Nichols' 10 strikeouts lead Central to win over Chaffee

Amanda Nichols struck out 10 batters to help Central to a 5-3 victory over Chaffee in softball action Thursday.

Nichols walked five and allowed three runs in seven innings.

Casey Popp and Mia Russell each had two hits for the Tigers (8-15), who had six overall.

Losing pitcher Madeline Kiefer went 3-for-4 for Chaffee, which also received two hits from Shelby Ancell in its seven-hit attack.

Central 022 001 0 -- 5 6 0

Chaffee 000 102 x -- 3 7 2

WP -- Amanda Nichols. LP -- Madeline Kiefer. Multiple hits -- Central, Casey Popp 2-3, Mia Russell 2-3. Chaffee, Kiefer 3-4, Shelby Ancell 2-3. Records -- Central 8-15.

Poplar Bluff 8, Kelly 6

The Mules struck for all their runs in the first two innings and the Hawks couldn't claw all the way back at home.

Casey Kern went a perfect 4-for-4 and drove in a run while Londyn Backfisch went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs in the loss.

Sarah Ruff knocked in a run for Kelly (15-6).

Poplar Bluff 350 000 0 -- 8 11 2

Kelly 230 100 0 -- 6 12 2

WP -- Julie Maloney. LP -- Jessica Riley. HR -- Londyn Backfisch (K). 2B -- Casey Kern (K), Lana Whitworth (K), Hailey Glastetter (K). Multiple hits -- Kelly, Casey Kern 4-4, Londyn Backfisch 3-4, Sarah Ruff 2-4. Record -- Kelly 15-6.

Scott City 13, St. Vincent 1

Emily Essner pitched all five innings as the Rams (10-14) romped the Indians.

Essner walked three and struck out one to bring her record to 9-13 on the year.

Becki Holder went 3-for-3 while Macy Heisserer went 2-for-4 with two doubles.

Scott City 204 25 -- 13 10 2

St. Vincent 100 00 -- 1 1 4

WP -- Emily Essner, 9-13. LP -- Burroughs. 2B -- Macy Heisserer (SC). Multiple hits -- Becky Holder 3-3, Heisserer 2-4, Lauren Schaefer 2-3, Essner 3-4. Records --Scott City, 10-14.

Delta 8, Sikeston 5

Kendra Burnett pitched a complete game for the Bobcats, giving up eight hits and three earned runs.

She walked four batters and struck out five, and helped her cause at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two doubles.

Delta 021 030 2 -- 8 9 4

Sikeston 010 004 0 -- 5 4 3

WP -- Kendra Burnett, 11-7. LP -- Sara Hopson. 2B -- Burnett. Multiple hits -- Delta, Burnett,4-4. Records -- Delta 11-8

VOLLEYBALLBell City 25 27Scott City 6 25

The Cubs thumped the Rams in the first game and held on for a narrow victory in the second to earn the road win.

Jessica Abner had nine kills and Jenny Lathum had 19 digs to lead the Cubs (19-2-1). Codie Lancaster had 25 assists in the win.

Whitney Tapley had three kills, three blocks and 17 digs for the Rams (11-8-1).

JV -- Scott City won 25-25, 25-16.

Notre Dame 22 26 25Jackson 25 24 16

Taylor Sanders smacked 10 kills while Shannon Brennan added seven kills and 10 assists as the Bulldogs earned the victory on their home court.

Kelsey Bradshaw had 10 digs for Notre Dame (7-7-2).

Chelsea Dale put down eight kills and added 12 digs and five blocks for the Indians (11-5-1). Chelsea Olson chipped in 23 assists, 14 digs and three kills.

JV -- Jackson won 25-16, 25-18.

Festus 19 25 25St. Vincent 25 20 16

Sarah DeWilde finished with 11 kills and an ace to lead the Indians.

Sarah Moll had 21 digs while Courtney Besand had nine digs and eight kills in the loss. Brooke Brown added nine kills for St. Vincent (20-3-2).

De Soto 19 25 25Perryville 25 12 17

Lindsay Martin recorded 15 digs and Liz Martin put down six kills in the Pirates' defeat.

Ashley Castleberry had nine assists and Kasey Welker was 10-for-10 serving for Perryville (12-12-2).

JV -- Perryville won 25-21, 25-23.

Leopold 25 25Oran 2 19

Cassie Seiler led the Wildcats (15-3) with 13 assists and four digs.

Maddy Hutchings and Cassi Jensen each had four kills while Casey Bucher had five kills and four digs for Leopold.

Woodland 25 25Bloomfield 19 6

Lauren Johnson had seven kills and Chelsea Morris had six kills and four services aces for the Cardinals (12-4).

Brandi Killian had 12 assists and six aces.

JV -- Woodland won 20-25, 25-10, 25-19.

BOYS SOCCERCentral 8, Poplar Bluff 3

The Tigers improved to 7-7-1 on the season behind Brooks Osburn's hat trick.

Jesse Lawrence, Mike Alberson, Thomas Dodd and Jordan Sheets all scored a goal.

Saxony Lutheran 10, Kennett 0

Garrett Fritsche pounded in four goals and added an assist to lead the Crusaders to victory.

Bryant Steffens and Andrew Etzold each recorded a hat trick. Brent Rodewald added two assists for Saxony Lutheran (8-1).

JV -- Kennett won 2-1.

GIRLS TENNISCentral 9, Caruthersville 0

The Tigers earned the win on the road.

Singles

No. 1 -- Paige Kinder (Cen.) def. Kendra Bradley 8-2

No. 2 -- Sarah Uptmor (Cen.) def. Allison Kimes 8-0

No. 3 -- Elizabeth Knight (Cen.) def. Lauren Henson 8-0

No. 4 -- Emily Gerlack (Cen.) def. Alli Carter 8-0

No. 5 -- Emma Seger (Cen.) def. Amber McClain 8-3

No. 6 -- Kaley Chisim (Cen.) def. Michelle Grubbs 8-1

Doubles

No. 1 -- Kinder/Uptmore (Cen.) def. Bradley/Christa Bradley 8-0

No. 2 -- Knight/Gerlack (Cen.) def. Kimes/Sarah Jo Grissom 8-0

No. 3 -- Segar/Chism (Cen.) def. Carter/McClain 8-2

JV -- Central won 4-0.

CROSS COUNTRYAnna-Jonesboro (Ill.) meet

Cole Bradley was the top finisher for Central, taking fifth place in 17 minutes, 33 seconds.

The Tigers took second with 51 points. Carbondale, Ill., won with 44 points.

Brittany Moreland helped the Central girls team to second-place, finishing fifth in 21:57.

Carbondale won the girls meet with 20 points. Central had 48.

Local results

Girls

Central -- 5. Brittany Moreland, 21:57; 7. Veronica Schabbing, 22:03; 11. Tiffany Mead, 22:10; 12. Rachel Burchyett, 22:13; 13. Mary Dohogne, 22:13.

Boys

Central -- 5. Cole Bradley, 17:33; 7. Jordan Pope, 17:33; 10. Eric Schott, 17:51; 12. Roy Leighton, 18:17; 17. Joey Guidos, 18:40.

-- From staff reports