Jackson softball tournament among a busy prep weekend

By Jeremy Joffray ~ Southeast Missourian

Last year, the Jackson Invitational softball tournament was wiped out due to wet weather.

A change in the date and location of the tournament have been made this year to make sure Mother Nature doesn't spoil what looks to be an exciting day of softball.

The tournament will be played at Shawnee Park Sports Complex this year, with games beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday and running through the 6:15 p.m. championship game.

The 16-team tournament features top local programs Notre Dame, Kelly, Jackson and Central, along with St. Louis schools such as Cor Jesu, Nerinx Hall and Fox. Illinois schools Goreville and Vienna are also in the field.

Notre Dame draws Goreville in the opening round. Kelly, coming off a championship performance at the Incarnate Word tournament, will open with Fox. Central plays Lutheran South in the opening round, and Jackson will take on Doniphan. Potential quarterfinal matchups include Notre Dame playing Central and Kelly matching up with Cor Jesu after a 3-1 win over the St. Louis-area school at the Incarnate Word tournament.

Going the distance

The Central cross country team hosts a meet Saturday expected to draw 16 teams. The event begins with junior high races at 10 a.m. The varsity girls run at noon and the varsity boys run at 12:30 p.m.

Mark Hahn said the meet will mark the first time his team -- and many of the others -- will be running the full 3.1-mile distance.

Ste. Genevieve may be on hand to give the Central girls a run for first place, while Fox and Carbondale will bring in strong boys teams. Jackson, Advance, Delta, Kelly, Notre Dame, Oak Ridge, Saxony Lutheran and Meadow Heights are other local teams in the field.

Central tennis quad

Central's tennis team should be in for a good challenge this weekend with a pair of St. Louis area schools coming to Cape Girardeau for the North-South challenge.

The Tigers will square off against Parkway West and Parkway Central in a quad meet. Charleston will also play both Parkway schools. Central's matches will be at Central, while Charleston will play both schools at Southeast Missouri State University's courts. Play begins at 9 a.m.

Parkway West defeated Central handily when the two teams met last year.

"It's looking like Parkway West will be strong again," Central coach Annette Slattery said.

Perryville hosts volleyball tournament

Local squads Perryville, St. Vincent and Central will compete in the Perryville Volleyball Tournament on Saturday.

Matches start at 8:30 a.m. with pool play lasting until about 4 p.m. Central and Perryville are joined by Charleston, Bernie and Ste. Genevieve in Pool B. St. Vincent, Arcadia Valley, Dexter, Fredericktown and Bismarck make up Pool A.

Semifinals will immediately follow the conclusion of pool play and will include the top two teams from each pool.

Notre Dame soccer hosts two schools

Notre Dame will play a pair of games at home in the Noon Optimist Shootout.

The Bulldogs will play Marshall County (Ky.) at noon, then Murray (Ky.) at 6 p.m. Notre Dame faced both opponents last season, defeating Marshall County and losing to Murray. Carbondale will also play in the shootout.

"I'm looking forward to a great day of soccer," Notre Dame coach Brad Wittenborn said.

College notes

Murray State sophomore volleyball player Holly Jansen, a Leopold graduate, had a career-high four blocks and added 16 digs in Murray's four-game loss to Stephen F. Austin at the UAB Tournament on Saturday. The Racers, last year's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament champions, placed second in the tournament with a 2-1 record.

Central graduate Bret McNabb assisted on the game-winning goal for Oakland University in a 2-1 victory against Cal State Fullerton Sept. 5. Oakland is 2-1-1 to start the season, including a recent 0-0 tie with No. 22 Akron. McNabb, a senior, has enjoyed a successful career with the Grizzlies, including two straight trips to the NCAA Tournament.