LEOPOLD FRESHMAN THROWS NO-HITTER VS. MHHS IN FIRST ROUND

ANAPOLIS -- Leopold freshman Josh Van de Ven pitched a no-hitter as the top-seeded Wildcats opened Class 1A, District 3 play with an 11-1, five-inning victory over No. 8 seed Meadow Heights.

Van de Ven struck out 10 batters and walked two as Leopold (9-6) moved into today's semifinals against No. 4 Lesterville, which survived a wild 15-14 game against No. 5 Viburnum.

Van de Ven also had two hits as Leopold had nine for the game. Lee VanderMierden had a double and a home run to finish with four RBIs. Daniel Schaab added a pair of triples and four RBIs while Jason Van de Ven had a triple and Garan Engelen and Ashton James each had a double.

Troy Hayes suffered the loss for Meadow Heights.

After the Panthers scored a run in the first, Leopold came back with six runs in the second, one in the third, three in the fourth and one in the fifth.

In other first-round games, No. 2 Kingston posted a forfeit win over No. 7 Bunker and No. 6 South Iron upset No. 3 Van Buren.

CLASS 1A, District 2

Oran 15, Richland 3

ORAN -- The Eagles took advantage of eight walks and seven errors as they coasted to an easy first-round win in five innings.

Matt Bucher picked up the win in three innings. He struck out seven and walked three, while giving up one unearned run on two hits.

Patrick Friga pitched two innings of relief as Oran improved to 13-10.

Philip Seyer was the only Oran player with multiple hits. He went 2-for-2 with a double and four runs batted in.

Bell City 12, Oak Ridge 2, five innings

ORAN -- Brian Phillips and Gabe Scherer each had three hits in leading the Cubs to victory.

Phillips also had four runs batted in.

Jason Rampley picked up the win in four innings of work. He shut out Oak Ridge on four hits, two walks and five strikeouts.

Also for Bell City, Matt Richardson went 2-for-4 and Adam Eilers went 2-for-4.

Ben Fadler suffered the loss. He went four innings and allowed seven runs, six earned, on nine hits and two walks. He fanned five.

St. Vincent 10, Valle of Ste. Gen 2

ORAN -- St. Vincent catcher Ryan Brown started the postseason with a bang, going 3-for-3 with two home runs and four runs batted in as St. Vincent, the third seed, took care of No. 6 Valle.

Tyler Wengert pitched a complete game for the Indians, allowing two unearned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out eight.

Brandon Carroll had one hit, stole three bases and scored three runs.

St. Vincent kept steady pressure on Valle, scoring two runs in the first, one in the second, five in the third, one in the fifth and one in the seventh.

St. Vincent will take on the winner of No. 2 Oran at 4:30 p.m. today.

GIRLS SOCCER

Class 4A, District 1

POPLAR BLUFF -- Second-seeded Cape Central outscored No. 3 seed Poplar Bluff 12-1 through three regular season games.

District games often bring out a whole new character to a game, which the Lady Tigers discovered Monday. Cape Central (18-6-1) advanced to Wednesday night's championship game with a hard-fought 4-3 victory. Cape Central will face top-seeded Jackson, which drubbed No. 4 Farmington 10-0.

"This one was a dogfight," said Cape Central coach Tom Doyle. "They just kept coming back. We were never behind, but we never got enough ahead to relax."

Cape Central's Trisha Klipfel scored the only goal of the first half when she deposited a pass from Amber Voerg.

Poplar Bluff tied the game five minutes into the second half, but Central moved ahead 2-1 on a Voerg goal off a Klipfel pass at the 55-minute mark. Seven minutes later Ashley Voerg scored unassisted off a corner kick.

Poplar Bluff closed the gap to 3-2 at the 65-minute mark, but Amanda Hiler answered for Central at the 69-minute mark off an Ashley Voerg pass for a 4-2 lead.

Poplar Bluff retaliated with a goal at the 76-minute mark.

Jackson 10, Farmington 0

POPLAR BLUFF -- Top-seeded Jackson got four goals from Megan Humphries as it scored eight second-half goals to put away No. 4 Farmington.

Lacie Hodo added two goals and four assists for the Lady Indians, while Julie Wunderlich had two goals and one assist. Erin Hartmann and McKenzie Turley each scored a goal.

Class 1A-3A, District 1

PERRYVILLE -- Sixth-seeded Notre Dame saw its season come to close with a 4-1 loss to third-seeded St. Pius.

St. Pius scored the first half's only goal. After Katyln Kelley had pulled the Lady Bulldogs even at 1-1 early in the second half off a pass from Emily Worley, St. Pius quickly responded.

"We had a little bit of momentum and about two minutes later St. Pius came back and scored," said Notre Dame coach Jeff Worley.

Maria Zinser put St. Pius ahead to stay and Lady Bulldog nemesis Jamie Derleth iced the game with a pair of goals.

Derleth had scored four goals in a game earlier this year against the Lady Bulldogs.

"We did a much better job on her, she's just a fantastic player," said Worley.

Notre Dame finished it season at 7-16-2.

"I was pleased with our effort, but they were a little bit better than we were today," said Worley.

St. John's 1, St. Vincent 0

PERRYVILLE -- Despite outshooting St. John's 34-18, the Squaws ended up suffering a first-round defeat to the fourth seed.

St. John's scored with 12 minutes to go in the game.

St. Vincent, which ended its season at 9-8-1, was the fifth seed.