Caldwell County rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to edge Webster County 5-4 on Friday afternoon and pick up its 12th win of the season.
Carter Whittington scampered home from third base with the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning at the VFW Ballpark in Princeton as Caldwell claimed its second one-run win over the Trojans this season.
Webster (5-6) had tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning.
But Whittington doubled with one out in the home half of the inning. He moved to third on a groundout.
Ari Wells then drew a walk to put runners on the corners with two outs.
With a 1-0 count on Cole Slone, Wells broke early from first base and drew a throw to second from the pitcher. Wells stopped midway between the bases and tried to get back to first, but was eventually tagged out sliding back into the bag.
However, by the time the tag was applied at first base for the final out of the inning, Whittington had already crossed the plate with the go-ahead run.
Channing Puckett then retired Webster in order in the top of the seventh inning to finish off the victory.
Puckett (2-1) allowed just one unearned run in three innings of relief. He gave up three hits while striking out five and walking one.
Slone went the first four innings, giving up just one earned run on five base hits.
Slone was 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Carter Whittington and Wells each had doubles as Caldwell outhit Webster 9-8.
Micah Austin was 2-for-3 with a double for Webster. Ryan Nance finished 2-for-4.
Austin pitched well in relief for Webster but was tagged with the loss. He surrendered one run on two hits while striking out two and walking one in 2.1 innings.
Webster scored three times in the top of the second to get the early jump on Caldwell.
But the Tigers put up single runs in the second and third innings, then got a pair of unearned runs in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead.
Caldwell, now 12-3, will next play Monday night in an opening round game of the 2nd Region All A Classic.
The Tigers will face University Heights Academy in a game that will be played at Crittenden County.
