MOKANE, Mo. - Sophomore starter Kaden Helsel turned in a sparkling effort to send the state-ranked South Callaway Bulldogs back to the postseason.
Helsel tossed a three-hitter and struck out eight, and top-seeded South Callaway made the most of just five hits to slip past the No. 6 Hermann Bearcats 2-1 in the Class 3, District 8 championship Thursday night.
"I can't say enough good things about Kaden on the mound today," South Callaway head coach Heath Lepper said. "He had runners in scoring position a couple times, and beared down to get some big outs, got a couple big strikeouts.
"He kept his composure and kept us in the ballgame."
The Bulldogs (23-5) - ranked sixth in the state - defeated Hermann for the District 8 title for the second straight year and will host a Class sectional against Palmyra on Monday. Game time has not been announced yet.
Palmyra (20-6) advanced with an 8-6 victory over Bowling Green in the District 7 championship Thursday.
"We've talked to the boys all year long about what you have control over, and that's our effort," Lepper said. "So, as far as Monday's game goes, we'll just try to make pitches and put some good swings on balls."
Hermann(12-16) scored its lone run off Helsel in the top of the first inning Thursday. Freshman second baseman Chase Racherbaumer led off the game with a single to right, went to second on a groundout by senior third baseman Josh Schroer and scored on senior first baseman Connor Lane's single to left.
South Callaway countered by tallying both of its runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead for good. Senior left fielder Ryan Edler drew a two-out walk and raced to third on senior catcher Cameron Richardson's single to center. Sophomore Dalton Stone entered the game as a courtesy runner for Richardson.
Freshman second baseman Drake Davidson then tied the game when his single to center scored Edler and sent Stone to third. After Davidson stole second, freshman designated hitter Tyklen Salmons singled home Stone to put the Bulldogs in front to stay.
"We had two freshmen go back-to-back - that was huge," Lepper said. "They (players) have been feeding off of each other all year long. We didn't have it all game, but we had it that inning and it paid off."
Davidson and Salmons were both 1-for-2, while junior first baseman Graysan Peneston finished 1-for-3 with a double for South Callaway's only extra-base hit. Richardson and freshman shortstop Peyton Leeper were also 1-for-3.
"Our offense hasn't been there like it has been in the past, but that's district baseball," Lepper said. "Both teams showed up to play, Hermann was peaking at the right time and it feels really good to get a win.
"I'm really proud of the boys, I'm glad for them. They've put the time in and they deserve it."