Notre Dame softball team wins district title

POTOSI, Mo. -- Notre Dame senior pitcher Katie Bond didn't get much of a reward for winning Thursday's Class 3 District 1 softball championship game.

The Bulldogs training staff removed the stitches in Bond's forehead after Notre Dame celebrated its eighth consecutive district crown.

"They were coming out no matter what," Bond said.

Bond silenced Park Hills' offense in the Bulldogs' 3-0 victory. She only allowed two hits.

"Them being so psyched up to play us really got me motivated to come out here and do my best," Bond said. "I was watching them when they played Perryville, and they were a good hitting team. I just knew I had to shut them out one way or another."

Notre Dame's Hali Rendleman, left, Summer Burger, Ashton Elfrink and Sadie Schaeffer celebrate their 3-0 victory against Park Hills in the Class 3 District 1 championship game Thursday in Potosi, Mo. (Kristin Eberts)

Bond struck out the first three batters but didn't fan another Rebels hitter. But her defense only committed one error and cleanly picked smashed grounders and routine balls.

"We just practice all the time," Notre Dame senior Jessica Menz said about the Bulldogs' defense. "We have a lot of confidence in Katie, and then that turns to our defense."

Bond, who usually does not strike out many batters, praised her teammates' defensive skills.

"Them being behind me, I feel comfortable if I mess up one, lay one right in there, I'm confident they're going to back me up no matter what," Bond said.

Park Hills cleanup hitter Georgia Richardson credited Bond's riseball for the Rebels' offensive woes.

Notre Dame's Katie Bond pitches during the first inning of the Class 3 District 1 championship game.

"She has a pretty good riseball and I'm a sucker for riseballs," Richardson said. "She's a very good pitcher and they're a very good ballclub."

Bond also earned the win in Notre Dame's 10-0 win over North County in Thursday's district semifinals. She said that outing helped prepare her for Park Hills.

"After I pitch one game, the second game I'm always right on," Bond said. "I feel comfortable. I know that I get it all out the first game, and then the second game I'm good to go."

While Bond was mowing down the Rebels, the Bulldogs' offense struggled to spark. Notre Dame (26-1) only collected three hits against Park Hills pitcher Taylor Friend. The Bulldogs did manage four walks, and Friend hit two batters.

"She was just throwing a lot of riseballs and stuff," Notre Dame senior Brianne Sanders said. "I think we handled it pretty well."

Notre Dame struck for a run in the third inning when Sadie Schaefer led off with a bunt single and scored when Brandi Glastetter's grounder evaded the shortstop for an error.

The Bulldogs tacked on two runs in the fourth without the benefit of a hit. Three walks and an error gave Notre Dame a 3-0 lead.

"You've just got to try to manufacture," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "You've got to try to get a runner in scoring position and then be creative or get them to third and find a way to do it. We were one big hit away from really opening this thing up. You've got to give their pitcher credit. She shut down every opportunity we had."

Notre Dame left at least one runner on base in every inning except the sixth.

"I wasn't frustrated," Menz said. "I knew our team would pull it out no matter what happened."

Bond retired the Rebels in order in the seventh inning. She flashed a big smile after delivering two pitches for strikes with two outs in the inning. When Hanna Stram's weak pop up to second base landed in Ashton Elfrink's glove, Notre Dame catcher Savanna Ayers rushed to the circle and hugged Bond. The rest of the Bulldogs quickly joined them to celebrate the district title.

"It's still exciting," Sanders said. "Sometimes you kind of lose sight of it because we've done this a lot. We have a great program and a lot of good girls in here. It never fails to surprise us. It's a great feeling."

The Bulldogs return to action Wednesday when they will play the winner of today's game between Festus and De Soto. Festus is the lone team to defeat the Bulldogs this season.

Semifinals

Notre Dame jumped on North County for three runs in the first inning and five in the second on its way to a 10-0 victory in five innings.

Glastetter and Menz both drove in three runs for the Bulldogs.

Notre Dame had 14 hits.

Glastetter's two-run triple in the first inning started the scoring, and Menz added a two-run double in the second.

Ayers' sacrifice fly to center field plated the Bulldogs' 10th run.

Notre Dame 3, Park Hills 0

Park Hills 000 000 0 -- 0 2 2

Notre Dame 001 200 x -- 3 3 1

WP -- Katie Bond. LP -- Taylor Friend. Records -- Notre Dame 26-1.

Notre Dame 10, North County 0

North County 000 00 -- 0 5 2

Notre Dame 350 2x -- 10 14 0

WP -- Katie Bond. LP -- Paige Faircloth. 3B -- Brandi Glastetter (ND). 2B -- Ashton Elfrink (ND), Summer Burger (ND), Jessica Menz (ND), Alicia Caro (NC), Emily Robinson (NC). Mutliple hits -- Notre Dame: Brianne Sanders 2-3, Hali Rendleman 3-3, Menz 2-3, Glastetter 3-3, Burger 2-3.