Sikeston's Matt Ritch slides into home plate while the ball gets by Perryville catcher Waylan Sparkman Monday afternoon at Cape Central High School. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat) [Click to enlarge]

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Sikeston head coach Kevin Self wrapped up the season with this final phrase: "Perryville was just better than we were today."

The Pirates were more than the Bulldogs bargained for on the diamond Monday afternoon in the first game of the Class 3 District 1 tournament, as they won 9-1 in seven innings.

Perryville pounded out 10 hits against a combination of Sikeston hurlers beginning with starter Garrett Limbaugh and ending with the duo of Matt Ritch and Charlie Bohannon in relief.

Two runs crossed in the second inning for the Pirates, as Craig Brueckner led the inning off with a double roped down the left field line. Justin Daily then hit a liner up the middle before the Bulldogs finally ended the threat with a double-play four batters later.

Sikeston plated one in the bottom of the third inning after combining a leadoff double by Matt Ritch, a walk to Scott Droddy and a few fielder's choice ground balls.

The run would be the lone offensive tally for the No. 4 seeded Bulldogs as the Pirates defense went on lock-down for the remaining four innings.

Sikeston had the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning with clean-up hitter Vince Howard at the dish. Howard hit a sharp ground ball up the middle, and as Perryville second baseman Luke Ponder was darting to cover the bag on the hit-and-run play, he took the charity hop and turned the easy double play to end the threat.

"It just kind of sunk us," Self said. "If that gets through, who knows? We may get back in it, but after that we give up a couple of runs."

For the remaining two innings, the Pirates added to the six runs they had already scored, pushing three more runs across to put the game in their favor by a considerable margin.

John Hecht was the hero of the day for Perryville, as he received the win on the mound and supported his own cause at the plate by going 3-for-5 with two singles, a triple, a run scored and two RBI. On the hill, Hecht allowed six hits, walked four and struck out seven. The last time out against the Bulldogs, Hecht suffered the loss, but only allowed three runs in the first inning to Sikeston before settling down and holding the Bulldogs scoreless the remainder of the outing.

"To be honest, I thought that he pitched better this time really than he did the first time," said Perryville coach Don O'Keefe of his starting pitcher. "John decided that he didn't have to strike everybody out, and that if he put it in play, that the defense could do it for him. Every year you know Sikeston is going to try to come out and stick it to you, so it was nice that he threw good today."

Hecht wasn't the only one swinging a good bat on Monday afternoon. Lance Roth and Brueckner also had big days at the plate, as Roth went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, a run and an RBI and Brueckner finished the day 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, a walk, two runs scored and an RBI.

Self said that Hecht was just too much for the Bulldogs on Monday afternoon. "

"That kid was just good," said Self. "I knew he would be a handful. He through the ball well when we were up there before playing them. We tried to get ready for him, but it didn't really matter.

Josh Pierce was the only hitter for Sikeston with more than one hit in the book. Pierce finished the day 2-for-4 with two singles. Seth Baker and Nick Lambert each recorded a single apiece and Cody Anderson and Lambert both chipped in with a double apiece.

Limbaugh suffered the loss, going 5 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits and three walks. Limbaugh struck out five while on the mound.

The Bulldogs wrap up the 2008 season with a 13-10 record and will graduate nine seniors this season.

Perryville advances to the semifinals where they will face Notre Dame at 4 p.m. today on Notre Dame's home field.

Notre Dame 18, NMCC 1

Notre Dame sophomore Colton Young smashed a grand slam in the first inning, and Austin Greer hit a two-run homer in the second inning to help No. 1 Notre Dame rout No. 8 New Madrid County Central 18-1.

The Bulldogs (15-6) advanced to today's 4 p.m. semifinal game against No. 5 Perryville.

Senior Mark Himmelberg earned the win, tossing two innings and striking out five. He did not allow a hit.

Jake Pewitt threw the next two innings, giving up one earned run on two hits, while Aaron Tomaszewski threw a scoreless fifth inning.

Dylan Drury is scheduled to pitch today against the Pirates at Notre Dame.