...ND SUFFERS 1ST LOSS TO KELLY

SCOTT CITY -- It took Kelly High's baseball team only one inning to record its biggest win of the season -- and to hand Notre Dame it's first loss of 1999.

When Kelly played at Notre Dame on March 29, the teams were tied 6-6 after eight innings when darkness suspended the contest.

It was originally thought that the game would go down in the books as a tie. But the teams decided to continue the contest here early Monday evening following Notre Dame's regularly-scheduled game with Scott City.

As soon as play resumed, Kelly pushed across two runs in the top of the ninth inning, then held off a Notre Dame charge in the bottom of the frame to squeeze out an 8-7 victory.

Kelly improved to 7-2 while Notre Dame fell to 10-1.

After Monday's one-inning tilt, both coaches were philosophical about the result between the Class 2A district rivals.

"It's nice to win, but we knew going in that we could play with them," said Kelly's Mike Scott. "The thing is, we normally don't hit our stride until late in the season and I don't feel like we've hit our stride yet. So in that respect, it is a good win."

Said Notre Dame's Chris Neff, "We're not happy about this, but it's so hard to go undefeated in baseball. If that's your goal, you're in trouble. Our goal was not to go undefeated, it's to get out of our district."

Pitcher Brian Obermann took the mound for Notre Dame and he had to face the heart of Kelly's order.

Third-place batter Brad Kolwyck led off with a double off the right-field fence and cleanup man Jason Glastetter followed with a home run to dead center to put Kelly ahead quickly.

Jim Hulshof took the mound for the Hawks. He struck out leadoff batter Tommy Wencewicz but Nathan Essner singled, Josh Eftink walked and Scott Reinagel singled to plate Essner and make it 8-7.

With Wesley Steele at the plate, Eftink stole third and later Reinagel stole second to put Kelly in trouble.

But Hulshof fanned Steele looking and then John O'Rourke grounded to second to end the game.

"We had good hitters up (to start the ninth) and I told our guys it's up to us to make sure it only goes one inning," Scott said. "But Notre Dame showed what they could do. They darn near pulled it out."

Added Neff, "Brian had to face some very good hitters for Kelly and they hit him well. But we battled back and almost pulled it out."