Reggie Schulte used his brains and talented right arm to help the Xavier Saints reach the championship game of the Class 4A football playoffs last fall as their star quarterback.

Tuesday night, Schulte used his same attributes on the mound to help the Saints defeat Bettendorf, 8-3, at Ken Charipar Field.

Xavier (14-8) has come out of its funk and has begun to put things together with five straight victories. The formula for success has been timely hitting, good pitching and defense.

That would describe the Saints' effort against Bettendorf.

“We got on top early and put the pressure on them,” said Coach Dave Schemmel. “We got some key two-out hits, Reggie threw well and we didn’t make an error. I’d say that’s how you win games.”

Schulte pitched a gem. He gave up four hits, struck out five and walked only one batter to earn a complete-game victory.

“I went out and did my job each inning,” said Schulte. “I pitch to contact. I have to hit my spots, keep the ball down and change speeds. (Luke) Hammerberg called a great game.”

In addition to his work behind the plate, Hammerberg went 3-for-3 and drove in three runs. He ended up a homer shy of the cycle. His big blow was a bases-loaded triple in the fourth inning.

“The thought of a homer kind of went through my mind when I went up for that last at-bat,” said Hammerberg. “My job was to move the runner and all I managed was a sacrifice fly down the right field line.

"Our hitting is coming around. We are beginning to pick each other up.”

Zach Brown and Mitch Keller collected a pair of hits and an RBI. Brown drove a pair of doubles down the left-field line and Keller added a pair of singles. Each of their RBIs came with two outs.

“Driving in that first run is important,” said Brown. “It gets us on top and puts pressure on the other team.”

“Those two-out RBIs can really make a difference,” said Keller. “They give us confidence and get to the other team a little bit.”

“Confident teams are the teams that win at tournament time and the teams that win the close games,” said Schemmel. “Everybody isn't going to hit every game, but we need to believe that we will get the hits. The pitching is there, the hitting is coming and our confidence is growing.”

Bettendorf scored all of its runs in the third inning. The Bulldogs got a two-hit, two-RBI effort from shortstop Alex Beals. Matt Albert got the other RBI with a single.

Xavier travels to Clinton Wednesday and hosts Iowa City High on Friday.

BETTENDORF (3): Broyles, cf, 3 1 0 0, Beals, ss, 3 1 2 2, Albert, c, 3 0 1 1, Ulrich dh, 2 0 0 0, Malsam, p/2b, 1 0 0 0, Rudsell, p, 0 0 0 0, Klabunde, 1b/3b, 3 0 0 0, Wernentin, rf, 2 0 0 0, McLaughlin, ph, 1 0 0 0, Muilenburg, lf/p, 2 0 0 0, Fitzgerald, ph, 1 0 0 0, Ambrose, 3b, 1 1 1 0, Hill, 1b, 1 0 0 0, Heimendinger, 2b, 1 0 0 0, Melton, p, 1 0 0 0. Totals 24 3 4 3.

XAVIER (8): Grimm, cf, 2 2 1 0, Woods, ss, 1 0 0 0, Pick, 1b, 2 1 0 1, Brown, 3b,4 2 2 1, Ratz, rf, 2 1 0 1, Hammerberg, c, 3 0 3 3, Drahozal, cr, 0 1 0 0, Meaney, lf, 3 0 0 0, Helms, dh, 2 0 0 0, Harriott, dh, 0 0 0 0, Schulte, p, 0 0 0 0, Keller, 2b, 3 1 2 1. Totals 22 8 8 7.

Bettendorf  003 000 0 - 3 4 2
Xavier         211 400 x - 8 8 0

Malsam, Rudsell (4), Melton (4), Muilenburg (6) and Albert. Schulte and Hammerberg. W - Schulte. L - Rudsell. 2B - Beals, Brown 2, Hammerberg. 3B - Hammerberg.