SEMO SOUTH FALLS TO MINNESOTA IN REGIONAL

LINCOLN, Neb. -- SEMO South's string of postseason victories came to an end Monday against Shoreview, Minn., in the winner's bracket final of the Junior Babe Ruth Regional Tournament.

The local squad, undefeated through nine previous playoff games, fell in six innings to Minnesota's state champs 12-2. Leading 4-2 after five innings, Shoreview used an eight-run sixth inning to put the game away.

"I guess that makes them 44-0," said SEMO South coach Russell Burger, in reference to the won-loss record Shoreview claims to hold. "They are a solid team. They hit the ball as well as any 13-year-old team I've seen."

Shoreview outhit SEMO South 13-4 with six of Minnesota's safeties going for extra bases. Trey Graviett hurled the first five innings for SEMO South, allowing seven runs. Patrick Friga relieved in the sixth inning, allowing the other five runs.

Shoreview scored first with two runs in the top of the second inning, but SEMO South answered those runs in the bottom half of the frame to tie the score. Sam Burnett ripped a bases-loaded single to score the local squad's first run and a sacrifice fly by Major Burger chased home the final SEMO South run.

Single runs in the third and fifth innings staked Shoreview to a 4-2 lead before the eight-run outburst in the sixth. Brent Thomason, Graviett, Burnett and Nathan Seyer all had one hit for SEMO South.

"We were in the game through five innings," Burger said. "We played right with them."

Comprised of 13-year-olds from four Southeast Missouri towns, SEMO South will play a familiar foe today at 1 p.m. in the loser's bracket final of the double-elimination tournament.

Iowa, which SEMO South beat 12-3 to open the tournament Friday, will meet the local squad again with the winner advancing to play Minnesota for the championship later in the evening.