Notre Dame falls in title game of SEMO Conference tournament

Kennett's Bud Hilburn related an early season story after the Indians' 7-5 win over top-seeded Notre Dame in Monday's SEMO Conference tournament championship game at Capaha Field.

"At the very beginning of the season there was two or three teams in the conference that were ranked in the state, and everybody was kind of looking at us, and as our coach said, 'We're kind of a like a snake in the grass,'" Hilburn said. "We showed we can play with everybody."

Kennett coach Aaron New was the one who made the analogy to his team, and he was right.

The snake has some bite, and Hilburn bore the fangs Monday night for Kennett (14-6).

He started the game at catcher but took over for starter Landon Vaughan just one out into the bottom of the first inning.

Notre Dame’s Griffin Siebert drives in a run against Kennett during the first inning of the SEMO Conference championship game Monday at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

From there all Hilburn did was limit the Bulldogs (21-3) to two runs on three hits in throwing the final 6 2/3 innings.

"My mentality every time I pitch is to see how many times we can defend the hit," Hilburn said. "I'm pretty sure I only had one strikeout, and that was the very last play of the game. I'm not a guy that's going to go out there and strike them all out, I just go out there and let us make plays, and that's what we did and got outs."

It was an emergency performance for the Indians after their 4-0 first inning lead evaporated.

Kennett struck for four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a majestic three-run blast over the left-field wall from standout shortstop Kevonte Mitchell on an 0-2 curveball.

"You get off to a good start in a game like this and then you're able to relax," New said. "Their pitcher settled said. "Their pitcher settled down and did a tremendous job against us the rest of the way, but getting off to a good start kind of jump started us and let everybody relax and let us play a little bit."

The Bulldogs stymied the feelings of elation in the bottom of the inning.

Notre Dame jumped all over Vaughan, plating three runs on three hits, two hit batters, and a walk in just a third of an inning.

Hilburn relieved Vaughan and coaxed a fly ball and a ground out to escape the inning with a 4-3 lead. Kennett never gave up the advantage.

"He's been tremendous all year and we've kind of been using him all year in relief because he throws lots of strikes and he can pitch his butt off," New said. "That's what he did today, just kept giving us a chance to win."

Kennett added to its lead in the top of the second and chased Bulldog starter Hunter Eftink just two batters into the frame.

The hitting stopped after that.

Hilburn silenced the Bulldogs and Notre Dame reliever Ross James held off Kennett.

Both relievers traded zeros until the bottom of the sixth.

Notre Dame's best chance may have came in the fourth when Hilburn walked the first two batters.

He recovered when Notre Dame's Blake Hagedorn popped up a bunt attempt to the catcher, Logan Heisserer grounded out to the shortstop and Josh Haggerty lined out to left field.

"We have to be able to put a couple more runs up on the board," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said.

The Bulldogs finally got to Hilburn in the sixth, trailing 6-3.

Heisserer had an RBI fielder's choice and Haggerty followed with an RBI single to left field to make it 6-5.

Hilburn responded – this time with his bat.

He lined a two-out double into the right-field corner to chase home a critical insurance run.

"That felt pretty awesome to get that insurance run," Hilburn said. "It could have made a big difference if that run would have scored and we'd have been in extra innings. I don't know how many more pitches I had left in the tank."

Kennett needed the insurance.

The Bulldogs certainly made it interesting in the bottom half of the seventh – and entertaining.

Luke Haines led off with a single up the middle, stole second, then advanced to third on Griffin Siebert's fly out.

Hilburn then walked Josh Jansen on four pitches to bring the winning run to the plate.

Graviett substituted Ross Essner to run for Jansen with Adam Pope at the plate and one out.

Hilburn caught Essner straying too far from first on a pickoff throw, resulting in a rundown. Essner was able to make it back to first safely after eluding a tag, however Haines took off for home and the Indians' second basemen fired a strike to the catcher, who applied the tag on Haines.

Hilburn finished off Pope with a curveball in the dirt to seal the win.

"They get the run to make it two, so first of all that puts you in a different situation because you're playing for two and trying to be aggressive on the bases," Graviett said. "We had a sophomore out there and he's trying to get a stolen base. Very aggressive kid, and he gets picked off but kind of does his job. He had his base back, but by that time I'm trying to make them make a play. Tip your cap to them, they made that play ultimately."

It was a big win for Kennett as it prepares for district play and another potential showdown with Notre Dame.

"Anytime you win a championship, it's a big win for you," New said. "The big win is at the end of the year when you get into your district, so there's still a long way to go and we have to find some way to get better in the next two weeks. But standing here in this moment right now, it's a huge win for us."

Kennett 420 000 1 -- 7 8 1

Notre Dame 300 002 0 -- 5 6 2

WP -- Bud Hilburn. LP -- Hunter Eftink. HR -- Kevonte Mitchell (K). 2B -- Tyson Campbell (K), Hilburn (K), Josh Haggerty (ND), Griffin Siebert (ND). Multiple Hits: Kennett -- Landon Vaughan 2-4, Mitchell 2-4, Hilburn 2-4. Notre Dame -- Haggerty 2-4, Luke Haines 2-2.