BULLDOGS CHRISTEN BALLPARK WITH WIN

The only thing that had more bite than the frigid wind from the north Thursday was Notre Dame's lineup.

The Bulldogs (2-0) spanked 12 hits and scored at least one run in every inning in disposing of Poplar Bluff (0-1) 9-3 in the first game ever played on Notre Dame's new baseball field.

Batters representing all nine places in the lineup reached base for Notre Dame and eight players had at least one hit.

Notre Dame starting pitcher Josh Eftink tossed a complete game, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and three walks. He struck out four.

Notre Dame junior leadoff hitter Tommy Wencewicz was a catalyst for the Bulldogs. The center fielder went 3-for-4, scored two runs and drove in a run. He also drew a walk and stole a base.

Wencewicz's triple to right-center in the first inning led to Notre Dame's first run, foreshadowing the events to come. Wencewicz scored on a fielder's choice to give Notre Dame a lead it would never relinquish.

"I thought the tone of the game was set when Tommy hit that triple," Notre Dame coach Chris Neff said. "I was very pleased with our one- two guys. If they are productive, we can really do some things. This was a good win for us."

"I've been working hard this offseason," Wencewicz said. "I'm just really seeing the ball well right now. I think we played well. We had a few early-season type mistakes like we do every year."

Notre Dame third baseman Wes Steele and second baseman John O'Rourke each had two hits for the Bulldogs.

As a team, Notre Dame stole four bases.

Notre Dame, which claimed its second straight win over a Class 4A program, scored one run in the first, fifth and sixth innings. The Bulldogs enjoyed two-run innings in the second, third and fourth. Six different Bulldogs collected RBIs and Notre Dame netted a run in the fourth when Nathan Essner scored on the front end of a double steal.

"We keep coming at you," Neff said. "A lot of kids got to play and everyone contributed."

Eftink didn't run into trouble until the seventh when the first two batters singled. Eftink ended up walking in a run and giving up a sacrifice fly.

"This was his first opportunity to pitch here," Neff said of Eftink. "We pitched both our No. 1 and No. 2 guys (in a nine-inning win over Sikeston). He and (catcher Scott Reinagel) worked well together. I was very impressed with his effort."

Poplar Bluff coach Pat Carda, meanwhile, was less euphoric following the game.

"I was disappointed with our defense," he said. "We had a couple double-play opportunities that we've got to make. Offensively, we haven't seen many live arms so far and haven't seen many breaking balls.

"Notre Dame did a good job. They really swung the bats well."

Chris Reeves took the loss for Poplar Bluff. He went three innings, giving up five runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out one and hit a batter.

Notre Dame won the JV game 8-5. Scott Wittenborn homered twice while Kenny Wencewicz had two hits and stole five bases. Adam Rauls was the winning pitcher.

The Bulldogs will host Jackson at 4 p.m. today.