No. 1 Bulldogs capture title at Borgia tourney

UNION, Mo. - The South Callaway Bulldogs managed just one hit in being shut out by Class 4 Cape Girardeau Notre Dame 7-0 on Saturday morning at the Borgia/Union Bank Classic.

Despite the loss, South Callaway - ranked No. 1 in Class 3 - turned around and faced Notre Dame for the tournament championship in the round-robin format Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs (6-2) captured the title with a 4-3 win in 11 innings.

The Bulldogs started tournament play Friday with a pair of victories. South Callaway rallied from a nine-run deficit in their first game to stun Class 4 St. Francis Borgia in a wild 14-12 win, then downed Class 4 Union in a 5-3 triumph.

The Bulldogs avoided being no-hit by Notre Dame on Saturday morning when sophomore third baseman Austin Loucks singled with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. South Callaway left four runners on base.

Notre Dame scored two runs in the second, one in the third and four more in the fourth.

Sophomore starter Tyklen Salmons went the distance in taking the loss for South Callaway, giving up eight hits, striking out two and walking two. Six of Notre Dame's seven runs were earned.

Borgia tallied three runs in the top of the first Friday, but South Callaway came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Junior Kaden Helsel - who started on the mound and then moved to center field - scored on a passed ball. Senior first baseman Graysan Peneston then drove in sophomore shortstop Peyton Leeper with an RBI sacrifice fly to make it 3-2.

The Knights appeared to take control when they piled on four runs apiece in the second and third to widen their lead to 11-2. The Bulldogs got a pair of runs back in their half of the third on junior second baseman Dylan Lepper's RBI single and junior center fielder Landon Horstman's RBI fielder's choice.

South Callaway then narrowed the gap to 11-5 in the fourth on another Peneston RBI sacrifice fly. Borgia answered with a run in the top of the fifth, but the Bulldogs broke out for five runs in their half of the inning to close within two runs.

Sophomore Austin Loucks - who started at third base - singled with one out and advanced to second when Horstman reached on an error. Freshman right fielder Tyler Lepper followed with a single to right to score Loucks and Horstman also raced home on the throw.

Helsel was hit by a pitch with two outs and Leeper drew a walk to load the bases. Tyler Lepper scored on a passed ball and Peneston delivered a single to center, bringing in Helsel and Leeper to make it 12-10.

South Callaway then punctuated its stirring comeback by erupting for four runs in the sixth. Salmons - playing left field - and Loucks coaxed consecutive walks to start the inning and Horstman singled home Salmons, with Loucks moving to third on the play.

With one out, freshman catcher Braden Lallier drew a walk to load the bases and Helsel's double to center scored Loucks and Horstman to put the Bulldogs in front to stay 13-12. Helsel eventually stole third and scored on a throwing error by the Knights' catcher.

Peneston finished 2-for-3 with four RBI as South Callaway amassed 13 hits. Leeper went 3-for-4 with a double and scored three times, while Helsel was 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.

Tyler Lepper also finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and scored a run, while Horstman went 1-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Loucks - working 3 1/3 innings in relief of Helsel - was credited with the victory for the Bulldogs, who overcame four errors. Loucks gave up three earned runs on three hits, struck out three and survived six walks.

Leeper got the final two outs in the seventh to post his second save of the season.

South Callaway managed just five hits in the win over Union, scoring three runs in the first and one apiece in the third and fourth. The Wildcats produced two runs in the second and one in the fourth.

Sophomore catcher Drake Davidson was 2-for-3 for the Bulldogs, while Peneston went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Loucks finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and Helsel was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Leeper did not record an official at-bat, walking twice, scoring two runs and picking up an RBI.

Peneston allowed three runs - only one earned - on six hits to log the complete-game victory. He struck out two and walked two.