Saturday's SEMO Conference Tournament Results

May 1, 2011

Written by Mike Rosenbaum

No. 11 Kennett 2, Cape Central 1

In the first game of the SEMO Conference Tournament semi-finals on Saturday, No. 11 Kennett defeated Cape Central, 2-1, thanks to a game-winning single by 3B Logan Dollins in the bottom of the seventh.

Kennett jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first, when C Adam Grantham drove in RHP Andy Lack (right) with a double down the left field line.

The score would hold at 1-0 until the top of the sixth, when Cape Central LF Austin Davis reached on an error by Dollins to lead off the inning and later scored on a double SS Trey Gardner.

With the 9-1-2 hitters due up for Kennett in the bottom of the seventh, Cape Central opted to bring in RHP Luke Hinkebein to relieve their starter, RHP Andrew Williams.

LF Alex Bohnert led off the inning with a single and was subsequently sacrificed to second by CF Cameron Wallace. Cape Central then decided to intentionally walk Lack to set up the double play.

The next hitter, Dollins, atoned for his error in the sixth as he ripped a single back up the box, allowing Bohnert to score from second and catapulting the Indians into the championship game on Monday.

Headed into their final at-bat, head coach Aaron New had a message for his team, "I told them that it would come down to execution. We got a single to lead off the inning and Cameron Wallace laid down a nice bunt, and Logan came up with a big hit for us."

Lack picked up the win for Kennett after throwing a complete game without allowing an earned run. The SEMO recruit scattered five hits, fanned six and did not issue a walk. Lack showcased a 79-81 mph fastball, topping out at 82 mph, that had significant arm-side run. The senior also mixed in a slider at 69-72 mph, and seldom allowed solid contact.

"Pitching is our strong point and we got a great performance out of Andy Lack today,? said New. ?He competed his butt off and got us a big win."

"He and our pitching coach put together a great plan and he went out and executed,? he added. ?He struggled with his breaking ball early in the game but found it later on."

After driving in the game-winning run, Dollins finished 1-for-4, while Grantham was 1-for-2 with a double, walk, and RBI. Lack, SS Justin Smith, RF Collin Smith, DH Kevonta Mitchell and Bohnert each collected a knock in the win.

Williams recorded a no-decision for Cape Central, hurling six innings of one run ball, scattering five hits in the process.

For the Tigers, Gardner was 1-for-3 with a double and RBI, C Ryan Siebert was 1-for-3 with a double, and Davis finished 1-for-2 with the team's only run.

No. 10 Cape Notre Dame 9, Jackson 3

The second game of the day pitted Jackson against No. 10 Cape Notre Dame. The last time that the two teams played, Jackson dropped Notre Dame 4-1 on April 12. Looking to avenge the loss, the Bulldogs came prepared to play on Saturday, despite having their high school prom on Friday night. If they were tired, it certainly didn't show, as the Bulldogs hammered Jackson, 9-3, behind their ace, RHP Cody Heisserer.

After a scoreless top of the first, the Bulldogs scored three times before making an out in the home half of the inning. After walks to SS Derek Landewee and 1B Jessie Schott, and a bunt single from LF Jonathan Lynch, 3B Eric Hayes ripped a bases-clearing double to left. Later in the inning, Heisserer plated Hayes with a groundout to second to give Notre Dame an early 4-0 lead.

The Bulldogs increased their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the third, when Heisserer plated Lynch with a single to left-center.

Jackson responded with their first run of the game in top of the fourth, when 3B Dylan Koehler scored on a double by RF Alex Bolen.

Notre Dame got the run right back in the bottom half, however, as 2B Nathan Beussink cracked his second home run of the season to left field. They would add another run in the fifth on an RBI-double by Heisserer.

In the sixth, Schott belted a two-run home run to left that gave the Bulldogs a 9-1 lead.

Although Jackson scored twice in the top of seventh, it was not enough to overcome the massive deficit, as Notre Dame went on to win 9-3.

"You don't get many opportunities to beat a team that beat you early in the year,? said head coach Jeff Graviett.

After suffering the loss on April 12, Heisserer seemed determine to carry his team on Saturday. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior fired a complete game, surrendering three runs on seven hits, while fanning five and walking three. The right-hander's fastball sat between 83-85 mph, reaching as high as 86 mph, and showed nice run due to his three-quarter delivery. He also used a 73-76 mph slider that had late, sharp break.

"Cody did a nice just pitching with a lead today,? said Graviett of his starter. ?He really settled in and wasn't overly concerned with how many runs we were up."

Prior to the game, Graviett decided to switch-up the team?s batting order.

"Sometimes you get kids who get too locked in to where they are in the order and are thinking too much,? he stated, ?so switching up the order helps clear their heads and allows them to go out and just play."

Several players had big games at the plate for Notre Dame: Landewee was 2-for-3 with a double and scored two runs, Hayes was 2-f r-3 with a double and three RBI, and Heisserer finished 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI, as well.

After the game, Graviett shared his thoughts on the success of the revamped lineup, "It worked today so there's pretty good odds that we'll stick with it, but we'll just have to see where it takes us and roll with it."

Schott and Beussink both finished the game 1-for-3 with a home run, with Schott also scoring two runs.

RHP Bobby Clark, who beat the Bulldogs on April 12, suffered the loss for Jackson. He allowed nine earned runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking three in the process. Clark's early control problems haunted him, as the 6-foot-5 right-hander had pitched his way into seven full-counts by the third inning. Even though he would ultimately settle down, Clark was unable to recover from the damage done in the first few innings (with the tough Heisserer on the hill).

DH Laban Petzoldt was 3-for-4 with a stolen base and Bolen was 2-for-3 with a run scored and RBI for Jackson. Clark was 1-for-2 with a double, run scored and walk.

The championship game between No. 11 Kennett and No. 10 Cape Notre Dame will take place on Monday night (weather permitting) at Cape Notre Dame.

The game was originally scheduled to be played at SEMO?s field, but due to the rain and the tarp not being deployed, the game has been moved to Notre Dame at 7 pm.