MONTGOMERY CITY, Mo. - The state-ranked Bulldogs advanced to the championship of the Montgomery County Tournament by dismantling the host Wildcats 15-8 and Clopton 17-1 in six and five innings, respectively, on Friday.
South Callaway (8-1) - ranked No. 9 in Class 3 - squared off against North Callaway (3-6) in the title game Saturday night. Results were not available at press time. The Thunderbirds reached the championship with wins over Louisiana (12-1) and Mark Twain (13-1) on Wednesday at Auxvasse.
The Bulldogs already own a victory over North Callaway this season, 4-3 in eight innings March 19 at Mokane.
South Callaway - winners of seven in a row - continued its blistering offensive tear Friday. The Bulldogs have piled up an absurd 85 runs and 65 hits over their last five games.
"The guys have been putting some pretty good at-bats together," South Callaway head coach Heath Lepper said. "It's been one of those perfect scenarios where we've been playing on some short porches and the wind has been blowing out."
The Bulldogs collected just six hits in their win over Montgomery County on Friday, but profited from eight errors by the Wildcats. South Callaway tallied a run in the first and then erupted for seven in the second, before adding a run in the fourth and breaking out for six in the fifth.
Senior first baseman Ryan Edler went 2-for-2 with a double, three runs batted in and scored twice to spark the Bulldogs, while senior right fielder Dillon Stone was 1-for-4 with a double, three RBI and scored two times. Sophomore second baseman Dylan Lepper finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Junior starter Graysan Peneston threw a complete game to record the win for South Callaway, which overcame four errors. Peneston allowed eight runs - only one earned - on just five hits, struck out six and walked one.
"Graysan got off to a rough start but he kept plugging away," Heath Lepper said.
The Bulldogs followed up by demolishing Clopton with a 12-hit assault. Dylan Lepper hit a solo home run in the first inning, while Peneston and Edler provided a three-run shot and solo homer, respectively, in the third.
Peneston - playing first base - was 1-for-2 with four RBI and three runs scored, and Lepper finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and scored twice. Freshman shortstop Peyton Leeper went 2-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI, three runs scored and three stolen bases, while sophomore center fielder Kaden Helsel was 2-for-2 with an RBI, scored three times and had two steals.
Freshman left fielder Tyklen Salmons finished 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored, while sophomore third baseman Landon Horstman went 1-for-4 with a double and scored twice.
Edler turned in a sterling effort in going the distance for the victory. He gave up an unearned run on just two hits, struck out four and walked none.
"Ryan got ahead of batters and didn't go deep into too many counts," Heath Lepper said. "He worked quick and he worked efficient."