AREA PREP SPRING SPORTS SEASON BEGINS THIS WEEK

The weather might not be totally cooperating yet, but that won't stop the spring sports season from getting under way for area high schools.

Spring sports in Southeast Missouri officially get going this week. A host of squads will begin their seasons today, with others to follow in the coming days.

As usual, the area will feature its share of top-flight squads in baseball, girls soccer, track & field, boys tennis and boys golf.

One baseball team grabbing plenty of state-wide attention is Notre Dame, which finished second in Class 2A last year and, with virtually its entire lineup returning, is the preseason No. 1 team in 2A.

Led by, among others, slugger Josh Eftink and standout pitcher Brian Obermann, the Bulldogs -- who went 26-4 last season -- will aim to bring home the state championship in 2000.

Oran also had a banner baseball season last year, going 22-6 and finishing third in the state in Class 1A. But the Eagles graduated a host of standout players and will face a major challenge in trying to return to the 1A Final Four.

A team expected to contend for the 1A title this year is Advance, which is ranked high in the preseason poll and returns one of the state's premier pitchers in Garrett Broshuis, who has already signed to play for the University of Missouri. The Hornets went 16-6 last year.

Several other area baseball squads also were solid last year and look for more of the season this season, including Kelly (19-5 in 1999), Chaffee (16-5) and Woodland (13-4).

The area's 4A squads were a bit down last season, but Cape Girardeau Central (14-13) and Jackson (10-15) both hope to improve considerably this year.

In girls soccer, Cape Central will be looking for another big season after last year's remarkable campaign that saw the Lady Tigers go 26-3-2 and advance to their first-ever 4A Final Four in just their fourth season. Cape Central finished fourth in the state.

With a host of key players returning from last year's squad, including Southeast Missouri State University signee Lori Bittle, the Lady Tigers figure to make another run at state.

Jackson, which is led by Southeast signee Julie Wunderlich and went a solid 15-8-2 last year before losing to Cape Central in the district finals, should also be strong.

Notre Dame (13-11-2) and Perryville (17-4-2) are also coming off solid seasons.

Area track & field should feature its usual strong teams and individuals, with a host of state qualifiers returning.

Headlining the area's top track athletes are Cape Central's Dionna Webb, who captured the 4A long jump title and was an all-stater in three events. Her teammate, Heather Jenkins, was an all-stater in both the shot put and discus.

Local boys golf and boys tennis squads should also make their mark. Last year, St. Vincent's golf team finished third in the 1A state meet after winning the title the year before.

* The SEMO Baseball Conference will take on a new look this year with the addition of three squads, which will make for an eight-team league.

Joining holdovers Notre Dame, Cape Central, Jackson, Sikeston and Poplar Bluff are Chaffee, Scott City and Kelly.

Notre Dame is the defending champion and the Bulldogs are solid favorites to repeat in a preseason poll of the league's coaches. Sikeston is picked to finish second, with Chaffee third and Cape Central fourth.

* There are a few new head baseball coaches in the area this year, including Jeff Graviett at Notre Dame, Brian Horrell at Chaffee and Darrell Dannenmueller at Advance.

Graviett was an assistant at Notre Dame last year, as was Horrell at Chaffee. Dannenmueller, a Chaffee graduate, is a former pitcher for Southeast Missouri State University.