Fox knocks out Tigers 9-4 in final

Top-seeded Central committed four errors in the first two innings, setting the tone for a 9-4 loss to second-seeded Fox in Thursday's Class 4, District 1 Tournament championship game in Arnold.

Host Fox (14-12) took a 7-1 lead over the first two innings with five of its runs the result of errors by Central (18-10), which made seven overall.

Central committed errors on two of the first three Fox batters in the first inning, and the first six Warriors reached against Central starter Jake Welch (5-4). The errors, along with two walks, two hits, a passed ball and a wild pitch, led to four Warrior runs.

After Central scored a run on a double-steal in the bottom of the inning, two more Tiger errors in the second led to three unearned Warrior runs.

The errors contributed to a quick exit by Welch, who yielded to ace John Thies in the third inning. The Warriors, with the aid of three infield singles, added a run off Thies in the third inning for an 8-1 lead.

Central countered with a run in the fourth on an Aaron Dohogne RBI single. The Tigers added two more runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Patrick Slattery and a bases-loaded hit batsman to cut the lead to 8-4. However, the Tigers were unable to capitalize on additional scoring chances, stranding five runners in the two innings.

Fox added an insurance run in the sixth inning on an Alex Coleman home run off Seth Hudson, the third Tiger pitcher.

Central stranded two more runners in both the sixth and seventh innings against Glenn Roeder (6-2), who effectively worked around 10 Tiger hits.

Roeder, a junior, was backed up by error-free defense.

Hudson, Mark Dunaway and Dohogne all finished with two hits for the Tigers.

Gabe Richardson had three hits for Fox, which finished with nine hits.

Class 1, District 2

ORAN 3, BELL CITY 1

Joey Bickings launched a game-winning two run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure the district championship for host Oran.

Jack Daniels put a scare into the Eagles with a solo blast in the top of the sixth to tie the score before Bickings answered to give Oran the 3-1 win.

Oran (19-2) scored the only other run of the game in the third inning when Nathan Seyer reached base on an error and advanced to third on a Ryne Wood single. Seyer then scored on a throwing error on the play.

Trey Graviett pitched a one-hitter for the Eagles. Bell City (14-5) pitcher Darrell Bailey allowed just four hits.

Oran will play its sectional game Wednesday at North Pemiscot.

Class 3, District 1

NOTRE DAME 13, DEXTER 2

Second-seeded Notre Dame had five different players with two or more hits and rolled past third-seeded and host Dexter in five innings to advance to today's district finals.

The Bulldogs (18-6) banged out 14 hits, including four home runs. Jeff Brosey led Notre Dame with two home runs and five RBIs. Kyle Diveley added two hits, including a home run, and Matt Smith added a home run. The Bulldogs got three singles from Wayne Essner and two hits apiece from Blake Urhahn and Lee Essner.

On the mound, Lee Essner pitched all five innings, striking out three and walking one. Dexter managed only six hits, two of which left the park.

Notre Dame will face the state's top-ranked team in Class 3 at 4:30 p.m. today after Sikeston rolled past Kennett 15-0 in the other semifinal.

"We're going in with the attitude we have nothing to lose," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said.

Class 1, District 3

BISMARCK 6, LEOPOLD 5

Top-seeded Bismarck rallied with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat No. 2 and host Leopold for the district championship.

After Leopold (9-11) moved ahead 5-4 in the top of the inning on a Kevin Holzum single, Bismarck put together four singles in the bottom half for the win. Jeff Irby provided the game-winning hit with one out off losing pitcher A.J. Seiler.

Bismarck (12-10) used a two-run Adam Randazzo home run for a 4-0 lead through four innings. Leopold pulled even with four of its eight hits, including a two-run triple by Josh Van de Ven, in the fifth inning. Leopold took its first lead in the seventh when Holzum plated Michael Vandeven, who had doubled.

Seiler pitched the first 3 2/3 innings before yielding to Van de Ven, who pitched only three innings after hurling seven innings earlier in the day in a 6-1 victory over No. 3 Caledonia Valley. Seiler returned to the mound for the seventh inning.

Vandeven went 3-for-4 for Leopold while teammate Nathan Thiele went 2-for-3.

Bismarck advanced to the title game with a 12-2, six-inning victory over No. 5 Zalma (2-6) in Thursday's other semifinal.

Class 2, District 2

VALLE 3, ST. VINCENT 0

Host Ste. Genevieve Valle blanked St. Vincent to claim the district title.

Phillip Stolls pitched the complete-game shutout. Stolls allowed seven hits, no walks and struck out two. Valle (14-9) allowed only one unearned run in its three district games.

Alex Armbruster pitched all six innings for the Indians (12-14), allowing only one earned run and six hits.

--From staff reports