SIJHSAA State Baseball: Warriors Hold Back Jr. SWEC rival

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[There's an old saying-"It's hard to beat a good team three times in one season"-that's mostly applied to basketball.

However, at least in this case, the statement certainly pertains to junior high school baseball.

Defending Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association (SIJHSAA) Class L State titlist Du Quoin (Middle School), faced Junior Southwestern Egyptian Conference (Jr. SWEC) rival for the third time Saturday morning.

The game, which opened the 2009 state tournament, ended in dramatic fashion as DMS reliever Camdon Mercier struck out a Murphysboro batter with the bases loaded.

Du Quoin, 21-3, held on to beat the Blue Devils 9-7 and again reached the semifinal round.

At 1 p.m. Tuesday, weather permitting, the Warriors play Harrisburg (20-4). Waterloo and Carmi tangle in the second semifinal contest.

Saturday's win was the third of the season for DMS against Murphysboro.

The first victory was an 11-run decision, but the final two weren't decided until the final out.

DMS led 8-0 entering the fifth before Murphysboro began its rally.

"Our kids really came to play today," Warriors coach Tim Craft said.

"We got off to a fast start. Camden (Youngman) gave us a great effort on the mound. He got a little tired at the end but was really great out there."

Youngman worked into the seventh, striking out 12 and issuing just one walk. He scattered eight hits before Mercier entered to close things out and earn the save.

At the plate, AJ Smith went 3-for-4 with a double and triple. Dalton Bigham doubled and was 2-for-4 while adding two more RBI.

Mercier (double) and Kody Hess added RBI hits. Youngman and Spencer Cook both contributed RBI safeties.

"Dalton Bigham and AJ Smith had great days at the plate," said Craft.

"We just need to do a better job of finishing off our opponents at the end."

DMS and Harrisburg have split two previous meetings this season.

Last year, the Warriors rallied to defeat Harrisburg in the state championship game. Also Saturday, Harrisburg eliminated Swansea (Wolf Branch) 7-1 and Waterloo edged Salem, 9-6. In the final game, Carmi knocked out O'Fallon (Carriel Middle School) 8-2.

The finals are set for Thursday afternoon at Rigdon Field.