~Burroughs claims 2A; Notre Dame takes third
COLUMBIA -- Marion C. Early won the Class 1A championship game, edging New Haven 5-4 in eight innings.
With bases loaded in the eighth, New Haven pitcher Jacob Scheer walked in the winning run as Jeremy Elmore crossed the plate to end the two hour affair.
Marion C. Early's Tyler Doke picked up the win, allowing one earned run, two hits and four walks in four innings of work. Staff ace Chris Gereleman threw the final four frames, allowing no runs or hits with five strikeouts.
Doke led the team offensively, batting 2-for-4 with two runs scored. New Haven ends with a record of 16-10. Marion C. Early finishes at 20-5. It is the school's first state championship in baseball.
Notre Dame blistered Springfield Catholic 12-3 on Thursday, winning the Class 2A third-place game.
The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead into the top of the fourth, then opened the floodgates with three runs in the fourth, two in the fifth, three in the sixth and three in the seventh.
Notre Dame (19-6) pounded out 14 hits in the game, led by first baseman Timmy Wencewicz and designated hitter Matt Wulfers, who were both 3-for-4.
Other hits came from Dustin Klipfel, Shane Kistner, Scott Wittenborn, Jeff Brosey, Blake Urhahn, Andy Ralls and Matt Smith.
Wayne Essner got the complete-game victory, allowing one earned run on eight hits and no walks. He recorded four strikeouts and faced 28 batters in his seven innings of work. Springfield Catholic (15-11) used four different pitchers in the loss, striking out just four Notre Dame batters.
Catcher Nick Meinhardt paced Springfield Catholic's offense, batting 2-for-4.
John Burroughs won the Class 2A state championship on Thursday, beating Kansas City's St. Pius X, 9-3.
Third baseman Cris Lange, catcher A.J. Van Slyke, left fielder Andrew Emory and designated hitter Scott Van Slyke were all 2-for-4, leading the Bombers to victory.
John Sternberg picked up the win, allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks. He also struck out six in his six innings of work. Lange came on in relief and threw the final inning for John Burroughs.
For St. Pius X, Eric Guettermann and Anthony Simone both went 2-for-4. Simone was charged with the loss. John Burroughs improved to 24-3 with the win while St. Pius X ended with a record of 22-5.