CAPE GIRARDEAU — When Monday rolls around, it will be a do-or-die situation for high school baseball teams. In the Class 3 District 1 tournament, the Sikeston Bulldogs will have their hands full from the opening game as they will battle with the Perryville Pirates at Cape Central’s field.
“We played them (Perryville) up there and Garrett Limbaugh beat them and threw really well,” said Sikeston head coach Kevin Self of his opening round opponent. “They’ve got a left-hander that throws really well. We got three runs off of him in the first inning and we didn’t get anything else.”
“We hit some balls hard and their outfield made some diving catches,” he added. “They can play and they’re not bad. I think Jackson beat them the other day 7-4, so I think it’ll be a ball game.”
The Bulldogs were given the No. 4 seed in the eight team field. They’ll face a difficult No. 5 seed in Perryville, whom they defeated earlier in the season 3- 0 while Limbaugh was on the hill.
Self said that Limbaugh will more than likely get the nod in Monday’s contest, stating that he’s already beat them once and they have to get a win to advance.
In seven innings pitched, Limbaugh allowed no runs on two hits and two hit batters, notching five strikeouts in the victory.
“You better go in with a clear mind that you better be able to throw your best hurler every game,” said Self, when asked what he expected from the tournament. “I will do that. The best I’ve got available, that’s the guy I’m throwing. If everybody doesn’t do that then they’ll get beat.”
“New Madrid County Central has Notre Dame and Dexter has got Fredericktown, and all of those guys have got pretty good players and pretty good arms,” he added. “I think that everybody in our district has a shot. You just never know. I think you just may see some big upsets in our district.”
Aside from Sikeston’s game on Cape Central’s diamond, all other games will be played at Notre Dame High School just across the interstate. Self said that the home field advantage could be a big factor in the outcome of the tournament.
“Obviously with Notre Dame playing at their place they’ll be good,” he said. “Notre Dame and Dexter are probably the two best teams, that’s for sure. But, anything can happen on any given day.”
The unexpected is exactly what NMCC head coach John Jones would like to see happen on Monday afternoon. His No. 8 seeded Eagle squad will have the ultimate test of defeating the No. 1 seeded Notre Dame Bulldogs on their home turf.
“Notre Dame is going to hit the ball,” said Jones of his first round opponent. “We’re going to have to keep the errors to a minimum and keep the pitches down. If you get it belt high on them, then they’re going to drive it and score runs off of it.”
“Their pitching is pretty good as well,” he added. “They’re the No. 1 seeded team and there’s a reason for that. It’s going to be an extreme challenge, but we’re going to go up there and give it our best effort.”
NMCC will face Notre Dame at 3:30 p.m. on Monday at Notre Dame.
Rounding out the field of eight will be No. 3 Kennett vs No. 6 Doniphan at 5:30 p.m. and No. 2 Dexter vs No. 7 Fredericktown at 7:30 p.m. Both of those games are also scheduled to be played at Notre Dame’s facility.
The Bulldogs will begin their contest with Perryville at 4 p.m. at Cape Central. The winner of the 4 vs 5 game and 1 vs 8 game will play Tuesday at 4 p.m. and the winner of the 3 vs 6 game and 2 vs 7 game will follow at 6:30 p.m. The championship game is set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, also at Notre Dame.
