MCGUIRE HURLS ND TO 7-0 WIN

POPLAR BLUFF -- Nathan McGuire did it again Monday as Notre Dame High's baseball team clinched at least a tie for its second straight SEMO Conference championship.

McGuire raised his personal pitching record to 8-0 as he dominated host Poplar Bluff in a 7-0 Notre Dame victory. The Bulldogs are 12-3 overall and 5-2 in conference play with one league game remaining.

McGuire, a senior righthander, allowed four hits and no walks. He struck out eight.

Tony Welsh was the losing hurler for Poplar Bluff, which fell to 2-9.

The Bulldogs banged out 12 hits, led by three apiece from freshman sensation Josh Eftink and Trent Summers. Eftink and Ben Gosche both homered.

Notre Dame broke a scoreless tie with a five-run fourth inning, keyed by a leadoff homer from Eftink and a two-run shot from Gosche. The Bulldogs added two runs in the seventh.

"Notre Dame hit the ball against us about as well as anybody has this season," said Poplar Bluff coach Pat Carda. "Right now we're the worst-hitting team in Southeast Missouri."

The Bulldogs will return to action today, hosting St. Vincent.