MOKANE, Mo. - Kaden Helsel more than made up for a miserable outing with a masterful one.
South Callaway's junior starter tossed a perfect game and struck out 10 as the top-ranked Bulldogs started Show-Me Conference play by lambasting Linn 12-0 in five innings Tuesday night.
South Callaway - ranked No. 1 in Class 3 - buried Linn behind a 11-run outburst in the bottom of the first inning. The Bulldogs (7-2) tallied their other run in the third.
Helsel bounced back with a strong effort after lasting only 2 2/3 innings and receiving a no-decision in South Callaway's 14-12 victory over host St. Francis Borgia last Friday in the Borgia/Union Bank Classic. He was hammered for nine runs - eight earned - on eight hits, struck out five and walked three.
Helsel (2-0) came back sharp Tuesday night, throwing 45 of his 62 pitches for strikes.
"He was probably a little bit more deliberate with what he wanted to accomplish after his last outing was not what he's accustomed to," Bulldogs head coach Heath Lepper said. "He executed all of his pitches well - that started from the time he warmed up to his last pitch."
Sophomore third baseman Austin Loucks went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in as South Callaway produced eight hits. Senior catcher Graysan Peneston was 1-for-2 with two RBI, while junior center fielder Landon Horstman did not record an official at-bat but walked twice, scored once and also had two RBI.
Helsel finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and junior first baseman Dylan Lepper went 1-for-1 with an RBI and scored twice. Sophomore left fielder Tyklen Salmons was 1-for-1 with an RBI and a run scored, while junior right fielder Josh Johnson finished 1-for-3 with an RBI.
"Our approach at the plate was disciplined and we got locked in," Heath Lepper said. "We didn't try to do too much and we put good swings on the ball."
The Bulldogs remain at home for a non-conference matchup against California at 5 p.m. Thursday.