Senior Dustin Eby made sure Saturday’s district baseball game wasn’t his last in a Tiger uniform. Eby struck out eight and pitched a 3-hit shutout to lead Republic (12-12) to a 1-0 upset victory over #3 seed Joplin (21-8).
The only run of the game came in the top of the 5th inning. Riley Crews singled to lead off, and Chandler Coates reached on an error when he tried to sacrifice Crews to 2nd base. After Creed Smiley fouled out, Parker Nelson lined a double to left field, scoring Crews.
The single run was all Eby needed, as he turned in a masterful performance. Joplin got a runner to 3rd base only once. That was in the 6th inning, when Eby struck out Colton Johnson to end the Joplin threat and keep the Eagles scoreless.
Joplin threatened again in the 7th. Kealin Smith singled to lead off and advanced to 2nd on a sacrifice. But Eby coaxed Tyson Hardee into a groundout to shortstop, then struck out Corey Ball to end the game.
Next up for the Tigers, #2 seed Carthage in the district semifinals. That game is scheduled for Monday at 7 pm in Webb City.