Area sports digest 8/16/02

New Hamburg Heat softball team wins twice

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- The New Hamburg Heat, a local girls fast-pitch softball team, won twice Thursday to remain alive in the 16-under Babe Ruth Softball World Series.

The Heat defeated Washington (N.C.) 5-4 and North Olympic (Wash.) 10-0 to improve to 3-1 in the double-elimination playoff bracket. The Heat will play at 8:30 p.m. today.

Against Washington (N.C.), the Heat had seven hits, including two by Ashley Kern. Monica Senciboy drove in two runs. Winning pitcher Dana Essner allowed just one hit in 6 1/3 shutout innings.

In the romp past North Olympic (Wash.), Essner had a five-inning no-hitter. The Heat had nine hits, led by Stacy Schwartz, Jessica Burnett and Sara Essner with two each.

Former SE athlete wins bodybuilding event

Shauna Birge, a former member of the Southeast Missouri State University track and field team, won the women's overall and middleweight titles Saturday at the Big River Bodybuilding Championships, a national qualifying event in Memphis, Tenn.

It was her third title this season. She won the open overall and middleweight titles June 29 at the Battle of the Bluff Bodybuilding Championships in Tunica, Miss., and won the heavyweight and women's overall titles at the Show-Me Naturals Bodybuilding Championships in St. Louis in May.

Her win Saturday on the National Physique Committee circuit also earned her International Federation of Bodybuilding professional status.

Birge began competitive bodybuilding in November. She's now pursuing a Master's degree in criminal justice administration.

Area karate students place well in event

Several competitors from Cape Girardeau finished near the top at the Mid-West Martial Arts Association's USA Open Karate Championships in Fenton, Mo.

Beth Adkins was second in kata and eighth in fighting.

Mitchell August was eighth in kata and eighth in fighting.

Patti August was eighth in kata and eighth in fighting.

Shelly Beasley was second in kata and fourth in fighting.

Alex Davie won in fighting.

Nathen Davis was eighth in kata and fifth in fighting.

Travis Gerlach won in kata and was fourth in fighting.

Christian Job was third in weapons, eighth in kata and second in fighting.

Nicholas Smentkowski was eighth in kata and eighth in fighting.

Dante Vandeven was fourth in weapons, eighth in kata and eighth in fighting.

Glenn Volkerding was sixth in kata and third in fighting.

The event featured competitors in levels from white belt to black belt. Titles were awarded in point-contact fighting, kata and weapons training.

The 11, all students of instructor Eric Welch at Universal Martial Arts, advance to the Missouri State Karate Championships in Park Hills on Sept. 14.

-- From staff reports