RINGWALD K's 15 IN NO-HITTER

CHAFFEE -- With about 15 scouts clustered behind the backstop -- many with radar guns pointed at him -- Cape Girardeau Central High senior left-hander Craig Ringwald could have been a bit nervous.

Instead he threw a no-hitter.

In five innings Ringwald struck out 15 batters as Central bombed Chaffee 15-0 in a 10-run-rule-shortened game Wednesday at Harmon Field. It was both teams' season opener.

Ringwald, who fanned 12 successive batters after walking the game's first hitter, said he had pitched in front of scouts for professional teams before, but never for so many.

"At first it is (nerve-wracking), because you've never seen that many before," Ringwald said. "But coach (Steve Williams) told me before the game to just relax and just throw your own game, and don't worry about it.

"Coach told us that (the scouts) were calling all day. It's great because you know they're interested. It's not something that happens very often."

Williams said he wasn't sure whether Ringwald would be a little uneasy with all the attention.

"I talked to him a little bit in the bullpen," he said, "just about not to do more than you're capable of doing. He was fine. That was a tribute to Craig. He's got that kind of composure.

"Craig was the story today. Any time you strike out every hitter that makes an out, that's as good as you can get."

Williams had only one complaint: When your pitcher allows no ball to be put into fair play, your fielders don't see much action.

"I wish we would have had a chance to do some defensive work," he said with a laugh. "But we'll take it.

As will Ringwald.

"It felt great," he said. "I was throwing nice, hitting spots. I had good control of my pitches. I wasn't expecting (a no-hitter). I was expecting to get people out and get a win, of course, but I would never expect that, and to get all of those strikeouts."

Williams said the scouts were also there to see center fielder Ross Bennett and third baseman Tatum Kitchen, and possibly others. Bennett hit a three-run home run and a double and Kitchen went 2-for-2 with a double.

Central started with a bang; catcher Greg Craft hit a grand slam in the first inning. Designated hitter Chris Bradshaw hit a three-run homer in the third as the Tigers took an 8-0 lead.

Paul Dobbins had an RBI-single in the fourth after Bennett's shot as Central scored six runs in the frame and boosted its lead to 14-0.

Ringwald, who went 2-for-3, had an RBI-double in the sixth inning. Central totaled 10 hits.

"We had some guys step up and hit the ball well," Williams said. "We got some hits with men on base."