Waterloo’s Cole Kaiping delivers the game-winning hit to left on Saturday. (John Spytek photo)

The Waterloo baseball team continued its quest for the promised land with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Monroe County rival Columbia on Saturday to win the Class 3A Mascoutah Regional.

The Bulldogs have yet to allow a hit this postseason. Two days after Cole Kaiping, Cole Milam and Lucas Goodsell combined to throw an abbreviated perfect game over Cahokia in a 13-0 win, senior ace Tyler McAlister kept the Eagles bats at bay with a complete game no-hitter.

Kaiping delivered the knockout blow with two outs in the seventh inning. With the bases loaded and a 2-1 count, Kaiping smacked an RBI single to left for the win. A large contingent of Bulldogs fans cheered loudly as the winning run crossed the plate.

“He squared it up and did a good job of hitting the ball the other way,” Waterloo head coach Mark Vogel said.

McAlister, who has led an impressive pitching staff all season with an ERA well below 1.00, only allowed one Columbia baserunner all game.

“You can’t say anything more about Tyler McAlister than throwing a no-hitter in the regional final,” Vogel said.

Luke Watson was the tough-luck loser on the mound for Columbia, going the distance while striking out five. Waterloo had five total hits in the game.

The Eagles, who edged Mascoutah, 1-0, in the regional semifinal, finish their season at 20-14 under first-year head coach Neal O’Donnell.

The Bulldogs (26-6) advanced to the Triad Sectional and will play Marion at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Valmeyer ended its magical season with an 8-0 loss at the hands of Okawville in the Class 1A Carlinville Sectional.

The Pirates (22-15-1) could only muster two infield hits off Okawville starter Shane Ganz. Valmeyer’s outfield lost two fly balls in the sun in the early innings, and a couple of additional defensive miscues just added to the day’s misery.

Last weekend, the Pirates won their first regional baseball title in 45 years.

Okawville ended Valmeyer’s season last year as well, in the regional final at Marissa.