Notre Dame falls in final at IWA tourney

~ The Bulldogs lost for the first time this season, as the host team won on a home run in the seventh.

ST. ANN, Mo. -- One swing of the bat from Incarnate Word Academy third baseman Heather Arras spoiled any thoughts of an undefeated season for the Notre Dame softball team.

Arras hit a home run to center field to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Red Knights a 2-1 victory in the championship game of the Incarnate Word Slugfest Tournament on Saturday evening at ABC Park.

"I had heard comments from people who were impressed by our record but they said we didn't play anybody," said Incarnate Word coach Tony Moody, whose team improved to 13-1. "I don't think we are going to hear that now. Every team in the eight-team top bracket was top notch. It was a very tough bracket."

Incarnate Word had back-to-back wins over a pair of undefeated teams Saturday, beating Fort Zumwalt South, the top-ranked team in St. Louis, 3-2 in the semifinals on the strength of a three-run seventh inning before the win over the Bulldogs.

"It would have been nice to have won this tournament," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "But we are still 14-1 and having a great season. And we hope to be playing for the big prize at the end of the season."

The championship game was scoreless until Incarnate Word's Erin Gregory hit a home run to left field in the fourth inning.

Notre Dame scored in the sixth inning. Paris Burger led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Erika Reinagel. Kristain Burger singled, sending Paris Burger to third. The Bulldogs executed a suicide squeeze with Miranda Schlosser at the plate. A walk to Heather Menz loaded the bases with one out but Incarnate Word shortstop Katie Keim made a super play on a grounder by Cortney Ostendorf and got a forceout at the plate. Allison Peters popped up to end the inning.

"The play by their shortstop saved the game for them," Graviett said. "We would have scored two runs on the play and had tons of confidence, and Miranda was throwing very well."

Notre Dame went down in order in the top of the seventh before Arras sent everybody home with the walk-off homer.

Bulldogs ousted Kelly

Notre Dame advanced to the championship game with a 7-6 victory against Kelly in the semifinals.

The Hawks scored three runs in the seventh inning, and it took a good play by third baseman Peters and first baseman Kristain Burger on the last play of the game to save it for the Bulldogs.

"We went down swinging, and that is all you can ask as a coach," Kelly coach Rhonda Ratledge said. "It was an outstanding tournament for us. We were coming back all of the time."

Kelly scored three in the seventh to beat Louisiana 3-1 in pool play and scored four in the sixth and final inning to beat Hazelwood Central 6-4 in the semifinals. Kelly is 12-2 with both losses coming against Notre Dame, one against its junior varsity team.