JACKSON SOFTBALL ROLLS PAST CENTRAL

JACKSON -- Jackson High's softball team evened its season at 4-4 Wednesday with a 10-1 victory over Cape Girardeau Central.

Aside from beating their rivals, the win had a special meaning for the Lady Indians and Jackson coach Becky Riney.

"My dad (Larry Bollinger) had open-heart surgery and they did this as a get-well gift for him," Riney said.

Gretchen King earned the win for Jackson. She went all seven innings and allowed one unearned run on three hits and six strikeouts.

Offensively, Megan Kuntze stole the show, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored.

King also went 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs. Amanda Bollinger went 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI and Stacey DeClue went 2-for-3.

"I feel like the last three or four games, we've had a dramatic improvement," Riney said. "The kids played really hard."

Kelly 4, Notre Dame 0

Marissa Essner pitched a four-hitter in leading the Kelly Lady Hawks to victory.

Essner also went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Ramona Blankenship suffered the loss. She gave up four runs (two earned) on nine hits in seven innings. She didn't walk or strike out anyone.

Kelly scored one run in the second and three in the third.

Notre Dame, which dropped to 2-2 on the season, got two hits from Laura Huber.

"It was a well-played game," said Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim. "We had runners on, we just couldn't get them in."

Along with Essner, Natalie Lewer and Jenny Riley each went 2-for-3 for the Lady Hawks.

VOLLEYBALL

Woodland Tournament

MARBLE HILL -- Leopold assured itself of a spot in the finals by claiming a narrow semifinal victory over Bell City.

The Lady Wildcats, seeded second in the seven-team tourney, defeated the third-seeded Lady Cubs 11-15, 15-7, 15-11.

Leopold, now 2-0, got 10 kills from Emily Broshuis, eight kills from Jennifer Elfrink, five kills and 16 assists from Sarah Gowen, and nine digs from Amy Stroder.

"It was a good match," said Leopold coach Leanne Huffman. "It's nice to be in the finals. That's a good way to start off the season."

In a first-round match, No. 4 Meadow Heights knocked off No. 5 Zalma 15-7, 15-11.

Tonight at 6, top-seeded Woodland takes on Meadow Heights in the other semifinal that will set up Friday's championship pairing. Also tonight, Notre Dame and Greenville square off in a consolation semifinal at 7:30.

CROSS COUNTRY

Notre Dame boys 4th

MURPHYSBORO, Ill. -- Notre Dame opened its season in the 10-team Murphysboro Invitational, the boys finishing fourth and the girls ninth.

Rick Smith was the Bulldogs' top finisher, placing 16th with a time of 18:50 over the 5-kilometer course. Other Notre Dame runners were: 21. Adam Eftink 19:45; 26. Matt Frey 20:16; 29. Jaime Higgins 20:28; 38. Jason Peters 21:50.

On the girls side, Susan Judd was eight, with a time of 15:52 over 2.17 miles. Other Notre Dame runners were 38. Laura Mittrucker 18:29; 50. Jill Eichhorn 19:08; 52. Susan Layton 19:17; 54. Amanda Gosche 19:29.

Notre Dame freshman David Unterreiner was fifth in the 5K freshmen-sophomore race with a time of 19:24.