CENTRAL GIRLS `BLUFF' WAY TO 15-0

In only its second year of existence, the Cape Girardeau Central girls soccer team is one win away from a perfect regular season.

Behind a nice goal by Nichole Thiele in which she manuevered around three Poplar Bluff defenders, Central beat Poplar Bluff at home Thursday 1-0. Abby Harris assisted on the goal.

Amy Harris earned the shutout, her 12th of the season.

The Lady Tigers improved to 15-0. Central's final game of the regular season will be today at Hillsboro.

Central will be the top seed in next week's district tournament at St. Pius in Festus. The remaining teams, in order of seed, are: Jackson, St. Pius, Notre Dame, Poplar Bluff, Fox and Windsor.

Central will have a first-round bye and will play the winner of Wednesday's game between Notre Dame and Poplar Bluff on Thursday.

Baseball

Notre Dame 6, Charleston 1

CHARLESTON -- Although it wasn't quite the performance Notre Dame coach Gregg Muench would've liked to have had in his team's final game of the regular season, the Bulldogs beat Charleston on the road Thursday.

Notre Dame wrapped up a stellar regular season with a 21-3 record.

The Bulldogs led 3-1 after five innings before scoring three in the sixth.

Chris Canfield went four innings and earned the win. He allowed no runs, one hit, struck out six and walked one.

Ryan LeGrand went the last three innings and picked up the save.

Notre Dame totaled five hits. Tommy Wencewicz and Ben Gosche both scored two runs.

Notre Dame will play either Chaffee or St. Vincent in the second round of the Class 2A district tournament in Scott City on Tuesday.

Sikeston 7, Jackson 3

JACKSON -- According to Jackson coach Sam Sides, the difference between winning and losing for his team this season has been fielding.

On Thursday at home against Sikeston, Jackson committed four errors -- and lost.

Sikeston's Clay Hooper hit two home runs as the Bulldogs scored single runs in the first, second, third and seventh innings and added three in the sixth.

Jackson scored runs in the third, fifth and sixth. Travis Stevens hit a home run in the fifth.

Jason Goben took the loss. He went all seven innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking none.

Brent Self earned the win.

Jackson will play Poplar Bluff Tuesday in the opening round of the Class 4A district tournament at Cape Central.

Kennett 2, Kelly 1 (13 inn.)

BENTON -- In the top of the 13th inning, Kennett's Chris Sledge singled, stole second, and scored after two wild pitches by Kelly's Denver Stuckey. Kelly couldn't answer in the bottom of the frame and the Hawks lost at home Thursday.

Kennett improved to 17-2, dropping Kelly to 10-9.

Stuckey and Justin Vetter both had two hits for Kelly.

Stuckey went the last three innings and took the loss.

Kelly will play East Prairie in the first round of the Class 2A district tournament Monday at Scott City.

Oran 12, East Prairie 1

ORAN -- Oran improved to 16-1 with a win in six innings over East Prairie at home Thursday.

Justin McAllister earned the win. He went the distance, allowing seven hits, striking out five and walking three.

Chris Nichols and Dustin Glastetter both went 2-for-2 for Oran.

Oran will host Bloomfield today.

Cape Central (JV) 7, Perryville (JV) 3

Matt Welker improved to 3-3 as Central (8-9) beat Perryville at home Thursday.

Josh McIntosh hit a solo home run in the fifth to break a 3-all tie.

Rick Davis went 2-for-3 and Ty Fidler and McIntosh went 2-for-4.

Central will play its first-round game in the JV conference tournament today at home at 4 against Poplar Bluff. The championship game will be played at 1:30 Saturday at Central.

Softball

Notre Dame 15, Charleston 3

CHARLESTON -- Notre Dame scored six runs in the seventh inning and blew out Charleston on the road Thursday.

Notre Dame moved to 9-4.

Jill Huber went all seven innings and earned the win. She allowed two hits, struck out eight and walked four.

Offensively, Suzanne Schwartz went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, Randi Senciboy went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Becca Montgomery went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Notre Dame will play either Sikeston or Charleston Saturday in the Sikeston Tournament.

Chaffee 9, Leopold 2

CHAFFEE -- Chaffee improved to 14-1 with an easy win at home over Leopold Thursday.

Jamie Dunacan (9-1) earned the win. She went all seven innings, allowing three hits while striking out 15 and walking none.

Offensively for Chaffee, which totaled 10 hits, Brandi Foulk went 3-for-4 with two triples and three RBIs, Duncan went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and Wendy Hanselman had two hits.

Chaffee will finish the regular season today at Oak Ridge.