ND falls short in bid to repeat

~ The defending Class 3 champions lost 3-1 to Bishop DuBourg in the quarterfinals

AFFTON, Mo. -- A loss during the 2009 soccer season inspired Bishop DuBourg baseball coach Joe Groaning to dream the perfect scenario by which the Cavaliers could exact revenge.

Notre Dame had just beaten the Cavaliers 3-2 in a quarterfinal boys soccer game, and Groaning and two of his assistant baseball coaches were on their way home.

"We lost 3-2 in soccer," Groaning said. "And I told my assistants, 'Wouldn't it be really cool to get revenge and beat them in the spring 3-2?' It wasn't 3-2, but pretty close."

The Cavaliers (23-4) got that revenge and knocked off defending state-champion Notre Dame 3-1 in a Class 3 quarterfinal game at Heine Meine Field.

The last time Bishop DuBourg made it to the final four in baseball was 1961, a year in which it won no sectional or quarterfinal game to get to state. DuBourg's only previous baseball victory beyond districts in school history came this season in its 13-3 sectional victory over Trinity Catholic.

On Thursday afternoon, the Cavaliers stayed alive mainly due to the arm of Matthew Linderer, who will pitch next year at the University of Missouri.

"He's been our ace since his freshman year," Groaning said. "As a freshman, he beat SLUH. A skinny little freshman beating a big 4A school, we knew we had something special."

The senior allowed one run on three hits, struck out four, walked four and hit a batter.

"I threw my fastball well, inside and outside corners," Linderer said. "I only threw my curve four or five times and my changeup once or twice. I was a little nervous. My parents always tell me I'm better under pressure."

Bulldogs pitcher Tanner Hiett also was sharp. The senior allowed four hits and three earned runs in five innings. He walked one and struck out three.

"I thought I kept us in the game well," Hiett said. "I threw strikes. In the third, I started to aim a little, but not too bad. We just didn't have our bats today, and that happens. They're a solid team."

Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett was pleased with Hiett's performance.

"Coming in, if you told me we'd get five innings and only three runs, I would have taken it," Graviett said. "He [Hiett] came in and battled. He's been a quality pitcher all year long."

The Bulldogs had a chance to take control in the top of the first inning.

With one out, Colton Young and Jake Pewitt coaxed back-to-back walks. Trenton St. Cin advanced the runners with a ground out and Jeremy Essner was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs.

But Linderer struck out Mark Hagedorn on high heat to end the threat.

"I thought we hit the ball well enough," Graviett said. "We had a big chance in the first but we didn't get it. They got big hits and we didn't."

The Bulldogs scored in the top of the third inning when Young drove a fastball deep over the left-center field wall with one out to make it 1-0.

The lead was short-lived as the latter half of the Cavaliers' lineup delivered in the bottom of the inning.

Tim Althage, the seven-hole hitter, drew a walk to lead off the frame. A single and a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with one out for Nicholas Montero.

Montero tied the game at 1-1 with a slow grounder to the shortstop.

James Schwent followed with a single past a diving Young at third base to score the eventual winning run.

"The scouting report coming in was accurate," Graviett said. "Not a lot of power, but we knew they were going to chip, claw, scratch and bunt. That was a big momentum shift to get the lead and then give it back right away."

Notre Dame had one more solid chance to tie the game.

In the fifth, Mark Glastetter singled with one out and stole second. Jimmy Obermark then drew a walk.

Linderer retired the next two batters on fly balls to end the Bulldogs' last real threat.

The Cavaliers added an insurance run in the sixth with three straight singles.

The Bulldogs finished the season at 24-2.

"It's been an amazing four years with these guys," Hiett said. "I love them to death. Today we lost as a team."

Notre Dame 001 000 0 -- 1 3 1

DuBourg 002 001 x -- 3 6 0

WP -- Matthew Linderer. LP -- Tanner Hiett. HR -- Colton Young (ND). Multiple Hits -- James Schwent (BD) 2-3. Records -- Notre Dame 24-2, Bishop DuBourg 23-4.