Mules earn wins in three sports, take second at ND golf invite

The Poplar Bluff Mules boys tennis team came out victorious at home Tuesday as key returners stepped up against Jackson High.

The Mules went undefeated in doubles and defeated the visiting Indians 7-2.

“These were some great games from our guys,” Poplar Bluff coach Michael Sowatzke said. “Our guys stepped up big time today. Isaac Cato, Carson Todd and Alejandro Rivetti played way better than we’ve seen all season. This group has continued to be very coachable and has improved every single day.”

In junior varsity play, Jackson won 5-3.

The Mules will play at Dexter Thursday at 4 p.m.

Poplar Bluff 7, Jackson 2

Singles

Angelo Sorrentino (PB) def. Trenton Schorey (J) 8-1; Jeramy Essner (J) def. Alejandro Rivetti 5-8; Tavian Towns (PB) def. Tyson Ford 8-3, Carson Todd (PB) def. Austin Rushing 8-3, Conner Strickland (J) def. Matthew Penn 2-8; Isaac Cato (PB) def. Jack Thomas 8-5.

Doubles

Sorrentino/Towns (PB) def. Essner/Schorey 8-6; Rivetti/Todd (PB) def. Ford/Rushing 7-2; Cato/Aiden Castillo (PB) def. Strickland/Thomas 8-4.

BASEBALL

Mules 8, Sikeston 0

At Sikeston, Dylan Bratcher and Noah Spain combined for a five-hit shutout as the Mules picked up a big SEMO Conference win.

Poplar Bluff (5-5, 2-2 SEMO) led 3-0 going to the top of the seventh before erupting for five runs to put the game out of reach.

Myles Johnson and Marcus Tabanera each had two hits, while Tabanera and Kolby Greenwall drove in two runs apiece.

Bratcher held Sikeston to five hits and one run over six innings while striking out five before Spain finished with a hitless seventh inning.

MONDAY

BOYS GOLF

Mules take second at ND invite

At Cape Girardeau, the Mules golf team left quite the impression at the Notre Dame Invitational Monday, bringing home some hardware.

The Mules finished second out of 11 teams with a score of 332.

Lawson Barks finished first with an even-par 72. Other winners included Andrew Miller, Caiden Luke and Corbin Thomas.

GIRLS SOCCER

Poplar Bluff 1, Carbondale 0

At Carbondale, Illinois, Olivia Carda scored the game’s lone goal in the 12th minute as the Lady Mules improved to 2-3-1 on the season.

Keeper Nevaeh Larkins was 9-for-9 on save opportunities as she picked up the shutout.