STEELVILLE — Beginning a three-game week last Monday in Steelville, Bryce Gehlert’s Belle Tiger baseball team looked to lock up their second consecutive Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) title with a road win in southern Crawford County at Steelville Community Park against the host Cardinals.

Nearly scoring in every inning, Belle took a 5-2 lead into the top of the six inning where they scored five runs before using a four-run frame in the top of the seventh to put the final touches on a 14-2 victory giving them the outright GVC title in baseball.

“Back-to-back GVC titles is a good feeling,” Gehlert said. “

Action started for the Tigers with the potential of a big inning right off the bat.

Garrett Gehlert led off the game with a walk before Hank Stratman was hit by a pitch.

Both runners moved up a base on a Gage Terrill ground out before a Ryder Butler RBI ground out allowing Gehlert to score gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead before Steelville’s first turn on offense in the bottom of the first inning.

After helping his own cause at the plate, Butler pitched around a hit and an error in the bottom half of the first inning keeping Steelville off the scoreboard.

Doubles were the story of the top of the second inning for the Tigers with Cameron Rehmert and Lathan Miller both scoring after recording a double in their respective at bats.

Steelville got a run back in the bottom of the second inning on a hit, a walk and two hit batters.

Belle added to their lead in the top of the fourth inning when Gehlert laced a RBI single to left field scoring Miller bumping the Tiger lead to 4-1 with Chase Trainor in the game as a relief pitcher for Butler.

Allowing just one run on four hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts over three and a third innings, Trainor earned the GVC title clinching win for the Tigers.

Looking to keep the pressure on the Cardinals, Belle tacked on another run in the top of the fifth inning when Easton Schroeder singled and scored on a Miller RBI single giving Belle a 5-1 lead moving to the bottom half of the fifth.

After allowing a solo home run to Steelville’s Jackson Woods leading off the bottom of the fifth inning, Trainor and Rehmert kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard the remainder of the game.

Five hits and two walks in the top of the sixth inning helped Bell double their run total to 10 runs for the game and increasing their lead to 10-2 after six innings.

Stratman, Butler and Schroeder each had a RBI in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Tacking on four more insurance tallies in the top of the seventh inning, Belle left Steelville with a 14-2 victory and GVC bragging rights for another year.

Luke Rohrer, Miller and Butler each had a team-high three hits for the Tigers while Gehlert and Stratman each also had multi-hit games with two apiece.

Butler also drove in a team-high four runs for Belle while Schroeder also recorded three RBIs.

Rehmert and Miller both also drove in a pair of runs while Gehlert scored a team-high three runs.

Crossing the plate twice for the Tigers against Steelville were Terrill, Butler, Miller and Rohrer.

Tigers vs. St. Elizabeth

Fresh off their second straight GVC title, Gehlert’s Tigers returned to Tiger Field last Thursday for senior night against Class 1 baseball powerhouse St. Elizabeth.

The Tigers had a tall task in front of them facing the top-ranked team in Class 1 baseball according to the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association (MHSBCA).

In a game that needed extra innings to decide a winner, Belle needed some two-out magic in the bottom of the eighth inning to help them post a 1-0 walk-off victory on senior night against St. Elizabeth.

Gehlert started a two-out rally in the bottom of the eighth inning with a single before a Stratman double set the table for Terrill.

Lacing a line drive into left field, Terrill delivered a walk-off single sending the Tiger Field faithful and Belle’s Tigers into a frenzy following their stinging win over the Hornets.

“Walking away with a 1-0 victory on senior night was one to remember,” Gehlert said. “We’re playing good, clean baseball right now and it is fun to watch.”

On the mound, Stratman pitched all eight innings earning the complete-game shutout win allowing six hits and a walk to go with nine strikeouts.

“Hank Stratman looked like “the big unit” (Randy Johnson) on the mound for all eight innings,” Gehlert said. “This was one of the best pitching performances I have seen in a long time.”

In spite of being out hit 6-4 by the Hornets, Stratman had two of those hits with Gehlert and Terrill each having one.

Drawing walks off of Hornet pitching were Rehmert and Gehlert.

Prior to their 1-0 victory over the Hornets, Belle Tiger baseball seniors Gage Newton, Cooper Durbin, Gehlert, Stratman, Trainor and Rohrer were recognized for their contributions to the Belle Tiger baseball program over the past four years.

Tigers at Capital City

A little over a week removed from a road win over the Jefferson City Jays, Gehlert’s Tigers returned to Jefferson City last Friday night to face Capital City’s Cavaliers looking to go 2-0 against both of Jefferson City’s public high schools.

Jumping out to a 3-0 lead after three innings, the Tigers used a solid pitching performance from Gehlert to run their win streak to five games following a 4-1 victory over the host Cavaliers.

“After walking away victorious against the Jefferson City Jays last week, it was spectacular to turn around and beat the other public school in Jefferson City in the Capital City Cavaliers,” Coach Gehlert said.

Following a pair of scoreless frames, Belle turned to the long ball to get on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning.

After a one-out single from Gehlert, Stratman deposited a 1-0 pitch over the left-field fence for a two-run home run giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead over the host Cavaliers.

Terrill capped the three-run frame by drawing a walk and scoring on a Rehmert RBI single.

Scoring ceased until the top of the seventh inning when Belle added an insurance tally.

Gehlert ignited a two-out rally with a single before being doubled home by Stratman giving the Tigers a 4-0 lead.

In spite of Capital City scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh, Gehlert earned the complete-game victory allowing just the one run on four hits and three walks to go with four strikeouts.

“Garrett Gehlert reminded me of Greg Maddux on the mound,” Coach Gehlert said. “He was keeping hitters off balance and making them hit his pitches.”

Ending their regular season Monday night against Vienna’s Eagles, Belle will open Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 3, District 8 Tournament action on Monday, May 18 against the winner of Cuba and Bourbon in the district semifinals at 3 p.m., at Tiger Field.