HARRISBURG HANDS TIGER BASEBALL FIRST LOSS OF SEASON

HARRISBURG, Ill. -- A day after opening its season with an extra-inning victory, Cape Central's baseball team encountered its first loss Thursday in another nail-biter, losing 5-4 to Harrisburg.

Cape Central (1-1), which edged Chaffee 7-4 in eight innings in Wednesday's season opener, had its chances on Thursday but was unable to push across the tying run.

"We played fairly well," said Cape Central coach Steve Williams. "We just didn't take advantage of some chances, especially in the sixth and seventh innings."

Cape Central struck for three of its runs in the second inning, two scoring on an RBI single by Richard Harrison, who finished with two hits. The Tigers took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the inning, but saw Harrisburg score two runs off losing pitcher Joe Hamilton, who was then chased in a three-run third as Harrisburg took a 5-3 lead.

Hamilton allowed three hits and walked four in two innings before giving way to Jay Pierce with no outs in the third. Pierce shut down Harrisburg in his four innings of work, allowing no runs, three hits and striking out three.

"He gave us a chance," said Williams. "I was very pleased with Jay."

The Tigers, who had seven hits on the day, scored their final run in the fifth to trim the lead to 5-4. Central had base runners in its final two at-bats, including two with one out in the sixth, but failed to score.

Central won the JV game 12-5 to improve to 2-0. Eric Grabel belted a grand slam to make a winner of John Thies, who went the distance.

GOLF

Fredericktown 169, Notre Dame 181

JACKSON -- Notre Dame junior Nick Martin shared the medalist honor with Fredericktown's Kyle Bales, but the Bulldogs, playing their season opener, found themselves 12 strokes behind the Black Cats in overall team play.

Martin and Bales both shot 41s on the par-36 front nine at Bent Creek Golf Course.

Notre Dame's team score was completed by Tim Buerck (46), Ryan Hannan (46) and Derek Walter (48).

JR. HIGH TRACK

POPLAR BLUFF -- Behind first-place finishes by Anthony Harris in the triple, long and high jump, Cape Central's freshman boys defeated Poplar Bluff 83-52 in a dual meet.

Central's eighth-grade boys dropped their dual 73-50, while the eight-grade girls won 67-45.

Results in Scoreboard on 4B.