ALL TOP FOUR SEEDS REACH TODAY'S SEMIFINAL ROUND

The top four seeds all posted relatively routine victories Monday as the Class 2A, District 2 baseball tournament got under way in Cape Girardeau.

And in the process, the defending 2A state champion was eliminated from the postseason field.

Crystal City was the surprise 2A champ last year, but the Hornets were seeded just fifth for the eight-team District 2 field. They were bounced by fourth-seeded Woodland, which posted a 6-1 victory at Central High School.

Monday's other game at Central saw top-seeded Chaffee score all of its runs in the fourth inning as it knocked off stubborn No. 8 seed Scott City 6-1.

At Notre Dame High School, the tourney host and second-seeded Bulldogs destroyed No. 7 Charleston 16-2 in five innings while No. 3 Kelly defeated No. 6 Grandview 11-7.

The spotlight will be solely on Notre Dame's field the rest of the tournament, beginning with today's semifinals as Chaffee plays Woodland at 1:30 p.m. and Notre Dame faces Kelly at 4 p.m.

Thursday's championship game will be played at 4 p.m.

Chaffee 6, Scott City 1

The Red Devils improved to 21-2, but they didn't exactly walk all over the Rams.

Chaffee, in fact, had only one total hit in five of the six innings that it batted. But the Red Devils put together six hits during their six-run fourth that wiped out a 1-0 deficit.

"Scott City played us tough like we knew they would," said Chaffee coach Brian Horrell. "Their kids threw the ball well, but we were able to get going in that one inning and we're glad to move on."

Ace pitcher Matt Stroup raised his record to 10-1. He worked all seven innings, allowing two hits while striking out eight and walking two. He allowed just an unearned run in the opening frame.

Jordan Comer, who blanked Chaffee for three innings, suffered the loss as he was knocked out in the fourth. Jason Umfleet came on in relief.

Travis Hanback's RBI double in the fourth tied things at 1-1, then Rusty Duncan sent the Red Devils ahead to stay with an RBI single.

Scott City ends its season at 5-16.

Notre Dame 16, Charleston 2

The Bulldogs (17-6) continued their late-season surge as they run-ruled the Bluejays (9-13).

Notre Dame ripped 15 hits, including four from Shane Kistner and three from Andrew DePeder, who homered, tripled and drove in four runs. Kistner delivered two RBIs.

Todd Friend doubled twice while Matt Pobst and Scott Eftink added two hits apiece.

"It was another good hitting day for us," said Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett. "We've really been swinging the bats well."

Scott Wittenborn pitched the first three innings, allowing two runs and three hits, with three strikeouts and one walk. Freshman Lee Essner worked two scoreless frames, giving up one hit.

Losing hurler Lezcano Dean struck out five in the first two innings, but his defense was shaky early and Notre Dame finally began to hit him hard. In four innings, Dean allowed 14 hits and all 16 runs (13 earned). He fanned seven and walked six. Marcus Dixon pitched a scoreless fifth.

Notre Dame led just 3-2 after two innings, but a four-run third opened up some breathing room and a nine-run fourth turned the game into a rout.

Kelly 11, Grandview 7

The Hawks (12-14) built a big early lead and held off the Eagles (7-12).

Kelly, which led 11-2 after five innings, had 13 hits, sparked by a 4-for-4 performance from Chase Deason. Drew Moore tripled twice and had three hits along with two RBIs. Garrett Stricker and Major Burger added two hits each, with Stricker driving in a pair.

Stricker pitched six innings for the win, allowing five hits and three runs (two earned). He fanned four and walked three.

Ace Justin Simpher, looking to get in a little work before he faces Notre Dame today, was surprisingly roughed up as he allowed five hits and four runs while retiring just two batters in the seventh. Tim Schmitt recorded the final out.

"We hit the ball well and Garrett did a real good job pitching," said Kelly coach Mike Scott. "Justin usually does some throwing the day before a game and we just wanted to get him about 20 pitches."

Woodland 6, Crystal City 1

The Cardinals (15-6) continued their solid season as they eliminated the Hornets (8-13).

Kyle Long pitched a complete-game gem, allowing four hits, striking out 13 and walking none.

"He was on today," said Woodland coach Barry Stafford. "That's the best he's pitched all year."

Scott Crader had two of Woodland's seven hits. Long and Alex VanGennip each contributed two RBIs.

Woodland trailed 1-0 before scoring three runs in the fourth and adding three more in the fifth.

"I thought we played real well," Stafford said.