Valle Catholic baseball (photo/courtesy valleschools.org)

Valle Catholic baseball (photo/courtesy valleschools.org)

The number one ranked Valle Catholic Warriors left no doubt they deserved their ranking.  They used offense, pitching and defense to defend their Class 2 title with a 7-1 victory over the New Bloomfield Wildcats, Thursday night at T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O’Fallon.

Valle first baseman Dan Bergtholdt drove in three runs, including a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning off New Bloomfield starter Tyler Fennewald.  Andrew Basler cruised through his first three innings on the mound and then helped himself out at the plate when the Warriors scored four times in the bottom of the third. Basler doubled down the line to drive in a run as Valle put up four on five hits. Bergthholdt added a sac fly in the fourth inning to make it 7-0.

Bergtholdt, who plans to attend Southeast Missouri State,  went 1 for 1 with 3 RBIs. He finished the two game tournament with six RBIs.

New Bloomfield catcher Derek Shikles scored New Bloomfield’s only in the fifth when he doubled and later scored on an error.  Shikles finished the two state games going 4-for-6 at the plate.  He had two of New Bloomfield’s three hits off Basler, who was also aided a strong defense that turned three double plays in the game.

Valle caps off their season with their third championship since 2009.  They have not gone a combined 60-8 over the last two seasons.