In first trip to state, Bulldogs aiming for title

Notre Dame will be making its first semifinal appearance in its softball program's history Friday when the Bulldogs play undefeated Webb City at the Rainbow Softball Center in Columbia, Mo.

While some might consider the Bulldogs' lack of final four experience a disadvantage, if recent Notre Dame history holds up, the Bulldogs could be headed for a shot at the championship Saturday. The last two Notre Dame programs to make their first trip to the semifinals -- the 2002 boys soccer team and the 2003 girls soccer team -- both made it to the championship game.

Graviett said not having final four experience does make a difference, but he believes his team still has an opportunity to bring home another championship for Notre Dame.

"I think it matters. We're going to enjoy ourselves there, but we're going there for a purpose," he said.

Notre Dame will play 4 p.m. Friday against Webb City. St. Charles West will face Kearney in the other Class 3 semifinal. The Bulldogs earned their first final four by beating De Soto in the sectional and then knocking off Lutheran South 3-1 in the quartefinal.

"That was a huge win, a big step for our ball club," Graviett said. "If you beat a team like that, you're going to have confidence you belong here."

The Bulldogs, featuring only three seniors, have used some heavy bats during the first two rounds of the playoffs to advance. Whitney Ostendorf had a two-run home run in a five-run fourth in a 6-1 sectional win, and Kristain Burger launched a three-run home run in the fifth inning of the quarterfinal game to account for all of Notre Dame's runs.

Burger, one of five sophomore starters, leads the team in RBIs with 25 and set a team record with four home runs this season. Whitney Ostendorf, one of the three senior starters, is right behind Burger with 19 RBIs. As a team, Notre Dame has six home runs, more than the other three Class 3 teams combined.

"We've gotten some timely hits," Graviett said. "It seems like it's someone different every game."

After using three starting pitchers throughout the season, the Bulldogs have turned to Miranda Schlosser during the playoffs. Schlosser only had four wins heading into district play -- the least of Notre Dame's three pitchers -- but has only allowed two runs in matching her regular season win total with four straight victories over the past two weeks.

"You ride the hot hand," Graviett said.

Notre Dame's route to the championship game will not be easy with a clash first against the only unbeaten team in Missouri. Webb City (30-0) won by scores of 10-0 and 17-1 in the sectional and quarterfinal games, respectively.

Freshman Molly Garst and senior Stepahnie Ray are both hitting better than .450 for the Cardinals. Webb City has four hitters with at least 20 RBIs. Whitney Clute is the Cardinals ace pitcher with a 0.15 ERA.

"Any time you face a team that's undefeated," Graviett said, "you want to put pressure on them."