Notre Dame hands Sikeston first loss

Sikeston has only two losses in its last 16 games dating back to last year.

Both of those have come at the hands of Notre Dame Regional High School, with the second loss coming on Tuesday in a 5-3 decision at Notre Dame.

"Any time you beat a team like Sikeston, which is a big program and No. 1 in the state, that's a huge win for our program," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said.

Sikeston, which lost to Notre Dame as heavy favorites in the Class 3 district final last year, had started this season 14-0, with a 7-0 conference record. One of those conference wins was a 10-5 win over Notre Dame at Sikeston in the first days of the season.

"We were in the first game, and today we came out and beat them," Graviett said. "I think we raised the bar."

Notre Dame (11-4) starter Lee Essner was on his game from the opening pitch. Essner breezed through the first inning, jamming Sikeston phenom Blake DeWitt for the final out.

"I really felt like I was spotting the ball well," Essner said. "That's the key."

In the bottom of the first, Notre Dame took advantage of some poor Sikeston fielding to take an early hold on the game. Lee Essner reached on an error and Jacob Essner reached on a bunt that was fielded poorly by the pitcher. Back-to-back hits from Matt Wulfers and Blake Urhahn put Notre Dame up 2-0.

It looked like Notre Dame would break the game open with two runners on and no outs, but No. 5 hitter Tony Longman struck out looking after failing to get a sacrifice down and Matt Wulfers was thrown out attempting to steal third on the called strike.

"We're going to put pressure on them," Graviett said of Wulfers being thrown out at third. "I was a little more disappointed we didn't get the bunt down."

Sikeston got on the board on a bloop hit from J.R. Bizzell in the second, and had another scoring chance in the third inning. After retiring the first two batters in the third, Essner allowed three straight hits to load the bases. Sikeston cleanup hitter Cullen DeHart popped the ball up to strand the runners.

"He's a battler," Graviett said of Essner. "No question he's our ace."

Notre Dame led 3-1 going into the fifth inning, but Sikeston put together a two-out rally to tie the game. After a double and a hit batsman, Essner hung a pitch to Sikeston catcher Jacob Priday, who nearly hit it out of the park. Both baserunners scored to tie the score at 3-3.

Fortunate to be tied after Priday's mammoth shot stayed in the yard, Notre Dame went back on the offensive in the bottom of the fifth. Jacob Essner started with a single, Wulfers walked and Longman was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Dane Balsmann hit one deep into the outfield to score Essner, and an errant cut-off throw to third allowed Wulfers to score, making the score 5-3.

"It's all about finding the little holes," Lee Essner said of Notre Dame's offense. "We made the most of our chances. You reach any way you can."

Notre Dame's defense, which played error-free ball throughout the game, came up big in the sixth. Sikeston had runners on second and third with one out when Brad Deere lifted a potential sacrifice fly to right field. Urhahn caught the ball and gunned down DeHart at the plate to keep the score at 5-3.

"He just made a great throw," Graviett said.

Essner made short work of Sikeston in the seventh to collect his sixth victory. Over seven innings, Essner struck out five, allowed six hits, hit two batters and walked one.

Essner said his catcher, Balsmann, really helped him have a great game.

"He came up to me before the game and told me everything would stay in front of him," Essner said. "We were on the same page all day. He deserves a lot of the credit."

Jacob Essner had two hits to lead Notre Dame's six-hit attack.

Priday and Bizzell each had two hits for Sikeston.