ORAN HITS PEAK BEFORE DISTRICT, ENDS IN VALLE

ORAN -- Valle High of Ste. Genevieve has an athletic program renowned for its tremendous football teams over the years.

Baseball, however, normally hasn't come to mind when Valle is mentioned -- at least not until now.

The Warriors won their first district baseball championship Friday afternoon when they beat host Oran in the finals of the Class 2A, District 2 Tournament.

Valle, seeded second in the district, will carry a 12-11 record into Thursday's 1A sectional game at Holcomb. Top-seeded Oran, which had won three straight district titles, finished another fine season at 17-2.

"This is very exciting for the kids," said Valle coach Dale VanDeven. "We've played a tough schedule and that helped us get ready for this."

Before Friday, Valle had never even played in a district championship game. This is the Warriors' first season competing in Class 1A; the squad had previously competed in the 2A baseball playoffs.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Valle lost both games during the four-team Oran Tournament, being pounded by Oran 12-2 and also losing to Advance.

But Valle ace Nick Fallert did not pitch either of those games. He was on the mound Friday and he dominated the Eagles, limiting them to four hits and only a seventh-inning run. Fallert, not overpowering, struck out three and walked one.

"He's a really good pitcher, really smart," VanDeven said. "We've won most of our games when he was on the mound."

Things fell into place for Valle this week when Fallert only had to pitch three innings during Wednesday's semifinal romp past Bell City. Fallert was thus able to come back Friday and hurl all seven frames.

"That (the easy semifinal win) couldn't have worked out any better for us," said VanDeven. "We're a different team with Nick on the mound."

Oran coach Mitch Wood, while disappointed with the loss, tipped his cap to Fallert.

"If you don't score runs, you don't win," he said. "I credit their pitcher. He threw a good game."

Justin McAlister worked only one complete inning as he took the loss. McAlister, who was replaced in the second before retiring a batter, allowed two hits and two runs. He was hurt by wildness with five walks.

Dustin Dannenmueller pitched effectively for 5 2/3 innings, allowing just one earned run and four hits while fanning four and walking none. But Valle got three unearned runs in the top of the seventh to break the game open.

Valle had seven hits and two home runs, a solo shot by Kyle Drury leading off the game and a two-run blast in the seventh by Jeremy Weiler that put the Warriors ahead 6-0.

"We're an offensive team," said VanDeven. "We've tied our school record with 27 home runs and our cleanup man (Weiler) has eight. That's been our ticket all year."

Oran's four hits came in two innings. Dustin Glastetter and McAlister singled in the third while Billy Loper and Steven Bickings doubled in the seventh, Bickings delivering the RBI that finally put the Eagles on the board.

"It's a disappointing way to end, but that's baseball," Wood said.