NOTRE DAME STAYS UNDEFEATED, LAYS CLAIM TO TOP SPOT IN POLL

Maybe Notre Dame High's baseball team is the best in Missouri Class 2A. And maybe it isn't.

But when the next state coaches poll is released, the Bulldogs likely will stand on the top rung.

Senath-Hornersville, currently ranked No. 1, fell Friday to Shawnee (Ill.) in the Chaffee Tournament. So when No. 2 Notre Dame hosted No. 3 South Pemiscot in the Tiger Showcase Saturday, a bit more was at stake than the Bulldogs' unblemished mark.

The mark remains immaculate. Junior Josh Eftink was the star as the Bulldogs improved to 9-0 with a 7-4 victory at Notre Dame.

Bulldogs' coach Chris Neff said the triumph was significant, but was quick to point out the unscientific nature of the state poll.

"This is huge," Neff said. "We knew that this was maybe going to be a game for the first ranking in the state. But not that it matters to us one bit, because we'd like to play for the end of the season."

Eftink provided Notre Dame with a big bang to launch the game, a two-run home run in the first inning over the right-field wall. The blast was Eftink's fifth this season.

"I don't get to see too many fastballs up around waist high, so I just hit it," Eftink said. "It was pitched up and out, so I took it that way. I like to go opposite field with home runs sometimes whenever they're up and out."

South Pemiscot (6-2) countered with three runs in the second, including .700 hitter Greg Mathis' two-run single. But Notre Dame bounced right back in its half of the second with two runs to regain the lead, 4-3. Wes Steele doubled and scored on Tommy Wencewicz's double, and Nathan Essner walked and scored on Brian Obermann's groundout.

South Pemiscot tied the score 4-4 in the fifth but Notre Dame quickly grabbed the lead back on Steele's RBI single with two out in the fifth.

The Bulldogs added two runs in the sixth to pad its lead.

Right-hander Mark Ostendorf was relieved in favor of Eftink after walking the first batter in the sixth. Ostendorf allowed four earned runs on four hits and struck out seven. Eftink recorded five strikeouts in the last two innings. He escaped unscathed from a bases loaded spot in the sixth and struck out the side in the seventh.

"Mark Ostendorf gave us five strong innings," Neff said. "And Josh Eftink stepped in and he was on."

Notre Dame will play at Scott City Monday, then hang around to finish a game against Kelly that was suspended by darkness earlier this season. The teams are tied 6-6 after eight innings.