MOKANE - In what proved to be a sharp pitching duel, the South Callaway Bulldogs benefitted from the North Callaway Thunderbirds' defensive hiccup.
South Callaway capitalized on three North Callaway errors in the third inning that resulted in three unearned runs for the Bulldogs in Saturday's 4-1 victory over the Thunderbirds.
With the Montgomery County Tournament cancelled because of wet playing conditions, South Callaway hosted North Callaway and Montgomery County in round-robin play Saturday. The Thunderbirds bounced back to pound Montgomery County 12-2 in five innings, while results from the late game between South Callaway and Montgomery County were not available at press time.
The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead over North Callaway on sophomore first baseman Grayson Peneston's solo home run in the second and extended their advantage behind their three-run output in the third. The Thunderbirds tallied their lone run on a solo homer from senior left fielder Cole Branson in the fourth.
Senior starter Terry Miles threw a three-hitter to earn the complete-game win for South Callaway (5-0). Miles struck out three and walked three.
Sophomore shortstop J.T. Higgins and sophomore center fielder Alex Brazil singled in the third and sixth, respectively, to account for North Callaway's other hits.
"(Miles) mixed his pitches very well," Thunderbirds head coach Kevin O'Neal said. "We didn't do a very good job adjusting at the plate; we were out on our front foot most of the time."
North Callaway senior starter Brandon Hagedorn (0-2) allowed just two hits, had five strikeouts and issued two walks in going the distance for the loss.
"Brandon did a very good job of keeping their hitters off-balance," O'Neal said. "He really only made one mistake, and (Peneston) hit that one over the fence.
"Brandon did a good job of keeping his composure."
The Bulldogs' other hit came on a leadoff single by senior center fielder Cory Hanger in the third.
The Thunderbirds found their offensive groove against Montgomery County, breaking out for five runs in the third, two more in the fourth and tallying five again in the fifth to end the game on the 10-run rule.
Sophomore catcher Wyatt Branson went 2-for-3 with a double, four runs batted in and a run scored as North Callaway collected nine hits. Higgins - playing third base - finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored once.
Brazil was 1-for-1 with an RBI, a run scored, three stolen bases and two walks.
"The first time through the lineup we were off-balance again, but this time we did adjust," O'Neal said. "We put the ball in play and scored some runs."
Sophomore starter AJ Stubblefield tossed a complete-game to pick up his first win of the season for the Thunderbirds. Stubblefield (1-0) allowed two earned runs on seven hits, struck out four and walked one.
South Callaway hosts a Show-Me Conference game against Tuscumbia at 5 p.m. Monday, while North Callaway is at home for an Eastern Missouri Conference clash against Clopton at 5 p.m. Tuesday.