Kennett silences Notre Dame in SEMO Conference baseball title game

~ The Bulldogs only collected one hit in their 8-1 road loss

KENNETT, Mo. -- Kennett's offense provided a turnaround from the last time the Indians played Notre Dame.

The Bulldogs held Kennett scoreless April 1, claiming a 4-0 victory in a regular-season SEMO Conference baseball game.

Round 2 was a different story Tuesday.

An RBI single by Kennett's Logan Dollins produced the Indians' first run before Notre Dame recorded an out.

Kennett's hot-hitting offense, which has produced a double-digit run total in 11 of its 20 games this season, continued to pose problems for Notre Dame as the game progressed. The Indians scored runs in four of their six innings on their way to an 8-1 victory.

"You had a bad combination," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "Adam Grantham was throwing the ball hard plus locating his pitches for Kennett, and they played great defense through the first six innings. That's a tough combination with wood bats to put up any runs. We were able to scratch a run across the plate in the seventh, but Grantham did a tremendous job in the first six innings."

Notre Dame's offense did not record a hit in the first six innings. Grantham, Kennett starting pitcher, allowed only one baserunner in his six innings.

Notre Dame's Eric Hayes managed to produce two hard-hit balls in his two plate appearances against Grantham that could have resulted in hits. But Kennett's Cameron Wallace robbed Hayes of a hit when he made a diving catch in center field in the first inning. Kennett left fielder Alex Bohnert robbed Hayes of a hit once again when he made a diving catch in the fourth inning.

"He's a great pitcher," Hayes said about Grantham. "He did not allow a hit through six innings. Normally those hits probably happen, but the outfield was playing in with the wooden bats.

"I think wooden bats make a big difference. When we played Kennett the first time, we had two home runs. With metal bats it could be a completely different game."

Kennett's offense continued to experience more success with wood bats than it did with metal bats earlier this season against Notre Dame. Kennett tacked on two runs in the third, three in the fourth and one in the fifth.

Alex Beussink recorded Notre Dame's first hit of the contest, a low line drive that bounced through the infield and into the outfield with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

"Our whole team can hit," Beussink said. "I spend every day after school with the guys and we can all rip the ball. Every team has its day, and our day just happened to be today against Kennett."

Notre Dame's Nate Beussink then was hit by a pitch. Tyler Buelow then reached base on a strikeout after Kennett's catcher was unable to keep the ball in front of the plate. Notre Dame finally tallied its first run of the contest when Jesse Schott put the ball in play and Kennett (18-2) committed an error.

The game concluded when Notre Dame's Kyle Campbell made the final out on a groundout.

The win secured Kennett's first SEMO Conference baseball championship.

"We swung the bats a little better than what we did the first time against them earlier this season and received quality pitching," Kennett coach Aaron New said. "When we play like that, we like our chances against any team. We understand that is a quality team we just beat today, so we are pretty proud of the win."

Grantham finished the game 3 for 4 with four RBIs. Wallace finished 3 for 4 with an RBI.

Grantham recorded the win, allowing no runs and striking out six over six innings. Hayes took the loss, allowing seven runs over 3 1/3 innings. Kennett's Andy Lack, who will play baseball at Southeast Missouri State next season, recorded the final three outs for Kennett.

Both teams will participate in the Class 3 District 1 tournament, which begins Saturday at Notre Dame. The Bulldogs, the defending champion, are seeded No. 1 and Kennett is seeded No. 2. Kennett and Notre Dame could meet again in the district championship May 18.

"We've got to get there first," Graviett said. "Ste. Genevieve is playing tremendously well and won their conference tournament last week. But if the stars align and we get Kennett for the third time, I wouldn't think there would be any baseball fans that would not be able to be there for that trip."

Notre Dame 000 000 1 -- 1 1 2

Kennett 202 310 x -- 8 11 2

WP -- Adam Grantham. LP -- Eric Hayes.