BASEBALL DISTRICTS PACK A BIG PUNCH

No matter which district you turn to, there's an intriguing story.

In District 2 in Class 1A, there are three baseball teams who could win state, including last year's state champion St. Vincent.

In Class 2A, District 2, there are two teams who reached the Final Four last year, including state champion Crystal City -- the fifth seed -- and Notre Dame, which broke into the state poll this week at No. 8. Then there's Chaffee, ranked second in the state.

In Class 4A, there's no telling if Cape Girardeau Central will wake from a season-long slump, if Jackson will continue to pound the baseball, or if Farmington will live up to its top seed.

The conclusion of the high school baseball season will start to unfold today when district action begins in earnest.

Class 4A, District 1

At the beginning of the season, Cape Central figured to be the team to beat in this district after advancing to the quarterfinals last year.

But the Tigers finished the regular season at 13-13 and were given the second seed behind Farmington.

"You can start all over now," Cape Central coach Steve Williams said. "But the thing that's frustrating is we know we can play better and we're not. We're at that point in the season now where you have to be playing good baseball. We're just trying to emphasize trying to get better and minimizing mistakes in big spots."

Tourney host Farmington (15-7) beat both Cape Central and third-seeded Jackson to earn the top seed.

Jackson (11-12) could be the sleeper in this district as the Indians have played better baseball since the SEMO Conference Tournament.

"I think Farmington's a little ahead of both teams and they should be the favorite," Williams said. "But on any given day, if the pitcher is sharp, I can see a lower seed beating a higher seed."

Jackson coach Sam Sides echoed similar sentiments.

"We're not outclassed by anybody," Sides said. "We've got to have a couple of good games. Anybody in the district has a chance."

Class 3A, District 1

In the only district which began Saturday, sixth-seeded Perryville knocked off No. 3 Dexter 9-5; No. 5 New Madrid beat No. 4 Doniphan 6-2; and No. 2 Kennett knocked off No. 7 Fredericktown 13-3 in five innings.

Fredericktown was the two-time defending district champion.

Sikeston (17-4), ranked 10th in the state, got the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye and will play Doniphan in the semifinals, while Perryville will take on Kennett.

Class 2A, District 2

Is this the toughest 2A district in the state?

It would be hard to vote against it.

Recent history has proven that the winner of this district usually ends up in the Final Four.

There are two returning Final Four teams, two state-ranked teams and several all-state candidates in District 2.

Chaffee is clearly the team to beat. The Red Devils' 20-2 record rivals that of the best record in the school's tradition-rich history.

With Matt Stroup and G.P. Glueck, the Red Devils have the best one-two pitching punch in the tournament.

"We feel very comfortable if we can get four or five runs," Chaffee coach Brian Horrell said. "But if you run into a team that puts the ball in play and your defense isn't sharp, it doesn't take long to put runs on the board. We'll have to play good defense."

While Chaffee gets the nod for the best pitching combination, second-seeded Notre Dame -- the host team -- might have the best hitting team from top to bottom with four players batting at least .423. The Bulldogs (16-6) also play perhaps the toughest schedule in the district.

After Stroup, Kelly's Justin Simpher is the most dominant pitcher in the tournament, but the third-seeded Hawks struggle when he's not on the mound.

"When he's on the mound, they're as good as anybody," Graviett said.

Woodland, which has some talented players but plays a relatively weak schedule, got the fourth seed, followed by No. 5 Crystal City, No. 6 Grandview, No. 7 Charleston and No. 8 Scott City.

Class 1A, District 2

Like in Class 2A, District 2 boasts some of the best teams in the state.

Oran, the tourney host, got the top seed and deservedly so after finishing the year 18-6. The Eagles have several impressive wins this season including Sikeston, ranked 10th in 3A, and Forsyth, the third-ranked team in 2A.

Oran has a deep and solid pitching staff consisting of Trey Graviett (7-0) and Adam Friga (5-2) and hitters up and down the lineup.

"We're playing well right now," Oran coach Mitch Wood said. "I think our pitchers are throwing well and if we can hold teams to two or three runs we ought to be able to score runs and win ballgames."

But the Eagles will be challenged.

Bell City, ranked sixth, and defending state champion St. Vincent could meet in the semifinals.

