HIGH SCHOOL: LADY HAWKS CLAIM 15TH CONSECUTIVE SOFTBALL TITLE

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Kelly captured its 15th consecutive Class 2A, District 2 title with a 7-1 victory Saturday, the Lady Hawks' third win over Notre Dame this season.

The victory advanced the Lady Hawks (18-2) to the sectional playoffs to be held at Kelly High School on Wednesday. Their opponent is yet to be determined.

Notre Dame (17-9) kept the game close until a disastrous sixth inning collapse.

Neither team scored until Kelly pushed across two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Marissa Essner reached on an error and came home on a triple by Megan Beggs. Beggs scored on a groundout by Bridgett Riley to give Kelly a 2-0 lead.

The Lady Bulldogs got one back in the top of the fifth when Ashley Reinagel walked and advanced to third on a single by Laura Weissmueller. Reinagel crossed the plate when Kelly mishandled a grounder hit by Ramona Blankenship.

With the game still tight at 2-1 in the top of the sixth, Notre Dame had a chance to tie the score and possibly go ahead.

The Lady Bulldogs had runners on first and third with one out when the runner at third, Mika Williamson, was picked off by the Kelly catcher.

In the bottom of the sixth, Kelly scored five to put the game out of reach. Notre Dame committed four errors in the inning.

Essner picked up the win for Kelly allowing two hits, walking two and striking out 10 in six innings of work. Essner did not allow an earned run.

Riley mopped up with a scoreless seventh inning.

Williamson took the loss giving up five hits, two walks and fanning one.

Nicole Kern went 2-for-3 with one of the hits a double to lead the Kelly attack.

Class 3A, District 1

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Perryville three-peated as Class 3A, District 1 champs, downing Park Hills in the final 6-2.

The Lady Pirates (18-9) had to play two on Saturday. They demolished De Soto in the semifinal 16-6.

Perryville banged 16 hits in the opener. Julia Heuring had four hits, Amanda Nuyt three -- including a two-run homer -- and Jamie Martin added three.

Amanda Roth went the distance for the win allowing eight hits, issuing two walks and striking out one.

In the district championship game, Perryville scored three in the top of the second inning. Park Hills came right back in its half of the second to put two scores on the board, making the score 3-2.

The Lady Pirates added three in the fourth and held Park Hills scoreless the rest of the way to claim the crown.

Kate Bohnert led the Perryville attack with two hits and two RBIs. Jenna Schuessler also drove in two.

Megan Narrow allowed no earned runs as she hurled a three-hitter, walking none and striking out two.

Perryville moves to sectional play next week against St. Louis Notre Dame, which has already defeated the Lady Pirates 7-2 this season.

SOCCER

Springfield Glendale 2, Cape Central 1

Cape Central 2, Rolla 1

ST. LOUIS -- Cape Central earned a split in games against two ranked soccer teams.

Game one against sixth-ranked Springfield Glendale saw a scoreless duel for the first 67 minutes of the match. Then at the 27-minute mark of the second half, Springfield netted a goal to take a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers came back to score on a penalty kick by Jon Mark Thompson to knot the score at 1-1.

With five minutes left in the first half, Springfield got the game winner on a deflected shot off a Cape defender.

In the second match against 11th-ranked Rolla, Cape Central got a tying goal with two minutes left in the first half from Cody Hill on an assist from Clint Hoffman to make the score 1-1.

The second half was a defensive struggle with neither team netting a goal, forcing an overtime period.

The Tigers prevailed at the 8-minute mark of the first overtime when Chris Cole scored unassisted to give Central a 2-1 victory.

The winner of the annual match between Cape and Rolla earns the right to keep the Optimist Cup, a traveling trophy. Cape Central regained the trophy after a two-year absence since winning the first three years of the series.

The Tigers record stands at 10-7-2.

Cape Central's JV squad (10-1) swept both matches, defeating Springfield 2-0 and blanking Rolla by an identical score.

Notre Dame 1, Rolla 0

FENTON, Mo. -- Notre Dame got an early goal and held off a talented Rolla squad which was ranked 11th in the state coaches' poll.

Scott Wittenborn took a pass from Nathan LeGrand and lofted the ball over the goalkeeper's head for the game's only goal.

Notre Dame (12-3-1) was just the third team to score off Rolla (13-1-2) this year.

"It was pretty even, but neither team had a lot of shots," Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn said. "I was very pleased wit the defense."

Notre Dame's junior varsity won 2-1 behind two goals by Blake Urhahn. Blake Fisher and Josh Essner provided assists.

Jackson falls to Mules, beats Springfield squad

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. Poplar Bluff's soccer team knocked off Jackson 2-0 Saturday, but the Indians turned around and beat Springfield Parkview 5-0.

Justin Vines, Greg Schwabb, Matt Buttry, Matt Neal and Balraj Dirnerbirg each scored goals, while Stewart Knowlan, Justin Jones, Buttry and Neal each had assists for Jackson (10-4-1).

In the Poplar Bluff game, the Mules scored first on a penalty kick in the first half and added another goal in the second half.

"We had some opportunities, but we couldn't score," said Jackson soccer coach Zach Walton.

Poplar Bluff's junior varsity knocked off Jackson 1-0.

VOLLEYBALL

Stoddard CO. Tournament

PUXICO, Mo. -- Advance beat Bloomfield 15-8, 15-4 to take third place in the Stoddard County Tournament.

Dana Williams had four kills, Amber Bond had three aces and eight assists; and Emily Johnson posted four blocks for the Lady Hornets (16-6-2).

Bond, Johnson and Williams all made the all-tournament team.

Bernie defeated Bell City for the championship.

Meadow Heights 15-13-15

Zalma 10-15-2

ZALMA, Mo. -- Meadow Heights (24-1) continued to roll, although tested by a good Zalma team on Friday.

The Lady Panthers remained undefeated in the Mississippi Valley Conference at 6-0, while Zalma (13-5-3) slipped to 3-2.

"I didn't know what to expect when we walked into the gym," said Meadow Heights coach Erin Hoffman, "but I sensed that we could be due for a letdown. Zalma played extremely well and the loss in the second set woke us up."

Meadow Heights' Holly Boyd had an outstanding all-around game with 14 kills, nine kill-blocks and 13 digs. Jessica Bollinger contributed with 10 kills and five kill-blocks. Jami Fulton had 30 assists and five digs.

Zalma got big games from Amber Buehler with 15 kills and Carrie Pixley with 13. Selena Slaughter recorded 28 assists.

Oak Ridge 15-15

Oran 9-13

ORAN, Mo. -- Oak Ridge improved to 4-10 with a straight set victory over Oran on Friday.

Alana Hobeck led the Lady Blue Jays with 17 assists, while Laura Glueck nailed six kills and Erin Pavelka score eight service points.

The Oak Ridge JV squad lost 8-15 and 4-15.