Central wins SEMO Conference baseball tournament

Central shortstop Blake Smith committed two errors in the first three innings of the SEMO Conference tournament title game Monday night against Notre Dame.

Smith, however, turned a bad day at the ballpark into a good one, with one big hit in the fifth inning.

The junior shortstop atoned for his two errors -- the first of which allowed the Bulldogs to take an early lead -- by stroking what turned out to be the game-winning RBI single at Capaha Field.

Smith's one-out single gave the fourth-seeded Tigers a 2-1 upset victory over the No. 2 Bulldogs and grab claim to the SEMO Conference tournament title for the second time in three years.

"I was pretty upset with myself because this is a big game," Smith said. "But I finally got up to bat with some confidence and got the hit and the RBI.

"After that [the errors] I said to myself, 'You've got nothing to lose now. Just play hard.'"

Smith's hit was his first of the SEMO Conference tourney.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Central baseball players celebrated after winning 2-1 over Notre Dame Monday night at Capaha Field.

"It's huge," Smith said of the win. "We haven't won this in a couple years. And we beat Notre Dame twice now so until next year we can say we're better than them."

Garrett Stevens also had a strong day for Central (9-13). The senior tossed his second complete game in three days to earn the win on the mound.

Stevens gave up just one unearned run on six hits. It was the second time Stevens dominated the Bulldogs (13-6) this season. He also threw a complete game to beat Notre Dame 6-1 on April 1.

"I didn't really think I was going to pitch," Stevens said. "I wasn't sure. He [Central coach Steve Williams] didn't give me the ball until we started warming up out here. So it was a great feeling.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Central baserunner Brooks Osburn, right, celebrated with Garrett Stevens after scoring the go-ahead run during the fifth inning against Notre Dame Monday night at Capaha Field.

"I had so much fun tonight. It was really emotional because we've been struggling all year and we finally got it going together now."

Stevens again out-pitched Notre Dame starter Mark Himmelberg, who he also matched up against April 1.

Notre Dame took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Himmelberg grounded to Smith, who threw wild over first base. Himmelberg advanced to second base on the throwing error. He later scored when the next batter, Dylan Drury, stroked a double to deep center field.

Himmelberg looked strong early and kept the game at 1-0 through four innings. He retired the side in order in both the first and second innings on two strikeouts, two fly ball outs, a pop up to him and one ground ball out.

Himmelberg then pitched himself out of trouble in both the third and fourth innings when five Central hitters reached base but none were able to come around and score.

Notre Dame threatened for more runs in the bottom of the fourth. After two were out, the Bulldogs loaded the bases on a single by Jake Valleroy, and walks to Ryan Bass and Jake Pewitt.

Sophomore Mark Glastetter was inserted into the game to pitch run for Valleroy but was thrown out by catcher Alex Shell, who saw him leading too far off third and snapped a pick off throw, getting him to end the inning.

"I was over there at shortstop jumping up and down," Smith said. "That's a big play. If that kid scores, it's a different ball game."

Shell added about the play: "I saw that he had a pretty big lead and I was a little hesitant throwing down with the bases loaded but coach gave me the go ahead and I threw him out."

Shell's big defense play seemed to spark the Tigers' bats.

Central finally got to the Notre Dame ace in the fifth inning, scoring two runs. Jared Green started the inning off with a triple to left-center field. He scored two batters later when Brooks Osburn tripled to deep center.

Smith smashed a single to right field, plating Osburn and giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead.

"I had seen Mark before," Smith said. "And he was throwing well tonight. The infield was in. So if you hit a little line drove over their heads it's going to be down. So I just figured. I'd hit it to the right side and see if I could get him in."

Stevens allowed just two base runner over the final three innings.

"[Stevens] has held us in check this year," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "And with the offense numbers we've put up this year that is a tremendous tip of the cap to him. I thought we hit some balls that were hard."

Central 000 020 0 -- 2 5 2

Notre Dame 100 000 0 -- 1 6 1

WP -- (Garrett Stevens) LP -- (Mark Himmelberg). 3B -- Jared Green (C), Brooks Osburn (C) 2B -- Dylan Drury 2, (ND). Multiple hits -- Notre Dame, Drury 2-3. Central. Stevens 2-3. Records -- Notre Dame 13-6, Central 9-13.