Bulldogs rough up friend

Notre Dame junior Mallory Siebert hardly could help smiling each time she dug into the batter's box against Central hurler Amanda Nichols on Wednesday.

Siebert, the Bulldogs' No. 9 hitter who played with Nichols on the SEMO Magic softball team this past summer, said Nichols has a good sense of humor.

But Siebert was able to stay focused enough to go 3-for-3 at the plate against her good friend with two runs scored and one RBI.

Siebert's effort helped the Bulldogs beat rival Central 10-0 in six innings at Notre Dame Regional High School.

"It's really hard because every time I was up to bat, I smiled," Siebert said. "It's hard for me to play against her because she's really nice.

"We played with her in the summer and she was really pumped to get out here and get at us. She throws a really good inside/outside, which is really hard for us because it jams us. With outside pitches, slapping is a lot harder, so I just focused on making sure I stayed in the box and was able to hit that outside pitch."

Notre Dame improved to 13-0, while Central dropped to 6-8.

ELIZABETH DODD ~ edodd@semissourian.com Central's Victoria Shabbing attempts to tag out Notre Dame baserunner Mallory Siebert during the third inning Wednesday at Notre Dame.

Siebert has been hitting almost everything pitched to her this year after mainly playing defense for the Bulldogs as a sophomore.

Siebert, who had limited at-bats when Notre Dame finished third in Class 3 last year, has a .714 batting average this season. She has 15 hits in 21 at-bats.

"I've been working really hard," Siebert said. "Being in the No. 9 spot, it's important to me to get on so that [No. 1 hitter] Erika [Reinagel] and [No. 2 hitter] Paris [Burger] can get the bunts down and get me over. So I think it's important to start it off there and let Erika and Paris do their jobs."

That's exactly what Siebert did Wednesday.

Notre Dame junior Lauren Reinagel throws a pitch during the second inning Wednesday. She finished with a one-hitter.

"She's a fast little one," Nichols said of Siebert. "She hits it anywhere and she's fast enough to get on."

Nichols admitted she is close with Siebert and other Notre Dame players after playing with them on the SEMO Magic.

"It's all we do in the summer is play softball, so we get really close," Nichols said. "I definitely want to beat them so I can have bragging rights. ... I really can't look them in the eyes because I know I'll smile, too, and lose my focus. I just have to try to look at Talyre [Scott], my catcher."

Notre Dame junior pitcher Lauren Reinagel, another member of that SEMO Magic team, earned the win on the mound, improving to 12-0.

She tossed a one-hitter, striking out nine and walking one.

Reinagel has beaten Central and her friend Nichols twice this season as she pitched a perfect game against the Tigers in the season opener for both schools.

Reinagel has four no-hitters this season, two perfect games, and has yet to allow an earned run.

"We like [to hit] the rise ball a lot, and that's a good one for her," Nichols said about facing Reinagel. "And she throws some good changeups."

Reinagel, similar to Seibert, said she often finds herself laughing when having to face Nichols.

"She was one of my really close friends all during summer," Reinagel said. "I think she is the funniest girl I know. She is quirky and funny and I love her."

Notre Dame took a 1-0 lead in the first when Burger reached on an error and eventually scored on a passed ball.

Siebert helped the Bulldogs gain a 2-0 lead in the third. She reached on an infield hit, was sacrificed to second and able to score when she stole third base and Scott's throw sailed into left field.

"We have 11 great hitters," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "We've been just trying to rotate and get all of them some opportunities. She [Siebert] is just another speedster [who is a] left-hander. And she handles the bat well. She makes contact. When you're fast and make contact, good things are going to happen. Right now that's what is happening for her.

"One thing I thought about was putting her in the middle of the order to maybe jump-start something in the middle. But right now she's working out for us in the nine hole."

Notre Dame went ahead 3-0 in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Alecia Glaus and Alexis Ralls.

The Bulldogs scored six runs on seven hits and one walk in the fifth. Siebert led off the inning with a hit and added an RBI single later that inning.

Ralls went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs in the game.

"Just playing against a rival and beating them is just a very exciting feeling," Ralls said.

Central made three errors.

"I just think we need to be a lot more focused," Nichols said. "Strengthen up defensively."

Central 000 000 -- 0 1 3

Notre Dame 101 161 -- 10 13 0

WP -- Lauren Reinagel, 12-0. LP -- Amanda Nichols, 6-7. 2B -- Alexis Ralls 2, (ND), Lauren Reinagel (ND). Alecia Glaus (ND). Multiple hits -- Notre Dame: Jane Morrill 3-4, Ralls 2-3, Siebert 3-3. Records -- Notre Dame 13-0, Central 6-8.