KELLY SLAMS DOOR ON NOTRE DAME SEASON

Justin Simpher didn't have nearly his best stuff on the mound but he more than made up for it at the plate.

As a result, the Kelly High School baseball team has moved into the championship game of the Class 2A, District 2 Tournament.

Simpher, one of the area's premier hurlers, belted a pair of home runs including a grand slam and drove in six runs to lead the third-seeded Hawks past second-seeded and host Notre Dame 13-10 in Tuesday afternoon's semifinal round.

Notre Dame was the two-time defending district champion.

Simpher also pitched into the seventh inning to notch the victory, but that was overshadowed somewhat by his offensive prowess.

"I felt all right, I just didn't have velocity on my fastball," said Simpher. "The main thing is that we won the game."

In Tuesday's other semifinal, top-seeded Chaffee pulled away late to down fourth-seeded Woodland 16-4.

The four teams that played Tuesday combined for six home runs -- three in each game -- as hitters took advantage of a strong wind.

Chaffee and Kelly will square off at 4 p.m. Thursday for the district title.

Kelly 13, Notre Dame 10

When Notre Dame grabbed a 5-0 first-inning lead, things did not look good for the Hawks and their ace pitcher.

But Simpher settled down some and the Hawks rallied with two in the third and then a crushing eight-run fifth that put them up 10-5.

Notre Dame helped out with four errors in the fifth, making five of the eight runs unearned. But Kelly also had five hits in the frame, including Simpher's go-ahead grand slam and a big two-run single by No. 9 batter Brooks Heuring.

After the Bulldogs pulled to within 10-8 on a three-run Timmy Wencewicz homer in the bottom of the fifth, Simpher got two of those right back in the sixth with his second blast of the game.

"I don't know how it happened," said a smiling Simpher of his two home runs, both to the opposite field in right. "The first one, I knew it was gone. The second one, I wasn't sure."

In 6 1/3 innings, Simpher allowed 10 runs (seven earned) and 10 hits. He struck out 10 and walked five. Tim Schmitt allowed a hit but recorded the final two outs.

Joining Simpher in getting two of Kelly's 11 hits were Tyler Schlosser, Drew Moore and Major Burger. Schlosser had three RBIs.

John O'Rourke had three of Notre Dame's 11 hits. Wencewicz, Shane Kistner and Andrew DePeder added two each.

Wencewicz took the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) and six hits in four-plus innings.

"Even though we got down early, our kids didn't give up," said Kelly coach Mike Scott, whose team is now 13-14. "We battled back and swung the bats well again."

Said Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett, whose squad finishes at 17-7, "It's disappointing, but we weren't the better team today. Still, I thought we had a heck of a season."

Chaffee 16, Woodland 4

Woodland hung tough for a while, trailing just 6-4 after five innings, but Chaffee scored five runs in both the sixth and seventh to pull away.

Chaffee, now 22-2, had 14 hits, led by Jeremy Lynn and Zak Horman with four each. Horman homered and had four RBIs while Lynn doubled three times. Perry Rice and Matt Stroup both added two hits.

G.P. Glueck pitched five innings for the win. He allowed four runs (three earned) and four hits, with six strikeouts and four walks. Horman hurled two scoreless frames.

"Woodland played us tough and showed they deserved to be here," said Chaffee coach Brian Horrell. "We swung the bats well and it's good to move on."

Luke Johnson and Kyle Booth both homered for Woodland (15-7). Alex VanGennip had two hits.

Johnson was the losing hurler, although much of the damage came after he left. Johnson allowed eight hits and six runs in five innings.

"I thought we competed well," said Woodland coach Barry Stafford. "For a young team with only three seniors, I was pleased with our season."