FULTON, Mo. - The Fatima Comets began the Fulton Tournament on Monday with a 12-4 first-round win against the North Callaway Thunderbirds.
Fatima used three pitchers in the win, as Gage Cunningham struck out two batters in two scoreless innings as the starter and Evan Kliethermes had one walk and one strikeout while allowing one run in the next two innings. Daniel Kleffner tossed the final three innings, striking out four while giving up three runs on four hits.
A five-run second inning proved to be enough for second-seeded Fatima, which led 6-0 after two innings and 10-1 through three innings.
Jake Boyce went 2-for-3 with a singles and a double, while Dean Hagenhoff added a two-run double.
Fatima (15-4), which is ranked No. 8 in Class 4, will play sixth-seeded Eldon in the semifinals at 6:30 p.m. today in Fulton. The Mustangs upset third-seeded Hallsville for a 3-2 win Monday at Southern Boone.
In other first-round action Monday, top-seeded Southern Boone routed Moberly 12-1 and fifth-seeded Fulton defeated Mexico for the second time in four days, winning this matchup 10-6.