High school roundup: State champs Essner, Backfisch return to Jeff City

Past state champions Stephanie Essner of Scott City and Londyn Backfisch of Kelly both will have a chance to earn more titles.

They were among the local track and field athletes who advanced from Monday's Class 2 Sectional 1 meet at Principia High School in suburban St. Louis.

The meet, originally scheduled for Saturday, was pushed back due to inclement weather. The top four finishers in each event qualified for the state meet Friday and Saturday in Jefferson City, Mo.

Essner, the two-time defending 400 meter state champion, finished second Monday. The senior also was part of Scott City's 800 and 1,600 relay teams that advanced out of the sectional by placing third and fourth, respectively.

Backfisch won the 200 state title as a sophomore in 2008 but missed all of last season with a knee injury. The senior was second in the sectional 200 while also placing fourth in the high jump.

Scott City junior Melanie Lacey qualified for state in two events after she won the 3,200 and was third in the 1,600.

On the boys side, Scott City junior Alex Eichhorn will compete in three events at the state meet as he was third in the triple jump, fourth in the shot put and was part of the 400 relay that finished third. Eichhorn was eighth in state shot put last year.

Garett Schaefer, another Scott City junior, qualified for state in three events. He was second in the 200 while running on the Rams' 400 relay that placed third and 800 relay that finished fourth.

Scott City sophomore Brandon Shemonia was a double individual state qualifier after winning the 3,200 and placing third in the 1,600.

Saxony Lutheran's boys qualified their 3,200 and 1,600 relays, which were third and fourth, respectively.

Local state qualifiers

Boys

Triple jump -- 3. Alex Eichhorn (Scott City) 41-1

Shot put -- 4. Eichhorn (Scott City) 46-3 1/4

3,200 relay -- 3. Saxony Lutheran (Mark Buerck, Joe Buerck, Brandon Fritsche, Rhett Obermann) 8:27.11

800 relay -- 4. Scott City (Brandon DeProw, Garett Schaefer, Ryan Smith, Ethan Woods) 1:33.04

1,600 -- 3. Brandon Shemonia (Scott City) 4:28.88

400 relay -- 3. Scott City (DeProw, Eichhorn, Schaefer, Woods) 45.24

200 -- 2. Schaefer (Scott City) 22.89

3,200 -- 1. Shemonia (Scott City) 10:01.24

1,600 relay -- 4. Saxony Lutheran (M. Buerck, J. Buerck, Obermann, Trevor Mabuce) 3:31.52

Girls

High jump -- 4. Londyn Backfisch (Kelly) 4-10

800 relay -- 3. Scott City (Erika Medlin, Miranda Brashear, Heather Keesee, Stephanie Essner) 1:49.51

1,600 -- 3. Melanie Lacey (Scott City) 5:37.67

400 -- 2. Essner (Scott City) 1:01.05

200 -- 2. Backfisch (Kelly) 25.89

3,200 -- 1. Lacey (Scott City) 12:24.45

1,600 relay -- 4. Scott City (Brashear, Keesee, Medlin, Essner) 4:16.84

BASEBALL

Class 1 District 3

Garret Light tripled twice to lead Oak Ridge past Valley 10-6.

Cody Myers went 3 for 3 and collected three RBIs in the win.

Dakota Zoellner pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up five runs, one earned, and striking out three.

The game was played at South Iron because the fields were too wet in Caledonia.

Oak Ridge will play South Iron in South Iron in today's semifinals.

In other opening-round action, Lesterville knocked off Leopold 14-3.

Greg Jones went 2 for 3 for the Wildcats.

John Bohnsack took the loss on the mound.

OAK RIDGE 10, VALLEY 6

Oak Ridge 106 210 0 -- 10 10 4

Valley 320 000 1 -- 6 7 2

WP -- Dakota Zoellner, 2-4. LP -- Logan Midgett. 3B -- Garret Light (OR). 2B -- Lucas Rohde (OR), Myers (OR), Midgett (V). Multiple hits -- Oak Ridge: Light 2-5, Cody Myers 3-3, Rohde 2-4. Valley: Midgett 2-4. Records -- Oak Rige 10-12.

GIRLS SOCCER

Class 1 District 1

Storm French scored a goal and added an assist as St. Vincent opened defense of its state title with a 6-0 victory over Saxony Lutheran.

Abby Lappe collected two goals to help boost St. Vincent to 20-2.

Megan Sutterer, Emily Cissell and Valerie Smith all added a goal, and Liz Brueckner added two assists.

Miranda Unterreiner was in goal and collected two saves.

Class 2 District 1

Becca Hanquist scored the winning goal with three minutes left in double overtime to lift Perryville past Windsor 2-1 in the opening round.

Emily Hanquist scored the Pirates' first goal in the opening half.

Sam Amberger assisted on the game-winning goal.

Natalie Bauwens collected five saves in goal for the win.

The Pirates (14-6) will face Sikeston in the semifinals Wednesday in Farmington.

-- From staff reports