SOFTBALL TEAMS TO BEGIN DISTRICT ACTION FRIDAY

Last season, all three high school softball district tournaments involving area teams were captured by local squads.

Beginning Friday, the area will once again try to make it a clean sweep in 1999.

Jackson, Perryville and Kelly will serve as hosts for district tournaments, with the winners earning berths in next week's sectional rounds.

Following is a rundown of how the local districts stack up.

Class 4A, District 1

(at Jackson)

Jackson captured its first-ever fall district title last season and won a sectional game before being eliminated in the quarterfinals.

The top-seeded Lady Indians are again favored to win this district, with arch-rival and No. 2 seed Cape Girardeau Central expected to furnish the toughest opposition. Poplar Bluff and Sikeston are seeded third and fourth, respectively.

Friday's games pit Jackson against Sikeston at 4 p.m. and Cape Central against Poplar Bluff at 5:30. The winners meet Saturday at 11 a.m. for the championship.

Class 3A, District 1

(at Perryville)

Perryville also won its first district championship last year, but the Lady Pirates are not the favorites this time around.

Ste. Genevieve earned the No. 1 seed, followed by Perryville, Park Hills Central and Doniphan.

The entire tournament will be played Friday. Ste. Genevieve takes on Doniphan and Perryville faces Park Hills in a pair of 3 p.m. games, with the winners meeting at 5 for the crown.

Class 2A, District 2

(at Kelly)

Kelly will be trying to extend an amazing string that stands at 13 consecutive district championships.

The Lady Hawks were eliminated in last year's quarterfinals after winning the state title in 1997 and finishing as state runner-up in 1996.

Kelly is once again the heavy district favorite, with second-seeded Notre Dame expected to give the Lady Hawks their toughest competition. St. Vincent is seeded third, with East Prairie fourth and Crystal City fifth.

The tournament begins Saturday with three games. East Prairie faces Crystal City at 10 a.m., Notre Dame takes on St. Vincent at noon and Kelly plays the winner of East Prairie-Crystal City at 2 p.m.

The championship game is set for 4 p.m. Monday.