ND WEATHERS TWO-DAY GAME

Waiting almost 24 hours to resume their baseball game with arch-rival Cape Girardeau Central was well worth it for the Notre Dame High Bulldogs.

When rain suspended play late Monday afternoon at Capaha Field, the Tigers led the Bulldogs 3-2 in the bottom of the third inning.

The squads continued the fray Tuesday afternoon on a picture-perfect day at Notre Dame's sparkling new field.

And what a fray it was. The squads battled back and forth before a five-run sixth inning lifted the Bulldogs to a 12-10 victory.

Notre Dame thus continued its early-season assault on larger schools and the SEMO Conference. The Bulldogs are 5-0-1 overall, including 4-0 in league play. Class 2A Notre Dame has already defeated 4A squads Jackson, Sikeston and Poplar Bluff in addition to Central.

"To sit here with four conference wins already is nice," said Notre Dame coach Chris Neff, whose squad is ranked second in the state according to the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association. "But we know everybody will be shooting for us now."

Added Neff with a laugh, "One game played over two days...it was a wild one."

Central fell to 4-6 overall and 2-1 in conference play.

"It was a wild game," said Tigers' coach Steve Williams. "We had a good lead (9-5 at one point), but we knew Notre Dame wasn't done. They have good hitters up and down the lineup."

Offense basically dominated the contest, with the teams combining for 25 hits, 14 from the Notre Dame side.

Five Bulldogs had two hits apiece: Tommy Wencewicz, Wes Steele, John O'Rourke, Matt Bollinger and Todd Friend. Wencewicz and Steele both drove in two runs.

Zac Fidler and Richard Harrison both had three hits for the Tigers while Rick Davis and T.J. Erlacker each added two. Fidler doubled twice and drove in two runs. Harrison and Davis each had two RBIs.

Both pitchers who had started Monday returned to the mound Tuesday but it was evident that they had lost plenty of sharpness.

Notre Dame's Brian Obermann, seeing his first action this week after missing two weeks with a broken foot, allowed nine hits and nine runs in 4 2/3 innings, although only two of the runs were earned.

Central's Matt Welker gave up seven hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Neither starter figured into the decision.

"It had to be tough on both kids, to pitch both days," Williams said. "They tried their best, but both teams hit the ball well."

Josh Eftink got the win with 2 1/3 innings of relief. He allowed one run and two hits.

Justin Cook took the loss, giving up seven runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Trailing 5-3, Central exploded for six runs in the fifth -- all unearned thanks to a pair of key Notre Dame errors. Fidler and Davis had two-run singles.

But Notre Dame's potent offense would not be denied. Trailing 10-7 entering the bottom of the sixth, the Bulldogs used five hits to score five runs.

Friend's double tied the contest and Adam Seyer's sacrifice fly to deep center put the Bulldogs ahead for good.

"We have a good offensive team up and down the lineup," said Neff. "It's nice to know we're never out of the game."

Notre Dame is right back in action today, hosting Dexter.

Central entertains Sikeston Thursday.