CENTRAL OVERCOMES ERRORS OF ITS WAYS, DEFEATS N. COUNTY

DESLOGE -- Despite allowing seven unearned runs Friday, Cape Girardeau Central High's baseball team was able to claim a thrilling 9-7, nine-inning road victory over North County, the defending Class 3A state champion.

"We had six errors, but we were still able to get the win over a very good team," said Central coach Steve Williams, whose squad improved its record to 10-2.

Tatum Kitchen pitched all nine innings to get the win. He allowed only two hits while striking out 12 and walking eight.

Chris Bradshaw's three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning broke a 6-6 tie and sent the Tigers on their way to victory.

Kitchen and Ross Bennett also homered for the Tigers, who had 10 hits. Bennett, Bradshaw and Paul Dobbins all had two hits.

The Tigers started strong and led 6-0 after Kitchen's two-run homer in the top of the fourth. But the Raiders clawed back and finally tied it with four in the seventh.

After both teams went scoreless in the eighth, Bradshaw's homer in the ninth was the decisive blow.

Central will be right back in action today with two games in the first annual Tiger Showcase. The Tigers will host Calloway County, Ky., at 11 a.m. and Horn Lake, Miss., at 1:15 p.m.

"It should be a good day of baseball," Williams said. "Hopefully we can play well."

Central's JV nabbed a 9-6, eight-inning win Friday as Jon Snider belted a three-run homer in the top of the eighth.

Mark Fisher and Dusty Barrows also homered for Central's JV, which improved to 9-0-1. Josh McIntosh was the winning pitcher in relief.

Poplar Bluff 6, Jackson 3

POPLAR BLUFF -- Jackson had just one hit and suffered a SEMO Conference road loss Friday.

The Indians fell to 5-5 overall and 0-4 in league play.

Todd Wessel had Jackson's lone hit, an RBI single in the top of the sixth inning that tied the contest at 3-3. But the Mules scored three in the bottom of the sixth.

Jason Goben pitched all six innings and suffered the loss. Goben allowed 13 hits.

Delta 5, Bell City 4

DELTA -- Lonnie Cook led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a double and later scored on an error as Delta outlasted Bell City Friday.

Cook went 3-for-4 and Andrew Green had a two-RBI double for Delta (2-4).

Shawn Kinder pitched the final 2/3 of an inning for the win. Garrett DeBrock started; he struck out 13 and walked none.

GIRLS SOCCER

Cape Central 4, Jackson 0

Cape Central remained undefeated with a dominating performance against visiting Jackson Friday.

The Lady Tigers scored all their goals in the game's first 22 minutes as they improved to 9-0-1. Central has allowed only one goal all season.

Amber Voerg scored twice while Katie Cozby and Amanda Hiler each added one goal. Jennifer Daume had two assists and goalie Amy Harris added an assist while also recording the shutout.

"We played well, in the first half especially," said Central coach Tom Doyle. "In the second half we played good enough to hold them off."

Friday's JV game ended in a 3-3 tie. Hiler had two goals for Central while Katie Hawkins scored the other.

TRACK & FIELD

Cape Central sweeps

NEW MADRID -- Cape Central's teams swept Friday's New Madrid Riverbend Invitational.

Central's boys had 123 points to hold off Poplar Bluff (109). Jackson was fourth in the nine-team field (79).

Central's girls scored 158 points while Poplar Bluff was second (116). Jackson placed third in the 10-team field (114).

The Central results appear in `Scoreboard' on 2B.

Scott City, Chaffee win

CHAFFEE -- Scott City's boys and Chaffee's girls prevailed Friday during a five-team meet hosted by Chaffee.

Scott City's boys had 129 points. Next were Chaffee (106), East Prairie (80), Portageville (27) and Oran (2).

Chaffee's girls scored 102 points, followed by Portageville (88), Scott City (70), Oran (16) and East Prairie (14).

Area boys double individual winners were Scott City's Matt Underwood (100, 11.46; 200, 23.9) and Lance Amick (triple jump, 37-0; long jump, 19-0).

On the girls side, double winners from the area were Chaffee's Angela Holland (100 hurdles, 19.5; 300 hurdles, 55.46) and Tia Hampton (1,600, 6:28; 3,200, 13:56).

Meet results appear in `Scoreboard' on 2B.

Kelly girls take 3rd

STE. GENEVIEVE -- In the Old Settlement meet Thursday, Kelly's girls placed third and the boys took fourth.

Ste. Genevieve's boys won with 176 points. Kelly totaled 51.

Kelly's Nathen King won the 800-meter run in 2:01.63.

Windsor's girls won with 107 points and Kelly had 75.

Jenny Riley won the 1600 in a meet-record 5:56.53. Tabitha Shankle won the 800 in 2:37.39 and Amy Arteme won the 3200 in 12:39.

Scott City's girls had one first-place finisher as Amy O'Brien captured the high jump by clearing 5-2.