MOKANE - South Callaway head coach Heath Lepper insisted there was no conversation concerning payback.
Still, it was hard to miss as a satisfied smile slowly made its way across Lepper's face.
South Callaway's run in the 2015 state playoffs was brought to a crushing end in a wild 15-11 loss at Lutheran St. Charles in the Class 3 quarterfinals. The two teams clashed again at the same juncture Wednesday, and it was the Bulldogs' turn to drop the curtain on the Cougars' season.
Sophomore starter Kaden Helsel supplied a plucky effort on the mound with a four-hitter, and backed his cause at the plate with three hits and three runs batted in as South Callaway throttled Lutheran in a 6-1 victory.
Lepper noted that any discussion of revenge would have been a distraction for the Bulldogs. The Cougars - ranked fourth in Class 3 - finished with a 21-6 record.
"We've talked all year long about what we have control over, and that's our effort," Lepper said. "We go compete on every pitch, and it keeps the game simple that way."
South Callaway will now get the chance to diversify its state title profile in baseball after capturing a Class 2 championship in 2012. The Bulldogs (25-5) - ranked seventh in the state - will square off against Summit Christian Academy (25-2) in the Class 3 semifinals at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, at CarShield Field in O'Fallon.
Summit Christian advanced with a 5-3 quarterfinal victory over Lexington on Wednesday.
"We don't have anybody on this team because it was four years ago," said Lepper, referring to the 2012 state championship squad. "None of these boys have experienced it. I'm happy for these guys to get an opportunity to go up there and experience it, and compete just like they have been for the entire season."
Helsel struck out eight and only gave up an earned run in the first inning, throwing 134 pitches in the complete-game win to raise his season record to 9-2. He also had to endure some hiccups, issuing six walks, and was forced to maneuver his way out of a bases-loaded mess with no outs in the bottom of the fourth and South Callaway in front 4-1.
Helsel issued a leadoff walk to Lutheran first baseman Jakob Versemann and then hit third baseman Chase Gibson with a pitch. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch by Helsel, who then walked designated hitter Patrick Seacrist to fill the bases.
Helsel rebounded to strike out left fielder Bradley Williams and then got shortstop Devin Tasche to fly out to South Callaway senior right fielder Dillon Stone. Helsel curbed the Cougars' threat when he struck out center fielder Joseph Langston to end the inning, punching the air with his right fist as he raced off the mound.
"He had a couple of big plays behind him, but he did what he was asked to do," Lepper said. "He made pitches to contact in that situation and let his defense help him out."
Helsel also went 3-for-5 to help fuel the Bulldogs' 10-hit attack. His double to deep left in the top of the second scored sophomore courtesy runner Dalton Stone to tie the game at 1-all. Helsel also had a two-run single in the fifth, driving in senior center fielder Ryan Edler and freshman second baseman Drake Davidson to make it 6-1.
"Unbelieveable - the kid's a competitor," Lepper said of Helsel. "He pitched his butt off like he has all year long, he does it at the plate. You put a kid like that on the mound and you put him in the leadoff position, the kids respond to what he does out there."
Freshman designated hitter Tyklen Salmons put South Callaway ahead for good at 3-1 in the third when he slapped a two-out single into short right-center to score Dillon Stone and Dalton Stone. Freshman shortstop Peyton Leeper accounted for the Bulldogs' other run in the fourth when he tripled with one out and then beat the throw home after junior first baseman Graysan Peneston grounded out to third.
"They show up and they battle, no matter what the count and no matter who the pitcher is on the mound," Lepper said. "Lutheran's got a great pitching staff, we knew that going in."
Ryan Boland can be reached at (573) 826-2422, or by email at [email protected].