JACKSON GIRLS WIN NOON OPTIMIST TOURNEY

Jackson's girls soccer team finished off an impressive weekend Saturday by winning the Noon Optimist Spring Classic with a 3-1 victory over rival Cape Girardeau Central.

The Lady Indians won all three of their games and outscored the opposition 11-1 during the eight-team, two-day tournament played at Notre Dame High School.

"This is really a big boost for us. We're really excited," said Jackson coach Bonnie Knowlan, whose squad improved its record to 13-4-2.

Jackson lost three games early in the season but has been on quite a roll since.

"We're playing better right now than any team I think I've had," Knowlan said. "We're just clicking right now and it's great to see."

In Saturday's championship game, Jackson got goals from Lacie Hodo, Meghann Humphries and Courtney Urhahn to open up a 3-0 lead. Recording assists were Sarah Schlick, Julie Wunderlich and Erin Mayfield.

"Even though she didn't get a shutout, Whitney Werner played a great game in goal," said Knowlan. "She made some really good saves."

Cape Central received a goal from Rebecca Hellrich, with an assist from Trisha Klipfel, but it was not enough as the Lady Tigers fell to 14-5-1.

"It was a pretty physical game and I think they out-physicaled us," said Cape Central coach Tom Doyle.

Earlier Saturday, in the semifinals, Cape Central defeated Poplar Bluff and Jackson knocked off Perryville by identical 2-0 scores.

For Cape Central, Amanda Hiler and Lori Bittle scored goals, while Klipfel and Amber Voerg had assists.

Jackson received goals from Kerrie Gordon and Dana Wright. Hodo contributed both assists.

Also Saturday, Perryville captured third place with a 2-0 win over Poplar Bluff, St. Vincent claimed fifth by beating Notre Dame 3-2 and Marion (Ill.) nabbed seventh with a 3-0 victory over Farmington.

Perryville's Brooke Winkler and Jamie Amberger scored goals in the third-place game as the Lady Pirates improved to 13-5-2. Amanda Schumer and Britney Weibrecht contributed assists.

For Notre Dame (5-14-1) in its loss to St. Vincent, Holly Montgomery and Courtney Vickery scored goals while Cyndi Cox and Michelle Hency got assists.

Earlier Saturday, in the consolation semifinals, Notre Dame routed Farmington 7-0 behind three goals from Emily Worley and two from Cox. Kim Crader and Meredith LeGrand added one goal apiece. Crader and LeGrand each had two assists while Cox, Hency and Laura Mittrucker got one each.

BASEBALL

Kelly Tournament

BENTON -- Jackson overcame a six-run Kelly first inning, scoring 10-unanswered runs to defeat the host Hawks 10-6 in the championship game of the four-team Kelly Tournament.

Jackson, which romped past Bell City 13-0 in the first round, improved to 9-6. Kelly had advanced with a 2-0 win over Scott City.

"We fell behind early," said Jackson coach Sam Sides. "We've done that before and seem to play well when we get behind early. We did battle back pretty well."

Kelly chased Jackson starter Jason Brown in the first inning. Brown retired just two batters, allowing four hits and walking four. Josh Hopkins came on to close out the inning and the game. He allowed just two hits over 6 1/3 innings, walking seven and striking out a career-high 12 batters.

"He struggled with his control a little but he had good velocity," said Sides. "He did a good job coming in cold like that."

Jackson came back with two runs in the top of the second and took a 9-6 lead in a seven-run third.

Tory Meyr went 4-for-5 to lead an 11-hit attack. Brown, Michael Birk and Garrett Williams all had two hits. Brown and Williams both had two RBIs.

Tim Schmitt was the losing hurler for Kelly. Because of eight errors by the Hawks, only four of the runs Schmitt allowed were earned. He fanned five and walked three.

John Heuring had two of Kelly's six hits as the Hawks fell to 8-7.

"Tim didn't pitch too bad but we didn't help him defensively," said Kelly coach Mike Scott. "And after we scored six in the first inning, we just couldn't hit Hopkins."

Lance Limbaugh was the winning pitcher for Jackson against Bell City, allowing just two hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Jackson, which scored four runs in the first, fourth and sixth innings, had 14 hits overall. Limbaugh helped his cause with three hits, while Toby Freeman, Hopkins and Meyr had two apiece. Hopkins's hits included a two-run triple. Meyr, who leads the area in stolen bases, padded his total with three thefts in the game.

Kelly's Justin Simpher hurled a five-hit shutout during the Hawks' victory over Scott City. He fanned seven and walked two.

