CAPE CENTRAL, SIKESTON TO BATTLE FOR DISTRICT CROWN

Cape Girardeau Central's batters must have been annoying to Farmington's pitchers.

They took walks, they bunted, they fouled off pitches with two strikes, they sprayed the ball around and they did everything it took to win the game.

The second-seeded Tigers advanced to the championship game of the Class 4A, District 1 Tournament with a 10-4 win over No. 3 Farmington at Tiger Field Wednesday.

"Our kids put the ball in play and that was the main thing," said Cape Central coach Steve Williams, whose squad improved its record to 19-7. "We did a real good job today, even though we had a couple of boo-boos, running the bases. We had some real nice bunts today and all-around I'm pleased. We get to play another game."

The Tigers will take on No. 1 Sikeston for the district championship at 4 p.m. today. The Bulldogs knocked off No. 4 Jackson 7-6 in a wild game at Notre Dame Wednesday. Sikeston has beaten Cape Central twice this year, 4-3 and 4-2.

Cape Central managed 12 hits against Farmington, three from Jon Snider and two each from Justin Welker, Josh McIntosh and Chad Jones. Mark Fisher, McIntosh and T.J. Erlacker each drove in two runs.

Eight of Cape Central's nine batters reached base at least twice.

Justin Cook (8-2) pitched another gem for Cape Central. He went the distance and allowed four runs, one earned, on six hits and one walk. He struck out eight.

"Justin really battled," said Williams. "He didn't have his best stuff today, but he's battled all year whether he's had good stuff or bad stuff. He throws strikes, he can pitch from behind in the count and he can throw his breaking pitches at any time in the count. He just did another good job for us today."

Cape Central, the visiting team, jumped out on top with two runs in the first. Welker provided an RBI double and Erlacker -- who fouled off five pitches with two strikes -- drove home a run when he reached on an error with two outs.

Farmington (13-11) tied it up in the bottom of the first on a two-run single by Travis Myers.

Cape Central took a 4-2 lead in the third on a wild pitch and an fielder's choice off the bat of Erlacker.

The Tigers tacked on three more in the fourth. Fisher drove in a run on an error and McIntosh drove home two on a double down the left-field line to make the score 7-2.

Farmington cut the lead to 7-3 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Greg Collins.

Cape Central added two more in the sixth and one more in the seventh. In the sixth, Erlacker drove in another on an RBI single and Zac Fidler scored on a double steal. In the seventh, Fisher singled to right to tie the Cape Central record for most RBIs in a season with 32.

Michael Hall suffered the loss for Farmington. He pitched two-plus innings and allowed four runs on four hits and a walk.

Sikeston 7, Jackson 6

In a game that saw 13 errors committed, Sikeston (20-3) committed eight and still won the game.

"Both teams played real poor," said Jackson coach Sam Sides. "It was one of our worst games and probably one of theirs. The conditions weren't real good, but neither team played well."

The Indians needed two runs to tie the game in the seventh. Jackson scored one, but left the tying run stranded at second.

Ricky Fodge got the win for Sikeston. He went 6 1/3 innings and allowed seven hits and six walks, while striking out nine. Only one of Jackson's six runs was earned.

For Jackson (12-9), Lance Limbaugh suffered the loss in six innings. He struck out four, walked three and hit a batter. He allowed seven runs, three of which were earned.

Jackson's Tory Meyr ended his brilliant athletic career at Jackson with a 2-for-5 performance. He also stole two bases.

Limbaugh went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.