CAPE CENTRAL CLAIMS STATE BASEBALL CROWN

COLUMBIA -- The Cape Girardeau Central High School Tiger baseball team won the Class 4A state championship Saturday night, beating Joplin 8-1.

The win capped a 23-4 season for the Tigers and produced the school's first state championship in baseball in 32 years.

The final two rounds of the state tournament were played at Simmons Field on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus.

Joplin ended its season 22-5, with the loss snapping an 18-game winning streak.

Righthander Talley Haines pitched Central to the victory, limiting the Eagles to five hits. Joplin had scored 17 runs in its semifinal win Friday.

Shortstop Lance Craft tied a state championship record by driving in four runs. He collected two hits in the title contest.

Robert Kern doubled and tripled in Saturday's game and scored three of the Central runs.

Central advanced to the championship game with an 11-1 rout of Hazelwood Central Friday. David Michel pitched a complete game in nailing down that win.

In the quarter final round, the Tigers beat Parkway West 14-2.

A welcome home ceremony for the state champions is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today at the high school gymnasium.

See story on Page 1B.