VALMEYER -- The Fairview Heights Redbirds' "Freeburg connection" made itself known Friday in a first-round victory against Cape Girardeau, Mo., at the 37th annual Valmeyer Midsummer Classic.
Rob Blumberg pitched eight strong innings and blasted a solo home run while former Freeburg High teammate Jake Bayers added a two-run double and made a remarkable defensive play as the Redbirds moved into the semifinals with an 8-4 win at Borsch Memorial Park.
Fairview Heights (7-4) took a 3-0 lead in the third inning as Bayers drilled a two-run double, but it was the play he made right field during the fifth inning that had the large holiday weekend crowd buzzing.
Trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Cape Girardeau leadoff hitter Drew Pixley drove a Blumberg pitch to right field that Bayers, timing his leap perfectly, went over the fence and brought the ball back for a spectacular catch.
"We were talking about it on the bench and we all agreed that was probably the best catch we've seen," Redbirds manager Ed Emge said. "It was a great catch by Jake. The ball was well over the fence."
It was also a very important play because the next three Cape Girardeau hitters reached base safely. The inning ended, however, when Blumberg got Josh Eftink to roll into a double play.
The Redbirds added three runs in the sixth and survived a ninth-inning scare to move into the semifinals at 2 p.m. today against defending champion Waterloo.
The Millers defeated Millstadt 12-2 in the tournament opener Friday.
"We beat them (Waterloo) twice earlier this season, and that doesn't happen very often. I'm sure they'll really be ready for us," Emge said. "We're very young. We've got a lot of 19-20 year old players on this team, but we've had a good season so far."
The Redbirds added three runs in the sixth on an RBI double by Jesse Schmidt and run scoring single by Kyle Moll.
Brad Dunnigan and Blumberg hit solo home runs later as the lead expanded to 8-2.
Cape Girardeau cut its deficit to 8-4 in the ninth before Adam Hill got out of a bases loaded jam with a double play ball to end the game.
Waterloo 12, Millstadt 2
The Millers saw nine straight batters reach base safely in the third inning as part of a nine-run outburst as they blasted Millstadt in the tournament opener.
Travis Dawson had a two-run double and Craig Ohlau added a run-scoring single to highlight the outburst.
Veteran Corey Blackwell went the distance and struck out 10 for the Millers, which improve to 17-5.
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