BULLDOGS RUN CIRCLES AROUND DEXTER 10-0

Notre Dame ran Dexter into the ground, literally.

The Bulldogs generally befuddled the visiting Bearcats (2-4) on the basepaths and improved to 6-0-1 on the season with a 10-0 victory in six innings Wednesday.

Leadoff hitting center fielder Tommy Wencewicz and pinch runner Mark Ostendorf both stole home on the front ends of double steals.

Twice, Notre Dame scored during run-downs. Even Adam Seyer, a slow-footed designated hitter, escaped a hot-box situation on an error.

The constant action on the basepaths -- Notre Dame stole seven bases in all -- seemed to rattle Dexter's pitchers into balking twice, one of which directly resulted in a run. Notre Dame also advanced bases on two wild pitches.

"We love to run those bases," said Notre Dame coach Chris Neff. "Once again, Tommy Wencewicz was on base four times. And when he gets on base, you're in trouble. He just adds so much to our lineup."

"Things just didn't go too well today," said Dexter coach A.J. Nugent. "They just outplayed us today. On those double steals, you have to able to handle the ball. I've got a new catcher this year who has never caught before. You're going to make mistakes, but you're not going to learn unless you play. But we didn't do a good job of throwing and catching the ball. But we generally feel comfortable in those first-and-third situations."

Notre Dame benefited from a strong outing by sophomore John O'Rourke, the usual second baseman and the team's No. 4 hurler.

O'Rourke, making his first-ever varsity start, went all six innings for a three-hit shutout. He struggled somewhat with his control, especially early, but settled down in the latter innings. He ended up walking four and hitting a batter.

"I was a little nervous in the beginning, but I got settled down toward the third inning," O'Rourke said. "I had pretty good control on my fastball, but the curveball was a little off."

"He was phenomenal," Neff said. "For him to be our No. 4 pitcher and come in and throw a game like that against Dexter -- it's exciting for us."

Notre Dame scattered six hits in all. The Bulldogs drew eight walks and took advantage of five fielding errors and several other mental ones.

Notre Dame scored two in the first, two in the third, three in the fourth and three in the sixth.

Wencewicz and shortstop Josh Eftink each had two hits. Eftink's 1-run double in the sixth ended the game.

Notre Dame turned two double plays in the game and O'Rourke pitched in and out of jams throughout the game. O'Rourke stranded at least one runner in every inning.