'DOGS PUT THROUGH `RINGER'; RINGWALD HURLS CHS PAST NOTRE DAME 5-1

The rubber match wasn't much of a match.

Craig Ringwald held Notre Dame High scoreless for five innings, and Cape Girardeau Central beat the host Bulldogs 5-1 Wednesday.

It was Central's second victory against Notre Dame in three tries this year. Early in the season, Tatum Kitchen threw a no-hitter as the Tigers won 4-1. Then Saturday Notre Dame edged the Tigers 7-5 in eight innings.

Ringwald, a 6-foot-7 left-hander who will play at Baylor University next season, limited Notre Dame to five hits and struck out five.

Ringwald was especially strong in tough spots. Notre Dame had two on with none out in both the first and third innings, and came up empty each time. The Bulldogs stranded seven runners.

"I was hitting spots pretty well and keeping them off balance," Ringwald said. "I thought I threw pretty well.

"We wanted to come out and show them who the best team was in Cape," he said. "And I think we did that today. This is the team that we were shooting for all year."

Notre Dame (12-7) swept Central (17-6) last season.

"They don't like it when Notre Dame beats them, and we'd been able to beat them the last couple of years," said Notre Dame coach Gregg Muench. "Now their kids are seniors and my kids are sophomores. We'll be back, though. I'll guarantee you that."

Central started quickly. The game's first batter, Mitch Ogles, drew a walk from Ryan LeGrand and moved up on a Ross Bennett groundout. Ogles then stole third, and catcher Scott Reinagel's throw went into left field and Ogles came home.

In the Central part of the second, Paul Dobbins led off with a single and advanced on a wild pitch. After a Ringwald groundout moved Dobbins to third, Greg Craft plated Dobbins with an infield single.

Central's lead stretched to 5-0 as the Tigers scored three in the third, all with two out. After Tatum Kitchen doubled off the left-field fence and Chris Bradshaw walked, Dobbins pushed in both with a double to the center-field fence.

Dobbins then scored on Ringwald's single up the middle.

"Anytime you can score two-out runs, that just demoralizes the other team," said Central coach Steve Williams. "And it really kicks your team up.

"We got some hits when we needed them, and (Notre Dame) didn't get some hits when they needed them. A lot of that was because of Craig."

Notre Dame finally got something in its sixth. Josh Eftink led off with a single and scored on LeGrand's two-out double.

LeGrand permitted nine hits in six innings and struck out five.

Notre Dame will close out the regular season today by hosting South Pemiscot.

Central plays at Perryville today and visits Farmington Friday to finish the regular season.