Van Buren wins south, Cardinal takes second

BURLINGTON ? One hit and one run was all Van Buren needed to secure a victory against Burlington-Notre Dame Thursday, but more importantly, the ourtight SEISC south division championship.

Lewis Russell was hit by a pitch to reach first, stole second and was sacrificed to third before scoring what proved to be the game winning run on a wild pitch. Tel Smith recorded the only Van Buren hit.

The one-run lead held up with the Warriors? two ace pitchers Jory Heckenberg and Michael Boyd combining for the seven-inning shutout. Heckenberg fanned one batter in 2 1/3 innings to start the game before Boyd struck out six in the final 3 2/3.

The win gives Van Buren a 15-1 record in conference play to claim the championship, but now they have bigger fish to fry. The Warriors are set to take on ninth-ranked Davis County ? a team that beat them in the only other meeting this year ? Saturday in Packwood at 5 p.m.

Cardinal 10, Notre Dame 0

ELDON ? Cardinal didn?t get a Van Buren loss that would have moved them into a tie for first-place in the SEISC south, but they did take care of their end with a 10-0 win against New London Thursday night.

The win avenged a 1-0 loss to the Tigers earlier this season and gives them sole possession of second-place in the conference standings. The victory was also 15-straight for the Comets as Coty Ridgway pitched the complete game two-hitter that featured 10 strikeouts.

Tanner Thorne led the offensive charge going 2-3 at the plate with two RBIs followed by Michael Goering also hitting 2-3. Colton Millard and Mitch Bloomquist were both 1-2.

The comets now have a full weekend of rest before heading to Moravia next Tuesday to open Class 1A district tournament play against Moravia.