Retooled Notre Dame baseball team roughs up Scott City

The Notre Dame baseball team is something of an unknown entity in area circles.

That's because the Bulldogs returned no starters from last season's 24-2 squad, which completed a two-year run of 53-3 that featured one state championship and two district titles.

"We've got some big shoes to fill," junior Cody Heisserer said.

The Bulldogs have been doing a nice job of that so far. They improved to 3-0 with Monday's 12-3 win over visiting Scott City.

"Everybody is stepping up and playing good baseball," Heisserer said.

Notre Dame's Tyler Buelow tags out Scott City baserunner Brett Dirnberger, who was trying to steal third base during the first inning Monday at Notre Dame. Notre Dame won 12-3. (Laura Simon)

Senior Eric Hayes said many people in the area expect the Bulldogs to take a major step back this season.

"It's a big motivator," Hayes said. "Nobody thinks we'll do crap this year."

Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett believes the Bulldogs are talented if not experienced.

"A lot of people don't realize the talent we had last year up and down, even the guys on the bench," said Graviett, whose 2010 team that lost in the state quarterfinals featured 12 seniors. "Now they're getting a chance to show what they can do."

Monday's matchup between new district rivals hastily was added to the schedule.

Notre Dame's Kyle Campbell makes contact against Scott City during Monday's game.

Notre Dame was supposed to play at Ste. Genevieve and Scott City was slated to visit Valle Catholic. Both games were wiped out because of wet field conditions.

Scott City coach Lance Amick got in touch with Graviett earlier in the day and the meeting was arranged.

"This time of the year, when it's about 50 degrees and sunny, you want to play," Graviett said.

The Rams (1-1-1) didn't perform nearly as well as Amick hoped. Four errors led to only five of Notre Dame's runs being earned.

"If you don't execute plays and don't get timely hitting, you're not going to beat good teams," said Amick, whose squad moved up to Class 3 from Class 2. "It's good to play this, to see one of your better district opponents."

Notre Dame, which is slated to visit Scott City on April 19, did a little bit of everything Monday.

The Bulldogs had 11 hits, all singles, stole six bases -- including a theft of home during a double steal -- put down two sacrifice bunts and turned a double play.

Hayes and Heisserer were strong on the mound -- only one Scott City run was earned -- while sophomore catcher Chase Simmons gunned down two Rams attempting to steal.

"I thought we played well in all facets, even though we made a few [three] errors," Graviett said.

Hayes notched his first varsity victory in his first varsity start. He worked the first 4 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run and seven hits. He struck out two and walked two.

"It was pretty exciting," Hayes said.

Heisserer, Notre Dame's ace, earned a save with 2 1/3 dominant innings. He struck out five and the only runner that reached against him did so on an error.

"I thought Eric battled well, and Cody is really throwing like an ace so far," Graviett said.

Heisserer entered with the outcome still in doubt.

Scott City scored a fifth-inning run to make it 7-3 and had the bases loaded with two outs for cleanup batter Jamie Scholz.

Heisserer fanned Scholz, the first hitter he faced, and cruised the rest of the way.

"I just went after them," Heisserer said.

Hayes, senior Alex Beussink and junior Kyle Campbell all had two hits for Notre Dame. Simmons, senior Tyler Buelow and junior Marc Rivas each drove in two runs.

Scholz, Scott City's senior ace, took the loss. He allowed seven hits and seven runs, five earned, in four innings.

"I was impressed with how we swung the bats against a quality pitcher," Graviett said.

Junior Landon Robert and sophomore Brett Dirnberger both had two of the Rams' seven hits.

Dirnberger's first-inning RBI double gave the Rams a quick 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs answered with three in the bottom of the frame, getting RBI singles from Simmons and junior Jessie Schott.

Notre Dame stayed in control the rest of the way and punctuated the victory with five sixth-inning runs, all unearned.

Scott City 100 110 0 -- 3 7 4

Notre Dame 302 205 x -- 12 11 3

WP -- Eric Hayes, 1-0. LP -- Jamie Scholz, 1-1. S -- Cody Heisserer. 2B -- Brett Dirnberger (SC). Multiple hits -- Scott City: Dirnberger 2-2, Landon Robert 2-4. Notre Dame: Hayes 2-3, Kyle Campbell 2-3, Alex Beussink 2-4. Records -- Scott City 1-1-1, Notre Dame 3-0.