Kelly opens tourney with three-inning win

Kelly, the defending Class 2 state champions, started play in the District 5 tournament with a 15-0 trouncing of Clearwater in just three innings Wednesday.

Mindy Robert had a single, double and triple to go along with two RBIs. Kalie Hughes and Casey Kern added two hits apiece for the Hawks (17-10).

Kern allowed one hit, struck out three and walked one in three innings of work to improve to 10-4.

Kelly will face No. 5 Neelyville today. Neelyville was a 12-2 winner over Greenville.

KELLY 15, CLEARWATER 0, 3 INNINGS

Clearwater 000 -- 0 1 5

Kelly 69X -- 15 12 0

WP -- Casey Kern, 10-4. LP -- Gentles. 3B -- Mindy Robert (K). 2B -- Robert (K). Multiple hits -- Kelly, Robert 3-3; Kalie Hughes 2-2; Kern 2-3. Records --Kelly 17-10.

Class 4 District 1

Central took advantage of six Sikeston errors to advance to the Class 4 District 1 semifinals.

Freshman pitcher Amanda Nichols struck out 10 and did not walk a batter for the Tigers (7-19). Central managed just three hits.

Next for the Tigers is top-seeded host Poplar Bluff.

"Our kids are ready," Central coach Amy Blattel said.

Jackson fell to No. 3 Hillsboro 3-1.

Central 4, Sikeston 1

Central 200 101 0 -- 4 3 2

Sikeston 010 000 0 -- 1 5 6

WP -- Amanda Nichols. LP -- Brinkmeyer. 2B -- Blurton (S). Multiple hits -- Sikeston, Blurton 2-3. Records -- Central 7-19.

-- From staff reports