NOTRE DAME CLAIMS DEBUT IN 9 INNINGS

SIKESTON -- Wesley Steele beat a throw to the plate on a chopper hit by Mark Ostendorf for the game-winning run as Notre Dame High's baseball team opened the season with a 4-2, nine-inning victory over host Sikeston Tuesday.

Notre Dame added an insurance run on a double-play ball later in the ninth.

Tommy Wencewicz and Josh Eftink each provided two hits apiece for Notre Dame. One of Eftink's hits was a solo home run in the first inning.

Ostendorf earned the win in relief, going three innings and allowing just one hit. He struck out six and walked two.

Brian Obermann started for Notre Dame and also pitched brilliantly. In six innings, Obermann allowed two hits and one earned run. He struck out seven and walked two.

Notre Dame managed five hits.

"The kids played hard," Notre Dame coach Chris Neff said. "Our pitching was outstanding, but we had some outfielders make some great plays."

Notre Dame will host Poplar Bluff Thursday.

Oran 15, Zalma 0

ORAN -- Oran, which finished second in the Class 1A state tournament last year, opened the new season in fine fashion Tuesday as two hurlers combined for a five-inning no-hitter.

Adam Friga went the first three innings, striking out eight. Phillip Seyer hurled the final two frames, fanning five.

The Eagles had 11 hits, Dustin Dannenmueller going 4-for-4 with three doubles, a triple and five runs batted in. Billy Loper went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a homer and five RBIs. Travis Friga added two hits and four RBIs.

Oran hosts Delta today.

BOYS TENNIS

Cape Central 9, De Soto 0

Central began the new campaign impressively Tuesday by not allowing visiting De Soto to win a game in nine varsity matches.

The Tigers' JV also won every match it played.

"It was a good way to start the season, but things will change Thursday," said Central coach Bud Craven, whose squad hosts perennial power Lone Oak, Ky., in its next match.

Singles

1. Ben Roeger def. Brown 8-0

2. Nathan Skinner def. Yates 6-0

3. Nick Metzger def. Bales 6-0

4. Paul Miller def. Lamb 6-0

5. Trevor Blattner def. Steinmetz 8-0

6. Andrew Eaton def. Vollmar 6-0

Doubles

1. Metzger-Drew Seib def. Brown-Yates 8-0

2. Roeger-Skinner def. Steinmetz-Vollmar 8-0

3. Miller-Blattner def. Lamb-Charboneau 8-0

JV winners: (singles) Calvin Maginel, Eric Daume, Matt Dodd, Jeff Prost, Justin Lusk, Shawn Pinksten; (doubles) John Frank-Nathan Foley; Sean Riches-David Wallace