ND UNLEASHES OBERMANN ON RAMS; BULLDOG PITCHER THROWS ONE-HITTER IN 12-1 VICTORY OVER SCOTT CITY

With each start, Notre Dame's Brian Obermann is gaining more confidence.

After his performance Monday, that's not a good sign for his next opponent.

Obermann faced just two over the minimum and allowed only one hit -- that a fifth-inning home run off the bat of Wade Powers -- as Notre Dame disposed of visiting Scott City 12-1 in five innings.

Obermann allowed the homer and walked two batters -- both were caught stealing -- and another batter reached via a passed ball on a third strike.

Other than that, Scott City's batters struck out eight times and didn't get the ball out of the infield. There were three infield pop-ups, a 5-4 fielder's choice, and a grounder back to Obermann.

"Obermann just dominated today," said Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett.

"I felt good," said Obermann. "I'm getting my confidence back. I found the strike zone a bit better today than I had before."

Obermann, an all-stater last year when the Bulldogs took second in Class 2A, was roughed up in some of his early starts. He entered the game with an ERA of just over 4.00.

The difference now, he said, is that he's getting ahead in more counts. Graviett said Obermann is using his four-seam fastball more now to get ahead and going with his two-seam fastball as an out pitch instead of vice versa.

Of his 3-2 pitch that Powers powered over the left-field fence, Obermann said a bad pitch "is bound to happen in a game. It was going to happen sooner or later and I knew it."

Notre Dame's offense was effective as well. The Bulldogs (9-3, 5-2 SEMO Conference) pounded out nine hits.

John O'Rourke ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run, opposite-field homer to right.

O'Rourke, Obermann and hot-hitting Wes Steele each had two hits for Notre Dame.

"Our bats are coming around," said Obermann. "We're starting to hit the ball harder instead of just putting it in play."

As well as Notre Dame hit though, it got plenty of help from the Rams' defense which committed six errors.

The Bulldogs scored three runs in the first without a hit. Six of Notre Dame's first eight runs were unearned.

"Trenton (Estes) threw well," said Scott City coach Mike Umfleet. "He didn't throw his best, but he threw well enough to keep us in the game. He's not the type of pitcher who is going to strike a lot of people out. If we don't make the plays, it's going to be a long day."

In Scott City's defense, the Rams were not playing with a full squad Monday. Bill Posey, the team's top pitcher, was out with an injured wrist and Scott Johnston, the team's leading hitter didn't play because of a prior commitment to another school activity.

"I'm not about to make excuses," said Umfleet. "It would've been nice to have everybody, but I put people at positions because I think they can make plays."

Estes suffered the loss, going 3 1/3 innings. He gave up eight runs on five hits and two walks.

Notre Dame added an unearned run in the second.

In the third, Timmy Wencewicz doubled home Wes Steele, Matt Bollinger singled home Wencewicz and Bollinger scored on an error to make the score 7-0.

Josh Eftink reached on an error in the fourth and scored on a fielder's choice by Scott Reinagel to push Notre Dame's lead to 9-0.

In the fifth, Notre Dame got an RBI double by Obermann, an RBI single by Tommy Wencewicz, then O'Rourke's homered to end the game.