South Central Edges St. Anthony for NTC Tourney Championship

The South Central Cougars scored three runs in the first inning and made them stand up to take a 3-2 win over the St. Anthony Bulldogs and capture the championship of the National Trail Conference Baseball Tournament at Altamont Saturday.

St. Anthony had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before South Central scored their three runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-1 lead.  St. Anthony pushed across another run in the sixth, but the Cougars held on for the win.

Tyler Ross went the distance to pick up the win for South Central, allowing the two earned runs on eight hits while walking just one batter and striking out eight.

Rentfrow took the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing all three South Central runs on five hits in one inning of work, walking one and fanning two.  Alex Hoelscher pitched the final five innings, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out six.

At the plate for South Central, Kyle Bray singled twice and drove in a run, Dylan Smith doubled and singled, Noah Powless singled and drove in a run, and Brett Harmeier singled and drove in a run.

For St. Anthony, Austin Bushur doubled and singled, Eli Dasenbrock singled, Alex Hoelscher singled and drove in a run, Jacob Lorenz singled and walked and scored both Bulldogs runs, Braden Puckett singled and drove in a run, Eric Gurtner singled, and Rentfrow singled.