HIGH SCHOOL: KELLY SOFTBALL TEAM NABS THIRD IN STATE

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- For the second consecutive season, the Kelly High School softball team finished third in the Missouri Class 2A State Tournament.

After suffering a heart-breaking 2-1 loss to Lawson in Friday's semifinals, the Lady Hawks bounced back Saturday with a 1-0 victory over Blair Oaks.

Kelly finished another sensational season with a 21-3 record. The Lady Hawks have participated in the Class 2A Final Four in four of the past five years.

"Friday's game was disappointing, but it's nice to finish (the season) with a win," said Kelly coach Melanie Heuring. "It was a great year, and it's good to finish third in the state."

Bridgett Riley pitched all seven innings for Kelly Saturday, allowing just two hits. She struck out six and did not issue a walk.

"Bridgett pitched a really good game," Heuring said.

The Lady Hawks, who had just three hits, scored the game's lone run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Natalie Lewer reached on an error, was sacrificed to second by Dana Essner and came home on a double by Marissa Essner.

Silex 10, Delta 0

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Delta was limited to just one hit as it saw its first trip to the Class 1A Final Four end in a five-inning loss in Saturday's third-place game.

Stephanie Dannenmueller doubled to lead off the second inning to account for Delta's lone hit.

Rebecca Cook suffered the loss, allowing six hits, walking three and striking out one. Five Lady Bobcat errors resulted in seven unearned runs.

Silex (19-5) moved on top with a run in the bottom of the first and broke the game open with six runs in third. Ahead 7-0, Silex brought the 10-run rule into play with three more runs in the fourth.

Delta concluded its first season of fall softball with an 8-15 record.

"Obviously when you start your first fall season by going to state, you look for good things in the future," said Delta coach Anne Trieb.

VOLLEYBALL

Eagle Ridge Christian 3rd

Eagle Ridge Christian School wound up finishing third Saturday in the Ozark Christian Athletic Conference Tournament that it hosted.

New Salem Baptist Academy won the tourney, first beating Eagle Ridge 15-10, 15-8 in the semifinals and then later knocking off Southern Missouri Christian School.

Eagle Ridge later fell to Southern Missouri Christian School 15-10, 15-4 to wind up third.

Against New Salem, Eagle Ridge's Ashley Hughes had five service points while Brandy Shreve added four. Rachel Carbaugh had four kills.

Against Southern Missouri Christian, Hughes served five points and Cara Irvin had four.

Eagle Ridge is 5-6 on the season.

Zalma 7-15-15

Bloomfield 15-3-4

BLOOMFIELD -- Amber Buehler notched 11 kills at Zalma closed its regular-season schedule with a three-set victory over Bloomfield Friday night.

Carrie Pixley added 10 kills for Zalma (16-8-3).

Zalma won the JV contest 15-3, 15-9.

GIRLS TENNIS

4A state tournament

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Jackson's Kim Anderson was eliminated from play Friday in the Class 4A state tennis tournament.

Anderson opened play with a first-round loss to Megan Varma of St. Joseph Central. Varma won in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.

In consolation action, Anderson fell 6-1, 6-1 to Meagan Brown of Springfield-Kickapoo.

In 1A-3A action, Charleston's doubles team of Lauren Carlisle and Mindi Luehmann also lost both its matches Friday.