CAPE CENTRAL, JACKSON ROLL INTO TITLE CONTEST OF SOCCER TOURNAMENT

Cape Central and Jackson will head into the championship game of the Lady Bulldog/Tiger Kickoff Classic girls soccer tournament this afternoon at Shawnee Park both undefeated and unscored upon.

The two teams advanced to the championship game with shutout victories Wednesday afternoon. Central pounded Poplar Bluff 4-0 while Jackson blanked Carbondale 2-0.

Central and Jackson will meet today on Field 3 at 4 p.m., to decide the championship. The Lady Tigers (2-0) have outscored two opponents in the tournament by a total of 9-0. The Lady Indians (2-0) have also kept their competition scoreless, outscoring their opponents in two games 5-0.

In other action today, Poplar Bluff (1-1) will face Carbondale, Ill. (0-1-1) in the third-place game on West End Field 1 at 4:30 p.m. Notre Dame (0-1-1) and Marion, Ill. (0-2) will start action with the fifth-place game on West End Field 1 at 3 p.m.

Nichole Thiele recorded a hat trick with three of Central's four goals as the Lady Tigers rolled into the title game.

Thiele scored just after the first minute of the game on an assist from Laura Lueders and then added two goals in the second half. Ashley Skinner assisted on Thiele's final goal.

"Nichole was on a mission today," Central coach Tom Doyle said. "Poplar Bluff had a hard time dealing with her speed."

Lady Tiger Abby Harris scored on a free kick in the first half to put the Lady Tigers up 2-0.

Meanwhile, Jackson also got off to a quick start with a goal by Julie Wunderlich within the first two minutes of the game to defeat Carbondale.

Hallie Roseman assisted on Wunderlich's quick goal.

Jackson didn't score again until the final two minutes when Laura Beck put the game away with a goal.

TRACK

Central teams win big

SIKESTON -- Cape Central swept its season-opening track meet Wednesday as both the boys and girls rolled past host Sikeston.

The boys prevailed 99-55 while the girls romped 113-21.

For Central's boys, Travis Cox, Charles McGinty and John Anderson were double individual winners. Cox won the 110 high and 300 intermediate hurdles; McGinty captured the 100-meters and 200-meters; and Anderson claimed the 800 and 1,600 runs.

"I'm pleased. It was a good first meet," said Central boys coach Jerry Dement. "We have a lot of newcomers. But the returning veterans took care of business and did a good job and the young kids also did well."

Central's girls had three double individual winners as Leanne Lee won the 1,600 and 3,200; Laura Lukens claimed the shot put and discus; and Courtney Haman won the 100 hurdles and tied for first in the high jump.

"I was pleased," said Central girls coach Paula Watkins. "We had some good individual performances."

Results of the meet appear in `Scoreboard' on this page.

Kelly, Portageville prevail

CHAFFEE -- Area small-school track squads opened their seasons here Wednesday, with Kelly's girls and Portageville's boys winning the five-team meet.

Kelly's girls had 110 points to hold off Chaffee (99). Then came Scott City (69), Portageville (47) and East Prairie (15).

"It was a good opening meet," said Kelly coach Bill Davis. "We had some really good early-season times."

Portageville's boys scored 119 points, followed by Kelly (102 2/3), Chaffee (63 1/3), East Prairie (38) and Scott City (30).

One of the highlights of the meet was the performance of Scott City's Amy O'Brien, who was a triple individual winner as she captured the high jump, long jump and triple jump.

Also on the girls side, Kelly's Amy Arteme won the 1,600 and 3,200 while Chaffee's Angela Holland claimed the 100 and 300 hurdles.

Results of the meet appear in `Scoreboard' on this page.

BASEBALL

Jackson 11, Ste. Gen. 4

JACKSON -- A seven-run eruption by Jackson in the fourth inning Wednesday broke open a close game against visiting Ste. Genevieve, propelling the Indians to their first win of the young season.

Jackson pitchers Chris Leimer and Jason Goben combined on a one-hitter to even the Indians record at 1-1. The Dragons fell to 0-2.

Leimer (1-0) pitched the first five innings before tiring in the sixth. The Dragons didn't get a hit off Leimer until the sixth, when he walked the first two batters and then allowed the only hit to the Dragons. After another walk, Indian coach Sam Sides replaced Leimer with Goben, who struck out four in his two innings of work.

Justin Gladish got the Indians' offense going with a three-run homer down the left field line in the third inning to put Jackson ahead 3-0.

After the Dragons scored an unearned run in the fourth inning, Jackson collected six hits and a walk in its half of the fourth to score seven runs and take a 10-1 lead.

SOFTBALL

Kelly 18, Sikeston 2

SIKESTON -- Kelly's Kim Riley pitched three scoreless innings and went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead the Lady Hawks to a four-inning season-opening win over host Sikeston Wednesday.

Riley struck out four, walked one and allowed only two hits to earn the win.

Kelly scored two runs in first inning, three in second, nine in third and four in fourth. Sikeston scored in the fourth with two unearned runs off of Britney Lambert.

Kelly's Natalie Robert and Jennifer McNeill broke the game wide open in the third inning with bases-loaded hits. Robert hit a three-run triple and McNeill ripped a three-run double. For the game, McNeill went 3-for-3 with four RBIs.

Tiffany Glastetter also had a solid game for the Lady Hawks, going 2-for-2.

BOYS GOLF

Sikeston 160, Central 162

SIKESTON -- The Cape Central golf team dropped its opening match of the year with a two-stroke loss to Sikeston Wednesday.

Central's Danny Grossbeck and Bryan Welker both shot 38 to tie for medalist honors with Sikeston's Blake Harmon.

Other scores for Central were Dane McLaird (42) and Mike Osland (44).

Sikeston's Ben Alcorn and Brent Pearson both completed their nine holes with scores of 39 while Ryan Griggs and Paul Couch tied at 44.

Central coach Dick Wadlington was upbeat despite the loss.

"I'm not too disappointed with our score for the first time out," Wadlington said. "160 is normally a competitive score and with a 162 we have room to improve."