NOTRE DAME DANCES PAST DEXTER 4-1

Prom night isn't usually a big deal for a high school freshman, but Notre Dame freshman pitcher Brian Oberman had a night to remember Friday night in the Bulldogs' opening game of the Cape Central Big 8 Tournament.

With several of his upperclass teammates thinking of the Notre Dame prom to follow after the game, Oberman pitched three scoreless innings of no-hit ball for a save in the Bulldogs 4-1 win over Dexter at Capaha Field.

The win pushed the Bulldogs record to 15-3 and put them in the semifinals today where they will meet 2A rival Scott City (11-3) at 12:15 p.m., at Capaha Field. Dexter fell to 6-7 and will play in the consolation bracket today.

Oberman, getting his first taste of varsity action this season, picked up the save for starter Nathan McGuire. McGuire, the ace of the Bulldogs' staff, pitched the first four innings, allowing an unearned run on four hits. He struck out six and walked none.

Oberman, a left-hander who doesn't quite throw as hard as the flame-throwing McGuire, said pitching behind McGuire helped his performance.

"I had them off balance because I throw a little slower than Nathan and my curveball was working well," Oberman said with a grin. "I just came out there wanting to throw strikes."

With the Bulldogs leading 3-1 after four innings, most fans were probably surprised to see Oberman take the mound in the top of the fifth with the game still on the line. But Notre Dame coach Gregg Muench had already planned to use Oberman in the opening game this weekend and didn't back down from his plan with only a two-run lead.

"Sometimes I like to put players in a position where they're supposed to fail," Muench said, explaining why he used the freshman on the mound with the outcome still in doubt.

"That's when you really see what they're made of," Muench said. "Brian stepped up and did an excellent job for us."

Oberman, who had never pitched at Capaha Field before, admitted he was nervous taking the mound in the fifth.

"I was surprised I came in," he said. "When (the coaches) told me to warm up I was surprised."

But Oberman was never seriously threatened on the mound, allowing only one base runner to reach first (on an error) and striking out two.

"Brian throws strikes and has good command of a few pitches," said Muench. "He keeps the ball just out of the strike zone so it looks good to the hitters. (Dexter) was swinging away trying to hit the ball out of the park and Brian's effective when that happens."

The Bulldogs looked like they would run away with the contest after one inning, scoring three runs in the first for a 3-0 lead. Another freshman, Josh Eftink, put Notre Dame on the board with a two-run triple deep to right field that scored Chris Canfield and Dan Wittenborn. McGuire added an RBI-single to make the score 3-0.

But Dexter pitcher Derek Driskell settled down after the first, allowing only one more run in his six innings of work.

Dexter scored an unearned run in the third, after Driskell reached on an error and Ryan Jackson doubled him home. But Notre Dame added an insurance tally in the fifth to keep its three-run margin.

McGuire, who had two hits to lead the Bulldogs, singled with two out in the fifth and Trent Summers scored him with a long double to left.