Central closes in on league championship

It's 12 wins in a row for the Central Tigers and counting.

After a 1-0 squeaker against league rival Sikeston on Tuesday, the Tigers' softball team is on its way to winning its conference for the first time.

"I don't care about the streak, as long as we win the big one," Central coach Amy Blattel said.

The big one, as in a SEMO Conference title.

Laura Beard started for the Tigers (13-4) instead of usual ace Megan McDonald, who played shortstop. Beard pitched a one-hitter through six innings with four strikeouts for her third win in as many starts.

"I've never been upset with our pitching," Blattel said. "Laura pitched great."

But it was the Tiger defense that saved the day. Sophomore Erica Schabbing turned an unassisted double play in the fourth after Beard gave up her only hit. Then in the fifth McDonald pulled the same trick, this time with runners on first and second.

"The defense played fantastic," Blattel said.

Beard was lifted in the seventh for McDonald, who struck out the first batter she faced. But with one out she watched a 2-2 pitch sail into left field for a double.

"I told her to just to throw the ball," Blattel said. "You don't have to say a lot to Mac. She knows."

Whatever she did, it worked. McDonald struck out the next two batters to end the game, leaving the tying run stranded at third.

"That was a tough way to end the game," Sikeston coach Jenny Hobeck said. "But we made major improvements from the last time we played them."

The only run of the game came in the second inning after Central managed a trifecta of singles from Heather Hobbs, Megan Kistner and Jesse Snell. Hobbs went 1-for-2 and scored on Snell's one-out single.

Sikeston's only hit came from the losing pitcher Molly Brinkmeyer. She allowed one run on four hits and walked two.

Central hosts Poplar Bluff on Thursday and Jackson one week from today. If they win both games they can wrap up the conference.

"This should be a confidence booster for us," Blattel said.