Central softball wins pitching duel, hands ND first loss 1-0

Central's Tara Ford delivered a two-out hit in the eighth inning to break up a scoreless deadlock and hand visiting Notre Dame its first loss of the season on Thursday.

"Notre Dame is one of the best teams in the state," Central coach Amy Blattel said after the 1-0 victory. "I don't care what level you're playing on. They hit the ball very well and forced us to play defense -- and we did."

Both teams received superb pitching as well.

Central's Megan McDonald threw eight shutout innings, allowed three hits, fanned six and walked none. For Notre Dame, Lindsay Reinagel allowed five hits, walked three, and struck out one in seven-plus innings.

"You've got two of the best pitchers in Southeast Missouri with two different styles," Bulldogs coach Jeff Graviett said. "It was a great game."

Jamie Dement reached with a one-out hit in the eighth and advanced to third on a fielder's choice. The Bulldogs then issued intentional walks to Shana Wadlington and Megan McDonald to get to Ford.

"Tara had never been put in that situation before," Blattel said. "But she swung at the ball harder than she had all day."

Ford went 2-for-4 with two singles.

Ford said it was a little payback after being shut out by the Bulldogs earlier in the season 4-0.

Notre Dame was undefeated through its first six games of the season, allowing only four runs during the stretch.

-- David Wilson

BOYS SOCCER

Notre Dame 3, Sikeston 1

Jonathan Market had a goal and an assist as Notre Dame (3-2) defeated Sikeston (2-4) at home.

Jason Delgado scored the first goal from Wayne Cramer seven minutes into the game. Market scored with about two minutes left in the first half from Luke Arnzen. Blake Urhahn scored from Market early in the second half.

Notre Dame's JV won 2-0 behind goals by Kirk Boller and Brett Heischmidt. Nathan Kolda recorded the shutout in goal.

Carbondale 2, Jackson 0

Carbondale scored a goal in each half as Jackson fell to the Terriers for the second time in a week.

Carbondale defeated Jackson (1-4) 4-0 in the Notre Dame SoccerFest last weekend.

Jackson's JV won 2-0.

GIRLS TENNIS

Jackson 6, Fredericktown 3

Jackson (1-5) picked up its first win of the season on the road against Fredericktown.

Sarah Hinkebein, Megan Beales, Chelsea Walker and Shannon Cobb each won in singles.

Kali Niswonger and Walker won their doubles match, as did Cobb and Beales.

Central 7, Carbondale 1

Central (3-1) swept the singles matches and defeated Carbondale at home.

Liz LaFoe, Brett Ford, Dani Gross, Michaelyn Burns, Merritt Gerlach and Monica Toole each won in singles competition.

LaFoe and Gross team up to win their doubles match, as did Burns with Gerlach.

VOLLEYBALL

Eagle Ridge 25-25 Christian Outreach 6-9

Eagle Ridge Christian swept Christian Outreach at home in the first match of the night for Eagle Ridge.

Ashley Hughes scored 10 points, including five aces, and had 21 assists. Rachel Carbaugh had five points and four aces. She also had a dig and two kills. Autumn Crowden had four kills. Chelsey Clark had six points and Savannah Irazary had three points and four aces for Eagle Ridge (10-6).

Eagle Ridge 25-20-25 New Salem 13-25-19

Eagle Ridge won its second match of the night against New Salem Baptist in three games.

Hughes had 40 assists in the three games. She also had 10 points, two aces and a dig. Carbaugh added 10 kills. Clark and Irazary each had six points. Crowden had four points and two kills for Eagle Ridge (11-6).

Holly Jordan had five kills for New Salem while Sarah Greene had three and MacKenzie Jones two. Laura Poole had two aces.

New Salem 17-25-17 Christian Out. 25-20-25

Laura Poole and Holly Jordan each finished with two aces in New Salem's three-set loss played at Eagle Ridge Christian.

-- From staff reports