Bill Posey was the hard-luck loser, also allowing five hits while fanning two and walking one.

Heuring again had two hits for Kelly.

In the third-place game, Scott City beat Bell City -- which was a late replacement for East Carter County -- 8-1.

Jackson wins JV doubleheader

PERRYVILLE -- Jackson's junior varsity team improved to 11-0 on the season with a pair of wins over Perryville.

The Indians won the first game 6-2 behind a two-hitter by Bryan Austin. Seth Harrell went 3-for-4.

Jackson won the second game 11-1 in five innings. Dusty Roberts got the win and Jason Owen went 3-for-3.

TENNIS

Poplar Bluff Tournament

POPLAR BLUFF -- Led by two unbeaten doubles teams, Cape Central won the seven-team Poplar Bluff Tournament.

Central's doubles teams of Mick Metzger-Trevor Blattner and Andrew Eaton-Eric Daume each went 3-0 to take the top two places. The two teams did not play each other in the championship match, but will do so in the upcoming days.

With 2 1/2 points for a win, the doubles teams collected 17 1/2 points. Central finished with 19 1/2 points to outdistance runnerup Sikeston (17).

"We haven't won this in at least six years," said Cape Central coach Bud Craven. "I'm real happy about that. The doubles teams were real solid today."

In singles play, Paul Miller went 1-1 and Andrew Tansil was 0-1.

Central returns to action Monday at home against Poplar Bluff.

TRACK & FIELD

Dale Collier Invitational

KIRKWOOD -- Cape Central's Kim Pancoast and Heather Jenkins continued strong seasons with victories in the 16-team Dale Collier Invitational, a non-scoring meet hosted by Kirkwood.

Pancoast won the 3200-meter run in 12 minutes, 18 seconds. Jenkins placed first in the discus with a throw of 131 feet, 8 inches. She also placed second in the shot put with toss of 39-9.

Dionna Webb also turned in a second in the long jump with a distance of 17-6.

Webb, one of the premier girls sprinters, was hampered by an injury and placed just fourth in the 100 and fifth in the 200. High jumper Lani Bohnsack also had to settle for a fifth after twisting an ankle.

"Like the boys, we have a few people nicked a little bit," said Cape Central coach Lawrence Brookins. "It's nothing real bad, but enough to slow them down a bit."

Cape Central returns to action Friday in the SEMO Conference meet in Poplar Bluff.

Results are in Scoreboard on 4B.

Kelly Hawk Invitational

BENTON -- Ste. Genevieve Valle's girls defended their title while Malden's boys soared past defending champion New Madrid County Central during the 11-team meet hosted by Kelly.

Valle had 148 points while rounding out the girls top five were Dexter (84), Kelly (74), East Prairie (68) and Chaffee (51).

Malden's boys scored 185.5 points. Rounding out the top five were New Madrid (132), Kelly (91), Dexter (66) and Chaffee (61).

Highlighting the boys meet was New Madrid's Pervis Boyd, who won three events: the 100-meters, 200-meters and triple jump.

Also on the boys side, Kelly's Adam Daughhetee was a double individual winners, capturing the 1,600 and 3,200.

Results are in Scoreboard on 4B.

GIRLS SWIMMING

Cape Central fourth

SPRINGFIELD -- Paced by a meet record time by Mary Beth Owen in the 500 freestyle, Cape Central placed fourth in the 18-team Springfield Invitational.

Owen clocked a 5:10.95 to finish first in the event.

Columbia Hickman won the meet with 293.5 points, and was followed by Lindbergh (268), Springfield-Glendale (220.5) and Cape Central (118).

"We dropped a lots of times," said Cape Central coach Dayna Powell. "We swam real well. To be fourth out of 18, we were a little surprised by that finish."

Another highlight for Cape Central was a state-qualifying total by Sara Sprigg in diving. Her 212.1 total was the second highest in school history. Jean Maguire also qualified for state in the 200 freestyle with a 2:06.88.

Cape Central results

Medley relay - 10. 2:20.89 (Jennifer Taylor Janet Smith, Laura Canupp, Kelley Green)

200 freestyle - 4. Jean Maguire 2:06.88

Diving - 3. Sara Sprigg 212.1

100 butterfly - 2. Mary Beth Owen 1:01.50; 5. Maguire 1:07.28; 9. Tara Herzberger 1:15.64

500 freestyle - 1. Owen 5:10.95

200 freestyle relay - 3. 1:52.14 (Maguire, Green, Casey Brennan, Owen)

400 relay - 4. 4:08.0 (Brennan, Maguire, Jennifer Taylor, Owen)