Mystery teams await local sectional winners

Three area softball teams remain alive in the hunt for a state championship.

Notre Dame, Perryville and Delta know when and where they're going for the quarterfinal round today. Notre Dame and Perryville just don't know who yet.

Their opponents were unknown as the Southeast Missourian went to press. Rain throughout the week caused game postponements. All quarterfinal and any undecided sectional games are scheduled to be played today.

Notre Dame (25-3) will meet either Clopton (21-4) or Linn (7-18) at noon in the Class 2A quarters in Affton, Mo.

Perryville, a 5-4 winner over St. Pius in its rain-delayed Class 3A sectional which was contested Friday, will tangle with either Lutheran South (22-5) or Sullivan (16-8) in Affton, Mo., at noon. The Lady Pirates, owner of four straight district titles, improved to 16-13. This is their second quarterfinal appearance.

Delta (11-9) will face Marion C. Early (18-7) in Ash Grove, Mo., at 11 a.m. today. Marion C. Early defeated Dadeville (20-2) 3-1 Friday behind a 19-strikeout no-hitter by Tiffany Homan.

A young Delta team is striving for a return to the 1A final four. The Lady Bobcats moved into the quarterfinals with a 4-3 victory over Bakersfield on Thursday. For the second straight year, Delta slipped away with a one-run victory over Bakersfield in the sectional.

The Lady Bulldogs, winding down their best season ever, advanced to the final eight for the first time with a 3-1 win over Twin Rivers on Wednesday. Notre Dame reached the playoffs by ending Kelly's 15-year reign as district champions in District 2.