Rams take a hard lesson into ND game

If Scott City baseball coach Mike Umfleet could erase the events of the last two weeks, he would do it in an instant.

Umfleet went into prom weekend April 5 with his baseball team at 0-3. Little did he know his team would fall to 0-8 without playing another game.

Eleven members of his team were among over two dozen Scott City athletes to receive a two-week suspension from athletic competition due to a citizenship guideline violation involving alcohol, leaving the Rams with only eight players and forcing them to forfeit five games.

It's been a long two weeks in Scott City, but the Rams are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. They resume play Tuesday at home against Notre Dame.

The Rams players have been allowed to practice, which they've been doing for about two hours a day for nearly two weeks without a game.

"I think everybody is ready to start playing," Umfleet said. "I know the kids are. We just have to look at next Tuesday as a new season starting for us."

On Wednesday Scott City athletes gathered in the cafeteria after school to listen to a presentation by Southeast Missouri Hospital on the effects of alcohol.

Umfleet said he hopes the whole ordeal will be about more than a few lost games.

"You can't tell what's going on inside their heads, but you hope they do learn a lesson," he said. "I know one thing they've learned, and it's that the school is going to stick to the policy."

In Notre Dame, the Rams will face a team that went to the Class 2 final four last year and is again enjoying a strong season.

"Why not Notre Dame?" Umfleet asked. "They're one of our rivals. We'll be ready. That's one thing I do know. We'll be ready to play."

Below signs letter with College of the Ozarks

Delta senior Rebecca Below has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at College of the Ozarks, an NAIA school in Point Lookout, Mo.

Below, a four-year starter, helped lead Delta to the Class 1 final four in her senior season. She was a first-team all-state pick after averaging 24.1 points and 7.6 rebounds for the Bobcats, who finished 27-3. Below also is Delta's career leader in points and rebounds.

Central's Brisso signs to play at Mineral Area

Central senior Anna Brisso has signed to play basketball next season for Mineral Area Junior College in Park Hills, Mo.

Brisso, a three-year letterman for the Tigers, averaged 9.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals in her senior season. She was selected as a SEMO Conference honorable mention. Brisso also was a three-year letterman in volleyball, earning the CHS Hitting Award last fall.

Wilson takes volleyball, track skills to Murray St.

Central senior Vicki Wilson will attend Murray State on a volleyball scholarship next year.

Wilson also is an accomplished sprinter on Central's track team and will participate in that sport at Murray State.

Wilson won district titles in the 100 and 200 in her junior season.

Bulldogs, Pirates, Indians ranked in soccer poll

Notre Dame's girls soccer team, unbeaten in its last eight games, is ranked fourth in the latest Class 1 coaches' poll. The Bulldogs are two spots ahead of Perryville in the poll.

Notre Dame recently avenged its only loss to Jackson, ranked 10th in the Class 2 poll.