When you’ve got a player like Calem Nutting on your team, you’re probably doing okay.
The reigning Central Ozark Conference Pitcher of the Year returns for the Webb City Cardinals this spring, which looks to build off last year’s 21-7 record that included a 6-1 record in the COC-Large Division.
Last year, the Cardinals won their district, blanking Republic 4-0 in the championship, but fell to Kickapoo—who took third-place in Class 5—in sectionals 7-0. Catcher Tyler Davison and outfielder Austin Carter both graduated, leaving the Cardinals with a few holes to plug this spring.
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“Both players were first team all-conference and all-district performers,” said Webb City coach Chris Taylor, now in his sixth year leading the program. “We will really miss their veteran leadership, as both players played a significant role in our program for three years. We will also miss the work ethic and baseball intelligence of Davison. He showed all the young guys how to work and go about your business each day.”
Nutting—who also has led the team in hitting each of the last two years—anchors a strong group of returners that includes all-conference pitcher Derick Newby, all-conference infielder Dack Sanforn, and veteran leader and infielder Andrew Greek. Juniors Channing Mickey, Jacob Lammey, and Trey Gibson are all expected to step in and contribute, as well.
“The strengths of this team include experience, pitching, and defense,” said Taylor, who played collegiate baseball at Missouri State from 2003-07. “We have several returning starters with a lot of varsity experience, we have both our number one and two pitchers from last season with a lot of young arms on our staff, and we have most of our returning infield.”
Competing in the COC-Large isn’t ever easy, with the likes of Nixa, Ozark, Republic, Willard, and Branson threatening for a league championship each spring. Taylor knows the expectations are high, and his team has the talent to make a run at a COC title.
“We, as coaches, always have high expectations of our team,” Taylor said. “We feel that we can compete with anybody, but we also know the strength of the competition we face on a game-to-game basis. We play in a conference and district where anybody can beat anybody. We will just try and go out every game and play the best we can, and we’ll live with the results.
