PERRYVILLE, BARBER SHAVE BULLDOGS IN HUGE UPSET 2-1

Perryville High's baseball team is not having a particularly impressive season -- but the Pirates looked like world-beaters Wednesday afternoon in pulling off one of the area's biggest upsets so far this year.

Notre Dame entered the contest regarded as perhaps the area's top team and one of the favorites to win the Class 2A state championship.

But the Bulldogs came up on the short end Wednesday as the visiting Pirates squeezed out a 2-1 victory.

The Pirates are now 7-10 while the Bulldogs fell to 11-4.

"We struggled early in the season," said Perryville coach Dennis Glueck. "We lost all of our pitching (from last year) and our outfield. We knew it would take some time.

"But these guys have come around the last couple of weeks and today we really played a good game. I'm real proud of the guys."

According to Glueck, Thomas Barber is Perryville's No. 4 pitcher -- but after the performance the right-hander had Wednesday, he might be moving up the charts in a hurry.

Barber, who is not overpowering, used virtual pinpoint control and solid defense behind him to shut down the normally potent Bulldogs on five hits, four of them singles.

In the first inning, Barber walked two batters and an error helped Notre Dame load the bases with one out. But he escaped that jam and did not issue another walk the rest of the way. Barber, who struck out just one, was quick to praise his defense.

"My defense definitely helped me out. They made a lot of good plays," he said. "This feels great, to beat a team like Notre Dame."

Said Glueck of Barber, "I was really surprised with the way he pitched. He hit the corners and we played defense behind him. He did a great job."

Particularly solid defensively for the Pirates was junior shortstop Colby Palisch, who showed plenty of range in making several impressive plays.

"He's one of the better infielders I've had," Glueck said of Palisch. "And he's just a junior."

Notre Dame received a mighty impressive pitching performance of its own as Josh Eftink allowed just six hits five of them singles while fanning eight and walking two. Both Perryville runs were unearned.

"Josh threw the ball well," said Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett. "But we didn't get many good swings at Barber and Perryville played well defensively. Their shortstop made several nice plays.

"We had the big win yesterday (Tuesday, at Sikeston) but we came back with little or no emotion. One day we play like the No.1 team in 2A and the next day we don't even come close. We've got to find some consistency."

Notre Dame, after squandering its bases-loaded, one-out chance in the first, broke out on top in the second with its only run. Brian Obermann singled with one out, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single by Tommy Wencewicz.

Perryville scored its two runs in the third. With one out, Palisch singled. Then, with two outs, Ryan Wichern reached on a critical error when his routine ground ball to second base was booted.

The Pirates took advantage of the miscue, getting consecutive RBI singles from Travis Mueller and Darin Deckard.

Both teams had solid scoring chances the rest of the way -- Perryville stranded eight runners in the game while Notre Dame left seven men on base -- but the pitchers were up to the task.

Notre Dame's final threat came in the sixth when pinch-hitter Chris Henley led off with a double, his team's only extra-base hit of the day. But, with runners on first and second and one out, Perryville turned a double play to end the inning.

In the seventh, Barber retired the Bulldogs in order -- all three batters grounded out to Palisch -- as the Pirates nailed down their biggest win of the season.

"I told the guys that this has to be a big confidence boost for us," said Glueck. "Not many teams beat Notre Dame."