CENTRAL, JACKSON REACH OPTIMIST FINAL

Cape Girardeau Central High christened Perryville's new soccer program with a 4-1 loss Tuesday at Shawnee Soccer Park as the Lady Tigers advanced to the championship game of the Noon Optimist Kickoff Classic.

Cape Central (2-0) will meet Jackson (2-0) in Thursday's 4 p.m. championship game.

Jackson had a tougher road to the final, edging Poplar Bluff 3-2 in a shootout.

In Cape Central's victory, Amber Voerg staked the Lady Tigers to a 2-0 lead with a pair of unassisted goals in the first 24 minutes of play. Amanda Hiler made it 3-0 by halftime as she deposited a corner kick from Kim Aslinger.

Voerg added her third goal 12 minutes into the second half on an assist from Katie Cozby for a 4-0 lead.

Jamie Mueller netted the first goal in Perryville school history in the final minutes of play.

In Jackson's win, the Lady Indians held a 2-0 second-half lead, but needed a shootout to eventually dispose of Poplar Bluff.

Julie Wunderlich scored a first-half goal and Dana Eakins pushed the lead to 2-0 before the Lady Mules rallied.

Jackson won the shootout 3-2. Jackson goaltender Laura Beck made two saves while a third shot missed the net. Her teammates Jessica Shultz, Carrie Myers and Eakins netted goals for the victory.

In other tournament action, Carbondale beat Marion 6-0 in a consolation game.

There will be just one game today, a 4 p.m. consolation contest between Notre Dame and Marion.

The tournament will conclude Thursday with three games, all at 4 p.m. In addition to the final, Perryville will play Poplar Bluff for third place while Notre Dame will meet Carbondale in consolation action.

BASEBALL

Oran 16, Zalma 0

ORAN -- Dustin Glastetter pitched four scoreless innings and smacked a home run in the third inning Tuesday to lead Oran to a season-opening victory over Zalma.

Glastetter struck out 10 and allowed only one hit. Freshman Adam Friga closed out the final inning, striking out two.

Oran totaled 13 hits in the rout, scoring two runs in the first inning, two in the second, four in the third and eight in the fourth.

Glastetter had two hits along with teammates Jeremy Popst, Dustin Dannenmueller and Justin McAlister.

Oran hosts Delta today.

Advance 23, Meadow Heights 0

ADVANCE -- Advance opened its baseball season Tuesday by blasting Meadow Heights.

Advance tallied 14 hits led by Dutch Miller's 3-for-3 performance. Chris Wallace (four RBIs) and Adam Rainy (three RBIs) both added two hits. The Hornets scored nine runs in the first inning and 14 in the third.

Wallace pitched the first three innings for the win, allowing no hits and striking out six. D.A. Slinkard struck out four and allowed two hits in the final two innings.

SOFTBALL

Notre Dame 13, Sikeston 3

Notre Dame lashed out 11 hits and picked up a five-inning victory in its season debut at home Tuesday.

Jill Huber, Randi Senciboy, Shanna Kelly and Kristi Jansen each had two hits for Notre Dame.

After Sikeston scored two runs in the top of the first, Notre Dame responded with 11 unanswered runs, scoring four in the first, six in the second and one in the third.

Huber notched the win on the mound, giving up seven hits, walking two and striking out five in five innings.

Meadow Heights 18, St. Vincent 7

PERRYVILLE -- In a game from Monday, St. Vincent lost its season opener at home.

The Squaws had nine hits, including three from Kelly Brickhaus and two from Roxanne Kutz. Brickhaus also drove in five runs while Kutz scored three times and stole six bases.

St. Vincent hosts Leopold today.