AREA BASEBALL, SOCCER TEAMS IN STATE SECTIONALS; KELLY HOSTING SENATH IN 2A SECTIONAL

Last season, the Kelly Hawks baseball team rode a district upset of Notre Dame all the way to an unexpected third-place finish in Class 2A.

With several players returning from last year's squad, expectations entering this season were much higher for the Hawks.

So far, as Kelly prepares to host the Senath-Hornersville Lions in today's 2A Sectional at 4:30 p.m., the Hawks are on track to fill those expectations.

"We're looking forward to it," said Kelly coach Mike Scott. "We're confident we can play well and we're confident with our abilities and what we can do."

The Hawks, who started the season ranked third in the 2A coaches poll, are currently unranked with a 20-4 record. Senath, coming off a dramatic extra-inning district-championship win, is ranked ninth with a 19-7 mark.

"I believe our two districts, top to bottom, are the toughest districts in the state," Scott said. "Winning districts is an accomplishment in itself."

As the second seed, Kelly won the District 2 title over top-seed Notre Dame 8-7. Senath claimed the District 2 championship over South Pemiscot 3-2 on an eighth-inning home run by sophomore Jonathan Binkard.

Binkard should also be a key figure in today's game as the Lions' starting pitcher with classmate Chris McLain and junior Jonathan Payne waiting in relief. Kelly will counter with its ace, senior Denver Stuckey (6-1, 2.63 ERA).

"In a one-game situation, I like what we have going," Scott said. "We're hitting the ball well and I think we're a capable team."

Jason Glastetter (.418) leads three Hawks with batting averages above .400. Stuckey (.403) and Brad Kolwyck (.400) are the others. Stuckey and Glastetter both have over 20 RBIs.

Senath coach Randy Smith said he's got five or six players batting over .350, led by power-hitting senior Jarred Cude. The Lions' catcher, Cude has about 10 home runs batting in the fifth slot. Senior first baseman Brian Brannun and outfielder Derrick Anderson are also players to watch.

"They're a good, sound, fundamental team," Scott said of Senath, which won the 1994 2A title. "They have a lot of smart kids that know how to play the game. They're the kind of team that won't beat themselves."

One thing that concerns Smith is playing on the Hawks' home field. Senath practices and plays on a grass infield, but will find nothing but dirt on Kelly's home field.

"We're going to their place and that may be a factor," said Smith. "Anytime you go to someone else's yard and they have a dirt infield and we have grass ... it can make a difference."

The way the Hawks have been playing, field conditions might be the least of the Lions' worries. Kelly is on a 10-game winning streak which started earlier this month after a 7-0 loss to South Pemiscot.

"We had a little lull where we lost three games in a row, then we really loaded the schedule (late in the season) and that got us going on the roll we're on," Scott said. "We're playing the best baseball we've played all season and that's all you can ask for."

Both squads have wins over 4A-ranked Sikeston and Kennett from Class 3A, but Senath went 2-1 against South Pemiscot while Kelly lost its only game with the Bulldogs.

"We just have to execute and handle the ball well," said Smith. "Our pitching and defense has to be strong."

* After ending Cape Central's season, Sikeston will go to De Soto for today's Class 4A Sectional in an attempt to stop the Dragons' upset string.

Sikeston, ranked 10th in the state with a 17-3 record, will meet a De Soto squad that won the six-team District 2 title as the fifth seed. The Dragons are 11-9.

Sikeston ace Brent Self (7-1, 1.20 ERA) will start on the mound for the Bulldogs.