The second-seeded Bulldogs erupted for nine runs over the final two innings in rolling to an 11-1 five-inning Class 3, District 8 triumph over the No. 6 Panthers on Tuesday night.
South Callaway (18-7) will clash with the No. 4 Hermann Bearcats for the district at 6 tonight. The Bearcats (13-10) advanced to the title game after upsetting top-seeded Father Tolton 5-3 in its semifinal earlier on Tuesday.
Ahead 2-1 after three innings, the Bulldogs scored five times in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a bases-loaded walk, a couple of Centralia wild pitches and RBI hits by senior shortstop Dax Helsel and senior center fielder Cory Hanger.
South Callaway - which rang up 12 hits - finished its scoring with four in the fifth, ending the game via run rule after senior second baseman Trevor Miller's two-run single to right field.
Miller was 2-for-2 and scored once, while senior third baseman Tyler Adams finished 2-for-3, drove in two and scored twice. Helsel went 2-for-3 with two RBI, two doubles and a run scored and Hanger was 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
Bulldogs freshman Kaden Helsel threw a two-hitter and struck out seven in the win. He walked a pair and allowed just one earned run.