Decker's two-run single through the left side gave the Cardinals a 4-0 lead in the third.
The Tigers pushed across three runs in the top of the fifth to pull within a single tally. Senior outfielder Hope Hearting homered to right field, freshman Kaniyah Johnson scored from third on a wild pitch and junior pitcher Peyton Eaton delivered a sacrifice fly to left, cutting Webb City's lead to 4-3.
The Tigers tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, as junior shortstop Kaleiah Johnson tripled and came home on Hearting's RBI double to right.
In the same inning, Nevada had the go-ahead run at third with two outs, but the Cardinals picked her off, as Decker fired a throw to Alex Maturino in time to tag out Hearting.
Webb City took the lead in the top of the eighth. Sophomore second baseman Lily Hall singled with one out, and with two outs, Pickett hit a grounder to third base, but the Tigers threw the ball over the first baseman's head, allowing pinch-runner Lia Taylor to score the go-ahead run.
Nevada tied it up in the bottom half of the eighth when Hearting was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The Tigers had the bases loaded with just one out later in the frame, but Webb City reliever Makenzie Wynn retired two straight batters to send the game to the ninth.
The Cardinals went down in order in the top of the ninth, and Nevada ended the game in the bottom half.
Phillips singled to lead off the frame and Eaton walked. With junior catcher Ella Heathman at the plate, a pair of wild pitches allowed the Tigers to score the winning run.
Eaton was the winning pitcher. She struck out eight and allowed nine hits in nine innings.
Addie Burns started for Webb City and took a no-decision. A freshman, Burns allowed four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight. Wynn was charged with the loss. She went 2 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits.
Hearting had a team-high three RBI for the Tigers.
Decker and Brown drove in two runs apiece, while Maturino was the lone Cardinal to record two hits.
SOLID SEASON ENDS
Webb City finishes the '23 season with a record of 26-12.
Suiting up for a final time for Webb City were seniors Decker, Pickett, Sydney Strickland and Rilley Hanes.
The Cardinals will return a solid core next fall, as several underclassmen played key roles this season.