High school roundup: Notre Dame cross country runners capture titles in opener

The Notre Dame cross country program got its season started in impressive fashion Wednesday.

Notre Dame swept the small school divisions at the Murphysboro (Ill.) Invitational. The boys won the nine-team meet, while the girls prevailed in the seven-team competition.

Notre Dame's boys scored 40 points to hold off Sparta (Ill.) with 45 points. Benton (Ill.) was third with 58 points.

The Notre Dame girls had 31 points to outdistance Benton (Ill.) with 51 points. Carterville (Ill.) was third with 72 points.

Cole Ross led the boys with a fifth-place finish. He covered the 5-kilometer course in 17 minutes, 48 seconds.

Cape Central's Caroline Harding hits the ball during doubles play against Jackson on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, in Cape Girardeau. (Kristin Eberts)

Breanna Conklin paced the girls with a second-place performance in 20:53. Elizabeth Kiblinger followed in third place at 20:54.

Notre Dame results

Boys -- 5. Cole Ross, 17:48; 9. Jacob Cieslewicz, 18:40; 11. Jacob Meadors, 18:57; 12. Michael Peters, 18:59; 13. Clayton Myers, 19:08

Girls -- 2. Breanna Conklin, 20:53; 3. Elizabeth Kiblinger, 20:54; 7. Elsie Anderson, 22:02; 9. Alicia Landewee, 23:32; 10. Ali Norder, 24:02

SOFTBALL

Cape Central's Morgan Crowell hits the ball during doubles play against Jackson on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011, in Cape Girardeau. (Kristin Eberts)

St. Vincent 8, Scott City 7

The Indians posted a nine-inning road victory.

Abby Ruessler's RBI single in the top of the ninth inning plated Kayla Seabaugh, who had singled, for the winning run.

Amanda Breig and Jackie Richardet had three hits apiece for St. Vincent (2-3). Ruessler, Seabaugh, Nicole Pruett and Kayla Winkler all added two hits.

Casey Unterreiner was the winning pitcher in relief of Pruett, who worked into the seventh inning.

Scott City scored four times in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.

St. Vincent 020 410 001 -- 8 14 4

Scott City 012 000 400 -- 7 12 4

Notre Dame 14, Affton 2

The Bulldogs remained undefeated with a lopsided road win.

Katie Bond pitched a five-hitter. She struck out five and walked two for Notre Dame.

The Bulldogs (3-0) banged out 14 hits, including a home run by Jessica Menz.

Bond had three hits. Summer Burger, Hali Rendleman and Brandi Glastetter all added two hits in the win.

Notre Dame 006 400 4 -- 14 14 2

Affton 010 001 0 -- 2 5 4

WP -- Katie Bond. LP -- Sinamon. HR -- Jessica Menz (ND). 2B -- Summer Burger (ND), Savanna Ayers (ND), Brandi Glastetter (ND) 2, Nixon (A). Multiple hits -- Notre Dame: Bond 3-4, Hali Rendleman 2-3, Burger 2-5, Glastetter 2-4. Affton: Nixon 2-2. Records -- Notre Dame 3-0.

Perryville 10, Saxony Lutheran 1

The Pirates had 10 hits during a lopsided home win.

Morgan Baer went 3 for 3, while Destiny Herschbach went 2 for 2 to lead Perryville (5-3).

Casey Hotop pitched four shutout innings for the win.

Saxony 000 010 0 -- 1 3 1

Perryville 405 100 X -- 10 10 2

WP -- Casey Hotop. LP -- Steck. 3B -- Kelcie Fahnestock (P). Multiple hits -- Perryville, Morgan Baer 3-3, Destiny Herschbach 2-2. Records -- Perryville, 5-3.

GIRLS TENNIS

Jackson 8, Central 1

The Indians (3-1) dropped only one match during a victory at the rival Tigers.

Singles

No. 1 -- Jenny Powell (J) def. Morgan Crowell 8-2

No. 2 -- Montana Adams (J) def. Caroline Harding 8-3

No. 3 -- Susanna Hayward (C) def. Katelyn Kuppart 8-4

No. 4 -- Lucy Kuntz (J) def. Becky Schneider 8-6

No. 5 -- Laina Marble (J) def. Faith Tegel 8-3

No. 6 -- Jackie McNally (J) def. Caroline Retter 8-4

Doubles

No. 1 -- Powell-Adams (J) def. Crowell-Harding 8-5

No. 2 -- Kuppart-Marble (J) def. Hayward-Schneider 8-3

No. 3 -- Kuntz-McNally (J) def. Tegel-Retter 8-3

-- From staff reports