No. 10 Bulldogs reel off 10th straight win

MOKANE, Mo. — Freshman shortstop Peyton Leeper delivered the pop at the plate and sophomore starter Kaden Helsel provided the punch on the mound.

Leeper just missed hitting for the cycle and drove in three runs, while Helsel tossed a three-hit shutout as the state-ranked South Callaway Bulldogs rolled to their 10th straight victory with a 6-0 Show-Me Conference win over Russellville on Thursday night.

Leeper went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, an RBI triple, a single and scored twice to help power a 10-hit attack for South Callaway (11-1, 3-0 SMC), ranked No. 10 in Class 3.

“Peyton was relaxed at the plate, just put a swing on it, and it paid off,” Bulldogs head coach Heath Lepper said.

Helsel, meanwhile, struck out eight and issued only one walk to secure the complete-game win.

“Kaden battled all night long,” Lepper said. “He fell behind in a lot of counts, but he didn’t give up on any hitters. He came from behind a lot, which shows you the grit of a pitcher.”

Helsel helped himself at the plate by going 1-for-4 with two RBI as South Callaway tallied two runs apiece in the second, fourth and sixth innings. Sophomore third baseman Landon Horstman was also 1-for-2 with a double, two runs scored and a stolen base, while senior center fielder Brenden Vaughn finished 1-for-3 with a double and scored once.

The Bulldogs were coming off a 24-4 rampage in five innings at New Haven on Wednesday night. South Callaway amassed 16 hits and was aided by the Shamrocks’ eight errors.

Senior right fielder Dillon Stone went 2-for-5 with a double, five RBI, scored four times and stole a base to power the Bulldogs, while Helsel — playing center field — finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, four runs scored and a steal. Senior left fielder Ryan Edler was 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBI and scored three times, junior first baseman Graysan Peneston went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, and Horstman finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and scored three runs.

Edler worked 2 2/3 innings in relief of Leeper — South Callaway’s starter — to pick up the victory. Edler gave up an earned run on just two hits, struck out five and walked none.

The Bulldogs host Dixon (10 a.m.) and Harrisburg (2 p.m.) on Saturday.