TIGERS SETTLE FOR THIRD AFTER 11 'BIG' ERRORS IN SEMIFINALS

Cape Central's baseball team had a chance to play for the Big 8 Tournament championship Saturday, but the Tigers threw it away. And kicked it. And dropped it. And let it slip right through their mitts.

Central (12-10) committed 11 errors in the championship semifinal game against Mt. Vernon Saturday, ultimately losing 12-5 at Capaha Field.

But the Tigers regrouped one game later, played a much better ballgame, and took third place with a 9-3 win over Eureka.

Mt. Vernon (14-5) won the tournament with a 6-1 victory over Harrisburg (20-4) in the championship game.

Notre Dame (17-3) took the consolation championship with an 12-2 win over Mehlville (3-11) in five innings.

Against Mt. Vernon, the Tigers made at least one miscue in every inning, including five in the fourth.

Central coach Steve Williams had seen enough and pulled five players during a pitching change.

"There were no excuses for the way we played the first game," Williams said. "That's the most errors I've ever seen in any ballgame. ... And the disease wasn't just picking on one guy. It was everybody.

"We're not going to beat anyone playing like that. But if we play like we did against the other two teams (Owensville on Friday night and Eureka) and hit the ball around the ballpark and get decent pitching and make the routine plays, we have a chance."

In the fifth, with Central trailing 7-0, three Tiger substitutes -- Joe Hamilton, Bill Posey and Ty Fidler -- reached base to load the bases. Zac Fidler followed with a grand slam to cut the lead to 7-4. Josh McIntosh followed with another long ball to left and trimmed the lead to 7-5.

But the Tigers' momentum was quickly suffocated in the bottom half of the fifth. On the first pitch of the inning, Mt. Vernon's Jason Irwin hit a fly ball to left which was dropped by Ty Fidler. Two unearned runs would score in the inning.

Mt. Vernon scored three in the first, one in the third, three in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth. Eleven of Mt. Vernon's 13 runs were unearned.

Central starter Matt Welker and relief pitcher Hamilton gave up just seven hits. Central had six hits, including two from McIntosh.

Welker was tagged with the loss. He lasted 3 1/3 innings, and allowed eight runs (two earned) on two hits and three walks. He struck out two.

Central vs. Eureka

After a disastrous semifinal game, Williams could finally step off his emotional roller coaster, scope the tournament with a wide-angle lens and appreciate taking third place.

"I'll take 2-1 on this weekend," said Williams. "It could've been a lot worse. Third place in this tournament is a good goal."

Justin Cook recorded the win for Central, going the distance. He allowed three runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits and a pair of walks. He struck out two.

After spotting Eureka (9-6) a run in the first, Central scored four in the fourth. Eureka scored another run in the second to cut the lead to 4-2, but the Tigers tacked on one more in the third and four more in the fourth to coast to the victory.

Chris Barrows had three hits -- two doubles and a single -- in addition to a run and an RBI.

Mark Fisher and Posey each had two hits apiece. Fisher scored three runs and knocked in two, while Posey had an RBI and a run scored.

In all, Central posted nine hits. It committed three errors.

Notre Dame

The Bulldogs were able to bounce back from Friday's blowout loss to Harrisburg as they edged Paducah Tilghman 4-3 and then routed Mehlville 12-2 to claim fifth place.

Against Paducah, Brian Obermann pitched all seven innings, allowing just four hits while fanning nine and walking none.

Notre Dame had seven hits, with no player getting more than one.

Paducah's star was shortstop Curtis Pitt, who belted two home runs.

The Bulldogs then blasted Mehlville as Josh Eftink hurled all five innings, allowing five hits while fanning three and walking two.

Obermann and Nathan Essner both had two of Notre Dame's eight hits.

BIG 8 TOURNAMENT

Friday's Games

First Round

Cape Central 7, Owensville 3

Mt. Vernon (Ill.) 16, Mehlville 8

Eureka 11, Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman 2

Harrisburg 10, Notre Dame 1

Saturday's Games

Winners semifinals

Mt. Vernon 12, Cape Central 5

Harrisburg 13, Eureka 2

Losers semifinals

Mehlville 9, Owensville 5

Notre Dame 4, Paducah Tilghman 3

First Place

Mt. Vernon 6, Harrisburg 1

Third place

Cape Central 9, Eureka 3

Fifth Place

Notre Dame 12, Mehlville 2

Seventh place

Owensville 7, Paducah Tilghman 4