Third-seeded St. Vincent, on the surface, may not seem like a formidable opponent with its 12-11 record. But the Indians entered districts with a worse record last year.

When asked if this year's team reminded him of last year's, St. Vincent coach Rick Wibbenmeyer said, "Hmmmm, I don't know. It's a different group. We've got some of the same kids, but it's a different season. We've got to be ready to play and we've started to play better lately."

St. Vincent, which plays a rugged schedule consisting of many 2A and 3A schools, returns all-state pitchers Derek Kutz and Tyler Wengert as well as all-stater Ryan Brown behind the plate.

Second-seeded Bell City (16-3) has put up some staggering statistics this season, but the Cubs' schedule lacks punch. Bell City's most impressive wins this season were over Woodland and Charleston. And Oran beat the Cubs 10-3 last week so Bell City enters the district tournament with a lot to prove.

"When we're at full strength and if we go over there and play well, it's anybody's ballgame," Bell City coach David Heeb said. "You have to like Oran as the favorite but they're certainly not unbeatable and you can't count out St. Vincent, either. But whoever comes out of that mix can go a long way."

Valle got the fourth seed, while Oak Ridge which is quietly having a solid season got the fifth seed, followed by Richland, Delta and Scott County Central.

Class 1A, District 3

As strong as District 2 is, District 3 is that weak.

Advance -- a loser to Oak Ridge, the fifth seed in District 2 -- got the top seed with a sub-.500 record.

It should be a two-team race with Advance and second-seeded Leopold, last year's district champ.

Lesterville got the third seed, followed by Meadow Heights, Bunker, Viburnum, host South Iron and Marquand.

CLASS 4A

District 1

at Farmington (unless noted)

Seeds: 1. Farmington, 2. Cape Central, 3. Jackson, 4. Poplar Bluff, 5. Hillsboro

First round games today: Hillsboro vs. Poplar Bluff, 4:30 p.m.

Semifinals Tuesday: Cape Central vs. Jackson, 3:30 p.m. (at Capaha Field); Farmington vs. Poplar Bluff-Hillsboro winner, 4:30 p.m.

Championship: Thursday, 4:30 p.m.

CLASS 3A

District 1

at Dexter

Seeds: 1. Sikeston, 2. Kennett, 3. Dexter, 4. Doniphan, 5. New Madrid County Central, 6. Perryville, 7. Fredericktown

First round games Saturday: NMCC 6, Doniphan 2; Perryville 9, Dexter 5; Kennett 13, Fredericktown 3 (5 inn.)

Semifinals today: Sikeston vs. NMCC, 4 p.m.; Kennett vs. Perryville, 6 p.m.

Championship: Wednesday, 4:15 p.m.

CLASS 2A

District 2

at Notre Dame (unless noted)

Seeds: 1. Chaffee, 2. Notre Dame, 3. Kelly, 4. Woodland, 5. Crystal City*, 6. Grandview, 7. Charleston, 8. Scott City

First round games today: Chaffee vs. Scott City, 1:30 p.m. (at Cape Central); Woodland vs. Crystal City, 4 p.m. (at Cape Central); Kelly vs. Grandview, 1:30 p.m.; Notre Dame vs. Charleston, 4 p.m.

Semifinals: Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m.

Championship: Thursday, 4 p.m.

CLASS 1A

District 2

at Oran

Seeds: 1. Oran, 2. Bell City, 3. St. Vincent*, 4. Valle, 5. Oak Ridge, 6. Richland, 7. Delta, 8. Scott Co. Central

First round games today: Oran vs. Scott Central, 10 a.m.; Valle vs. Oak Ridge, noon; Bell City vs. Delta, 2 p.m.; St. Vincent. vs. Richland, 4 p.m.

Semifinals: Tuesday, 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.

Championship: Thursday, 4:30 p.m.

District 3

at South Iron

Seeds: 1. Advance, 2. Leopold, 3. Lesterville, 4. Meadow Heights, 5. Bunker, 6. Viburnum, 7. South Iron, 8. Marquand

First round games today: Leopold vs. South Iron, 11:30 a.m.; Lesterville vs. Viburnum, 1:30 p.m.; Meadow heights vs. Bunker, 3:30 p.m.; Advance vs. Marquand, 5:30 p.m.

Semifinals: Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.

Championship: Thursday, 4:30 p.m.

* defending state champion