LEIMER'S DRAMATIC HR SENDS MULES PACKING, LIFTS INDIANS

Jackson pitcher Christopher Leimer used his arm to keep Poplar Bluff silent over the last four innings of Tuesday's Class 4A, District 1 baseball tournament at Cape Central High School.

He then used his bat to ensure a quiet ride home for the Mules.

Leimer made his first home run of the season a dramatic one, belting a two-out, three run homer in the bottom of the seventh for a 10-7 Jackson win.

Jackson (13-10), seeded fourth, advances to today's 4 p.m. semifinal game against top-seeded Cape Central (13-12). Poplar Bluff's season closed at 4-13.

Leimer finished with three of Jackson's eight hits and collected five RBIs on the day. Leimer also pitched a complete game, allowing nine hits, striking out six and walking none.

"He usually puts the bat on the ball," said Jackson coach Sam Sides. "He's been hitting the ball as good as anybody."

After each team scored three runs in the second, Jackson's defense committed three errors in a four-run Poplar Bluff fourth as the Mules moved ahead 7-3.

"I thought we were pretty well dead flat right there, but we got some breaks in the sixth," said Sides.

Jackson was kept off the board until the sixth, when the Indians pushed across four runs on two hits, three walks and an error.

With the score tied 7-7, the Indians saw their first two batters in the seventh strike out. Zane McClard and Brock Friederich then kept the inning alive with singles. McClard followed with his homer to left-center field.

"We earned those in that inning," said Sides. "We just put the bat on the ball. You just have to make the plays and we did right there."

Class 1A, District 2

ORAN -- Bell City, Advance and Ste. Genevieve Valle claimed victories Tuesday as the rain-plagued district tourney got under way a day late.

Third-seeded Bell City blanked No. 6 Delta 4-0; No. 5 Advance nipped No. 4 Oak Ridge 3-2; and No. 2 Valle routed No. 7 Scott County Central 12-4.

The semifinals will be played today, with top-seeded Oran facing Advance at 2:30 p.m. and Bell City meeting Valle at 4:30. The finals are set for Friday.

Lincoln Scherer fanned 14 and allowed just three hits for Bell City. He also joined Nate Wills in getting two hits.

Chris Wallace hurled a seven-hitter and fanned eight for Advance. Mike McCall allowed just five hits in a losing effort. Matt Mangels had three doubles for Oak Ridge.

Todd Viox was the winning pitcher for Valle. Nick Fallert had three hits while Scott Central's James Jones homered.