SIKESTON HOLDS OFF JACKSON FOR 6-4 WIN

SIKESTON -- Jackson stranded the bases-loaded in the final inning as the Indians closed their regular season with a 6-4 loss to SEMO Conference champion Sikeston in high school baseball action on Thursday.

The loss ended with a familiar sight as Sikeston starter Billy Childers fanned the final batter, his 14th strikeout on the day.

"When we hit the ball, we hit it pretty good, but we had too many strikeouts," said Jackson coach Sam Sides, who saw his team fall to 11-8 on the season.

Childers allowed just six Indian hits, but issued seven walks and hit two batters.

Losing pitcher Lance Limbaugh and Josh Hopkins both went 2-for-3 for Jackson. Limbaugh scored two runs while Hopkins had two RBIs.

Sikeston (18-3) led 4-0 after four innings, but saw Jackson cut the deficit to 4-3 with a run in the fifth and two in the sixth. The Bulldogs added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-3 advantage into the seventh.

Limbaugh went the distance for Jackson, allowing 10 hits, striking out five and walking no one.

Jackson opens Class 4A, District 1 play on Monday with a 4 p.m. game against Poplar Bluff.

Kelly 9, Kennett 5

BENTON -- Justin Simpher was just what the Hawks needed on Thursday.

Simpher allowed just one run in five innings of relief and gave himself the win with a grand slam in a six-run fifth inning against Kennett.

Simpher (6-2) entered the game in the third inning after Kennett (13-11) had taken a 4-1lead off starter Tim Schmitt. Simpher allowed six hits, struck out four and walked one.

After Kelly (12-8) had cut the lead to 5-3 in the fifth, Simpher capped the inning with his blast to put the Hawks ahead for good. Kelly added two runs in the seventh.

Brad Kolwyck, Jon Heuring and Quenton Schaefer all had two hits for Kelly, which had nine overall. Heuring's hits included a solo home run in the first inning.

"Kennett has a good, competitive 3A team," said Kelly coach Mike Scott. "We like to play them right before district because we know the kind of game we're going to have. It was a good win for us."

Kelly opens 2A district play Monday in Chaffee with a 1 p.m. game against Scott City.

Chaffee 11, East Prairie 1

ORAN -- Chaffee finished up a game and defeated East Prairie by the run-rule in five innings.

Tommy Stidham got the win in four innings. He allowed one unearned run on three hits and no walks. He struck out three.

G.P. Glueck pitched one inning and struck out the side.

"G.P. looked really good today," said Chaffee coach Brian Horrell. "He had real good velocity."

Travis Hanback had a good game at the plate for Chaffee, which had nine hits. He doubled twice in four at-bats and had four RBIs. Zac Horman went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Oran 11, Bell City 1

Oran 18, East Prairie 4

ORAN -- Oran picked up a pair of run-rule victories after finishing an extended game with Bell City and then knocking off East Prairie in five innings.

Oran, with its third straight win, improved to 11-10 on the season.

Against Bell City, Philip Seyer struck out 13 in six innings, while walking just one and allowing only three hits. The only run he allowed was unearned.

Ryan Dennis and Travis Friga each had two hits and two runs batted in.

Against East Prairie, Ryne Wood picked up the win in relief of Adam Friga, who left the game with soreness in his ankle. Friga, Oran's top pitcher, is still feeling the effects of a line drive he took off his ankle last week against Chaffee.

Wood pitched 2 1/3 innings and gave up three earned runs. He struck out four, walked one and allowed five hits.

Seyer homered for the ninth time this season, a three-run shot. Friga and Garrett Cook both went 2-for-3 with the latter collecting three RBIs.

GIRLS SOCCER

Notre Dame 7, Farmington 3

FARMINGTON -- Emily Worley scored two goals and added an assist to lead an offensive outburst by the Lady Bulldogs (7-15-2).

Michelle Hency had a goal and two assists, Cyndi Cox had a goal and one assist. Venessa Landewee, Holly Montgomery and Laura Mittrucker each scored single goals and Katlyn Kelly had two assists.

Notre Dame's junior varsity ended its season at 7-15-2 with a 3-1 win thanks to two goals by Ali Tyson and another by Ashley Freeman.

Ursuline Academy (St. Louis) 3, Cape Central 2

The Cape Central Lady Tigers suffered a rare loss Thursday, falling to the seventh-ranked team in St. Louis.

"It was a real good game," said Central coach Tom Doyle. "It was a good test for us against a good team. We worked our butts off and gave a great effort. We've had back-to-back games where we played well and that's what I like heading into districts."

Cape Central (17-6-1) got out to a 1-0 lead at the 10-minute mark when Leslie Wagoner scored on an assist from Amanda Hiler.

Ursuline tied the game at the 17-minute mark, then Hiler scored on an assist from Amber Voerg at the 23-minute mark to go up 2-1 where the score would remain at halftime.

Three minutes into the second half, Ursuline tied it at two and it took the lead for good with three minutes left in the game.

St. Vincent 5, De Soto 0

PERRYVILLE -- Caitlin Hoeh and Kindle Ernst both scored a pair of goals as the Squaws concluded their regular season with a shutout victory.

Nicole Richardet added a goal for St. Vincent (9-6-1), which built a 3-0 lead by halftime.

The Squaws open Class 1A-3A district play on Monday when they face St. John's in a 5 p.m. first-round game at Perryville High School.