Warriors Respond After Dropping Three Spots In Rankings

By Michael Boyd Jr.

mboydjr@stegenherald.com

In a battle of Catholic-school rivals, Valle Catholic rolled to a surprising 16-0 victory over nonconference foe Notre Dame in five innings Friday at NDHS in Cape Girardeau.

The 10th-ranked Warriors outplayed and outhit the Bulldogs, a powerhouse in many sports, especially baseball.

Notre Dame usually puts on a better show so the score was the surprise. However, this year they are struggling. They had three errors and were outhit 13-3 in this game.

It was the second shutout victory in as many days for Valle (12-3), both ending via the mercy rule. After taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, they exploded for 10 runs in the third and five more in the fifth to beat the ‘Dogs (5-6), who have lost three of their last four games.

Josh Bieser finished 3 for 3 with a double, walk and two runs batted in. Winning pitcher Grant Fallert also had three hits with two runs and an RBI.

Aiden Heberlie (triple, walk, two runs, two RBI) had two hits. Jackson Fowler (walk, two runs, RBI), Collin Vaeth (hit-by-pitch, walk, two runs, RBI), Michael Okenfuss (run, RBI), Isaac Viox (walk, run, RBI) and pinch hitter Nathan Schwent (two RBI) each had one hit.

Isaac Roth (stolen base, run) and courtesy runner Rylan Fallert (three runs) also contributed.

Fallert earned the win, allowing three hits and two walks, while striking out five. Heberlie struck out two in his only inning of relief.

Cole Lemons suffered the loss as the starter, allowing 11 runs (three earned) on seven hits and four walks, while striking out three. Aaron Thurston, Ben Pearson and Grant James had hits for Notre Dame.

The Warriors, who have won four of their last five games, including three straight, held senior night on Monday (Apr. 11) as they were host to Arcadia Valley.

That’s right, no more home games unless they host any of the MAAA Conference Tournament games or districts.

The Warriors visit homeschool powerhouse St. Louis Patriots on Wednesday, then visit MAAA foe Bismarck at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, then visit Parkway West for nonconference action on Monday (Apr. 18).

ν No. 10 Warriors 12, Valley 0 (5 inns): Valle Catholic opened up MAAA small-schools divisional play with a thumping over Valley Thursday evening at Alumni Field.

The 10th-ranked Warriors (11-3, 1-0 MAAA) scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, then added another in the second and seven more in the third for the eventual final tally via the 10-run mercy rule. They outhit the Caledonia-based Vikings 12-2.

Aiden Heberlie finished 2 for 3 with a double, two stolen bases, a run scored and drove in three runs.