JACKSON, KELLY PLAY QUARTERFINALS TODAY

Rockwood Summit pitcher Kacie Flinn lugs some imposing numbers -- including an ERA under 0.30 -- into today's Class 4A quarterfinal softball game against Jackson. But Lady Indians coach Becky Riney said Flinn won't bring anything to the table that her team shouldn't be able to handle.

A day after throwing a nine-inning, one-hit shutout against Pacific in the District 3 championship game, Flinn limited defending 4A state champion Lafayette to three hits in the Lady Falcons' 2-0 sectional round victory Friday.

But Pacific was only the No. 6 seed in District 3. And though Lafayette won the state title last season, they went just 15-13 this year.

Regardless, Summit's victory sets up this afternoon's quarterfinals clash against Jackson, a 5-0 winner over Hillsboro in a sectional game Thursday. The game, the winner of which will travel to Columbia next weekend for Final Four games, is set for 2 p.m. at Lafayette High School in Ballwin.

"If we hit like we did against Hillsboro, then we'll win it," said Riney, who was in St. Louis Friday for Summit's game. Jackson, which before this season had never advanced beyond the district tournament, is 21-6.

Riney, who will go with Beth Becker (11-4) as pitcher although Gretchen King won Jackson's last two games, added that she expects a low-scoring game and pointed to defense as a possible key to a victory.

Kelly High, the defending 2A state champion, will face Linn, a 1-0 winner over Elsberry Friday, in a quarterfinals game today at noon at Forestwood Park in Ferguson.

Linn is a post-season newcomer; Kelly coach Rhonda Evans said she knew nothing of the team. Kelly's starter will be Brittany Lambert (7-4).

Kelly, a 2-1 winner over East Carter County in the sectional game Thursday, is 15-7.