AREA TEAMS STAND A WIN SHY OF FINAL FOUR; STATE'S TOP-RANKED TEAM VISITS CAPE CENTRAL TODAY (4A)

Make no mistake about it -- Cape Girardeau Central High's baseball team will be the underdog for today's Class 4A quarterfinal game.

But the Tigers are understandably conceding nothing as they prepare to host powerful Lafayette, the state's top-ranked 4A squad. The first pitch will be at 1 p.m. at Tiger Field and the winner will earn a berth in next weekend's 4A Final Four in Columbia.

"It's anybody's game right now," said Central senior catcher Mark Fisher when asked if the Tigers feel like they have a legitimate shot at the state title. "I don't care if you're 30-0. Anything can happen."

Lafayette's Lancers aren't 30-0, but they're not that far off, having compiled a sparkling 21-2 record.

"They're an outstanding team, no question about it," said Central coach Steve Williams, whose squad is 21-7. "But we're one of eight teams left (in the 4A playoffs) and we're looking forward to the challenge of playing them, especially at home. We should have a great crowd, which can only help us."

Lafayette coach Rusty Ryan, who has spent nearly 30 years involved with the Lancers' baseball program, said this season's squad is among the best the school has ever had, which is saying something, because Lafayette has a rich baseball tradition.

"This is a very talented group of kids and we expected to have a really strong team this year," said Ryan.

Statistically, the Lancers are loaded all over. They boast a team batting average of .380, and their nine regulars hit a combined .405, with all but one starter batting at least .380.

Brent Lacy leads the way at .471 and he's followed by Jake Horn (.448), Ryan Van Allen (.421), Luke Wilson (.411), Robbie Gay (.400), David Freeze (.391), Brian Kurt (.389) and Matt Williams (.389).

Kurt has belted eight of the Lancers' 26 home runs while Horn has four. Kurt, Lacy, Horn and Wilson all have better than 20 runs batted in, and the Lancers also have stolen more than 70 bases as a team.

"We hit the ball up and down the lineup, and the kids can all do a lot of things," said Ryan.

Williams took one look at Lafayette's offensive statistics and simply shook his head. He can't remember the last time he saw a high school team with those kinds of numbers.

"Those are pretty big numbers," he said. "They have excellent hitters at just about every spot and they can also run."

While the Lancers' offense is spectacular, their pitching might be even more highly regarded as their top two hurlers have already received scholarships from NCAA Division I programs. Garrett Bauer has signed with Missouri while Jeff Gray is headed to Southwest Missouri State.

Bauer, a left-hander who is 5-0 with a 1.25 earned-run average, pitched Thursday's 7-2 sectional win over Oakville.

Gray, a right-hander who is 7-0 with a 2.04 ERA, will start today's game. In 48 innings, Gray has allowed 38 hits while striking out 60 and walking 17.

"Both are outstanding pitchers. I'd say they're about even. We really don't have a No. 1," said Ryan. "Gray has a good fastball and curve, and he throws strikes. He's the complete package."

Despite all their lofty numbers and No. 1 state ranking, Ryan said he has all the respect in the world for Central, which has a tradition-rich program of its own, although the Tigers are making their first quarterfinal appearance since 1994, when they won the 4A title.

"I've been here a long time and I know the type of baseball they play in Cape," Ryan said. "I told our kids they better be ready to play because Cape will have an outstanding team."

Central, which got a strong pitching performance from Justin Cook during Thursday's 6-4 sectional win at Hillsboro, will turn to Jay Pierce today. Pierce is 6-0 with a 3.08 ERA. In 50 innings, he's allowed 59 hits while fanning 35 and walking 22.

"Jay has done real well and he deserves to start," said Williams. "He hits his spots and keeps the ball down. If he can do that, and we play defense, we should be all right."

Offensively, the Tigers don't come close to matching the numbers that Lafayette has put up, but the Tigers -- who bat .287 as a team -- do have some impressive performers of their own.

Leading Central hitters are Fisher (.423), Justin Welker (.395), T.J. Erlacker (.333), Zac Fidler (.322) and Rob Carr (.300). Josh McIntosh has six of the Tigers' 19 homers, followed by Fisher with five, Fidler with four and Welker with three. RBI leaders are Fisher with 34 and McIntosh with 27.

"I can't say enough about how proud I am of all our guys," Williams said. "They've really battled all year and I know they're going to battle again (today).

"Lafayette has an exceptional team, with a great offense and three or four very good pitchers. But anything can happen in one game. There are eight teams left and everybody has a shot. We told our kids that they don't have to beat everybody, all they have to do is keep winning the next one."

Ryan agreed that anything can happen on a given day. That's why he said he's expecting nothing but a battle from Central, even though some people might be expecting Lafayette to breeze into the final four.

"We're expecting a very tough game," he said. "You don't get to the state quarterfinals without having some very good players. I guarantee you our kids won't take Cape for granted."