ND's POTOSI TITLE RECIPE: PULL BIG UPSET, ADD WATER

POTOSI -- Sparked by a big win over the state's top-ranked Class 3A team, Notre Dame High's baseball squad won the championship of the round-robin Potosi Tournament for the second year in a row.

Notre Dame knocked off top-ranked and host Potosi 9-7 late Friday night, after earlier having beaten Jackson 8-5.

When Saturday's action was rained out, the Bulldogs were awarded the title.

"Beating Potosi was a really big win for us," said Notre Dame coach Gregg Muench, whose team is now 9-4. "The guys were really fired up and excited to play."

Ryan LeGrand was the winning pitcher against Potosi, allowing seven hits while striking out seven and walking six in going the full seven innings. He also helped his own cause with a home run.

Notre Dame banged out 14 hits, getting three each from Nathan Essner and Scott Reinagel. Josh Eftink and Brian Obermann both added two.

Essner's RBI double in the seventh inning broke a 6-6 tie and put Notre Dame on its way to victory.

In the earlier win over Jackson, Keith Hamm hurled six innings to notch the victory. He allowed nine hits and one walk, with four strikeouts. Brian Obermann pitched the seventh for a save.

Essner, Eftink and Obermann all had two of Notre Dame's 10 hits, with Bryan Drury adding a homer.

Travis Stevens had three of Jackson's nine hits, with Ryan Beltz adding two. Jason Goben was the losing hurler.

Jackson, which also beat Pacific Friday, is 6-7.

Chaffee sweeps A-J

ANNA, Ill. -- Chaffee improved to 9-4 by sweeping a doubleheader from host Anna-Jonesboro Saturday, winning 4-3 and 17-9.

Tommy Stidham pitched all seven innings of the opener to get the win.

Chaffee had 13 hits, led by Jeremy Vandeven with three. He also drove in two runs. Jason Harrell, Josh Hanlon, Denny Graviett and Garrett Senciboy all added two hits.

Matt Stroup hurled all seven innings of the nightcap. He benefited from a nine-run Chaffee first inning that featured a grand slam by Dusty Leggett.

Leggett homered twice and had four of the Red Devils' 14 hits as he drove in eight runs. Vandeven had two hits and three RBIs while Hanlon and Matt Graham both added two hits.

The Red Devils have won nine of their last 10 games.

St. Vincent wins title

OAK RIDGE -- St. Vincent knocked off tournament host Oak Ridge 6-0 in the title game of a four-team tourney Saturday.

Trent Sauer pitched a six-hitter in the final, striking out two and walking one. Gabe Hotop had two of the Indians' four hits and five Blue Jay errors aided St. Vincent's offense.

Darren Hahs had two of the Blue Jays' six hits. Brian Glueck pitched six innings for the loss, allowing only two earned runs. Oak Ridge fell to 4-6 while the Indians improved to 8-6.

St. Vincent made it to the title game with an 18-8 rout of Delta. Oak Ridge belted 11 hits in an 8-3 victory over Meadow Heights. Hahs had two hits and pitched the final four innings for the win. Matt Preusser, Glueck and Brad Ruppel all had two hits.

Delta beat Meadow Heights 11-1 in the third-place game.

GIRLS SWIMMING

Central finishes ninth

ST. LOUIS -- Cape Central finished 10th in the rugged Parkway South Invitational held over the weekend.

The Lady Tigers' top performance was a second place turned in by the 400 freestyle relay team. The group of Jean Maguire, Grace Freeman, Mary Beth Owen and Jennifer Freeze clocked 3:44.18.

That same group finished ninth in the medley relay (2:01.71).

Freeman was third in both the 50 freestyle (25.54) and 100 freestyle (55.27) while Mary Beth Owen was third in the 200 IM (1:57.03) and fourth in the 500 freestyle (5:15.55).

"To get in the top six was really pleasing considering the competition," said Central coach Dayna Powell. "I think this was the fastest swimming I have seen. The teams were outstanding."

BOYS TENNIS

Central places third

POPLAR BLUFF -- Cape Central finished third Saturday in a seven-team tournament hosted by Poplar Bluff.

The Tigers had 10 points, behind champion Sikeston (18) and runnerup Farmington (14).

Central's Ben Roeger placed second at No. 1 singles while the Tigers' Aaron Moore tied for third at No. 2 singles.