MOKANE - Kaden Helsel supplied the South Callaway Bulldogs with a sensational pitching effort and just a smidgen enough of offense.
South Callaway's freshman starter threw a four-hit shutout and also drove in the game's only run with a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the fourth inning Tuesday night as the Bulldogs blanked Palmyra 1-0 in a Class 3 sectional game.
Palmyra was scheduled to host the contest, but it was postponed there Monday night due to wet playing conditions and then moved to South Callaway on Tuesday because of the Bulldogs' FieldTurf baseball surface.
With the victory, South Callaway (20-7) moves on to a Class 3 quarterfinal matchup against Lutheran South (15-12) at 4 p.m. today in St. Peters. Lutheran South advanced with a 7-2 sectional win over Lutheran North on Monday.
Helsel shined in putting down Palmyra (18-6), scattering four singles, logging nine strikeouts and issuing three walks while tallying 120 pitches. He sidestepped trouble in the top of the sixth when the Panthers put runners on second and third with two outs, but got a strikeout to end the inning.
The Bulldogs had their own difficulty in figuring out Palmyra starter Aaron Stone, who delivered a no-hitter in the Panthers' triumph over Bowling Green for the District 7 title. South Callaway managed just three hits - all singles - off Stone, who struck out six and walked four.
With the game scoreless entering the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs capitalized on their best chance against Stone. Senior third baseman Trevor Adams singled to center with one out and went to second when junior right fielder Dillon Stone was hit by a pitch.
After Adams and Dillon Stone moved up on a passed ball, Helsel dropped down a bunt on a 1-1 pitch and Adams raced home with the only run South Callaway would need.
The Bulldogs' hits came from the bottom of their order, with senior left fielder Mason Shoemaker going 1-for-1, while Dillon Stone went 1-for-2 and Adams was 1-for-3.
•Notes: Ironically, South Callaway eliminated Palmyra from the state playoffs in football with their semifinal win last November, en route to the Bulldogs' Class 2 runner-up finish.