ND hands No. 1 Sikeston rare loss for district crown

DEXTER, Mo. -- Even after a final four appearance at the state baseball tournament last year in Class 2, few would have given Notre Dame a chance Friday in the Class 3, District 1 Tournament.

Sikeston, 23-1 and the No. 1 team in the state, hadn't lost to a team from Missouri all season until the second-seeded Bulldogs -- behind a six-run second inning -- stunned the top seed with a district-winning 7-3 victory.

"This is one of the best wins we've had since I've been with the program, especially because of the team we beat," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said.

Notre Dame (19-6) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with a mammoth shot from Matt Wulfers. The home run was the 11th of the season for Wulfers, one shy of the Notre Dame record. Sikeston's offense responded in its half of the first with two runs off Notre Dame starter Blake Urhahn.

Kyle Diveley's single to start the second seemed harmless at the time, but proved to be catalyst for what would be the key inning. Matt Smith sacrificed Diveley to second for the first out of the inning, and Sikeston starter Lance Rhodes retired Andy Ralls for the second out. But Rhodes walked the next three batters, which brought up Lee Essner.

Essner, who has played against Rhodes in American Legion games for years, said he was confident facing Rhodes.

"I was looking for a fastball," Essner said, "and I just got the pitch."

Essner crushed Rhodes' fastball for a bases-clearing double and a three-run lead, all the cushion it would need.

"Lee had a huge hit, just a big effort," Graviett said.

Wulfers came up next and picked up an RBI double, and Jeff Brosey finished off the big inning with an RBI single. Notre Dame finished the second inning with a commanding 7-2 lead.

Urhahn, who settled down after the first and finished with 10 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings, said the second inning was key for him.

"After we got the big lead I had more confidence," he said.

Sikeston scored another run in the fifth and threatened with the bases loaded in the seventh before Essner closed the game, inducing back-to-back pop fly balls to end it.

"We're really excited," Essner said, "but we expected this."

Wulfers led Notre Dame by going 2-for-4. Blake DeWitt and Jacob Priday each went 2-for-3 for Sikeston. Scott Keenan had Sikeston's lone extra-base hit with a double.

"That was a big goal we set to keep their hitters from getting extra-base hits," Graviett said.

Notre Dame moves into the sectional round to play North County, which knocked off Hillsboro 8-1 in the District 2 final. North County, the No. 3 team in the state, beat Notre Dame 5-3 on May 15.

Graviett said his team will have plenty of confidence going into Thursday's game at Notre Dame.

"You knock of the No. 1 team in the state and you've got to feel confident," he said.