Campbell baseball Camels win a see-saw battle against Westwood Baptist

CAMPBELL WINS A SEE-SAW BATTLE OVER WESTWOOD BAPTIST

Tim Caldwell

CAMPBELL, Mo. - The Campbell High School Camels came into Monday's contest against Westwood Baptist Academy still riding an emotional high after a big victory last Thursday over Senath-Hornersville on the road 1-0.

That high lingered and carried the team to a down-to-the-wire victory at home over the Eagles, 7-6.

Campbell's starting pitcher, Kennan Siebert winds up against Westwood Baptist batters Monday at home.Photo by Tim Caldwell

Westwood opened the scoring in the top of the first when Ben Jones singled with two outs to drive in Gage Barker, who had led off the game with a single and a stolen base.

Campbell's Tanner Smart stepped into the box and reached first in the bottom of the second on a Westwood error.

Two stolen bases later, and a hit-by-pitch to Jackson Melvin, the first pitch to batter Kenneth Siebert was a wild one allowing Smart to cross home plate for the tying run 1-1.

Still tied in the bottom of the third and with one out, Carson Wiseman was hit by a pitch. A double by Sam Bunting followed, which drove in Wiseman all the way from first.

With two outs, a solid single by Tanner Smart drove in the third run and the second of the inning.

Campbell relief pitcher and game winner Carson Weidenbenner hurls one Monday at home.Photo by Tim Caldwell

Campbell's Kennan Siebert provided excellent pitching in following innings, and combined with two great throws by catcher Jackson Melvin, allowed the pitcher to gun down back-to-back steal attempts by Westwood's James Hawley and Fletcher Rose, and led to 10 Westwood hitters retired in a row.

Top of the fifth, Westwood sent 10 men to the plate and jumped back in the lead. Hawley singled, Rose singled, Jones walked, Fischer Rose grounded out and Cody Vandover singled, all scored one run, and offered Westwood their greatest lead of the contest, 6-3.

In this seesaw battle, Campbell players quickly returned with a barrage of their own.

A leadoff walk to Carson Wiseman, a double by Sam Bunting followed by a Westwood error, a double by Jackson Melvin, a single by Ben Rowland, followed by a single by Logan Townsend sent nine Camels to the plate.

Wiseman struck out to end the inning, leaving two on base. Campbell scored four runs and reclaimed the lead 7-6 after five innings.

In the bottom of the sixth, Campbell attempted to add on an insurance run when with one out, Sam Bunting doubled to deep center field.

Bunting tried to get to third but was pre-empted by strong throws by Vandover to Rose to Dodd for the second out, which thwarted the threat and the Campbell lead remained at one, 7-6.

In the top of the seventh, with one out, Rose reached on a Campbell error that kept Westwood's hopes alive.

The Eagles' Jones stepped to the plate, took a swing and grounded into what looked like a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

However, a super-quick Jones beat out the throw at first to prolong the excitement.

The Eagles' Rose stepped into the box and swung, lined a ball into the hole at short that looked like it was headed to left field.

JUST a bit outside.Photo by Tim Caldwell

That hit would have set up the tying run at third with two outs.

But a great play by the Camels' Jared Jennings at third nipped Rose in the bud at first and that was the game, Campbell over Westwood Baptist, 7-6.

Kennan Siebert started for Campbell. He lasted four-and-a-third innings, allowed six runs on six hits, struck out three and walked only one, getting the no decision. Carson Weidenbenner relieved in the fifth, and went two and two-thirds innings, gained the win, allowing no runs on only one hit, striking out two and only walking one.

Westwood Baptist starting pitcher F. Rose on the mound Monday at Campbell. Photo by Tim Caldwell

Rose started on the mound for Westwood going four innings, allowing three runs on three hits, striking out two and walking one getting a no decision.

Hawley took the loss for Westwood, although allowing no runs on one hit, striking out one and walking one for the final one and one-third innings.

Westwood Baptist Academy falls to 3-2 on the season.

The Campbell Camels are now 7-6, with makeup games and scheduled games, still have three games left to play before tournament time. The Camels next scheduled game is 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at Caruthersville against the Tigers.

Westwood Baptist is on the road and plays an evening game at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23 at Chaffee and at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 26 against Crosspoint Christian.