Sports briefs 3/30/06

Flickerwood hosted youth rodeo finals

The 11th annual Flickerwood Youth Rodeo Finals took place this past weekend at the arena north of Jackson.

The event, open to competitors 20 or younger, featured 18 events. On Sunday, the top all-around cowboy and cowgirl and champions in each event were crowned.

Branden Duff of Hawk Point in east central Missouri, was the high-point winner and earned a trailer from Busenbark Trailers Sales of Famington, Mo.

Duff won the All-Around Cowboy title for the season, while Mackenzie Gass of Jackson won the All-Around Cowgirl honors.

Hunter Grantham of Jackson was the All-Around Reserve Champion Cowboy. Brandi Gilmore was the All-Around Reserve Champion for the girls.

Champions and Reserve Champions in individual events:

Breakaway -- 1, Branden Duff; 2, Everly Tapp.

Chute Dogging -- 1, Hunter Grantham, Jackson; 2, Jake Sanders.

Pee Wee Poles -- 1, Brandi Gilmore; 2, Mackenzie Gass.

Junior Poles -- 1, Anna Cate Clayman; 2, Nicole Burns.

Senior Poles -- Beth Griffin, Advance; 2, Jessie Pratt.

Calf Riding -- 1, Tyler Albright; 2, Garth Farris.

Pee Wee Goats -- 1, Mackenzie Gass; 2, Brandi Gilmore

Junior Goats -- 1, Branden Duff; 2, Adam Govero.

Senior Goats -- 1, Everly Tapp; 2, Jordan McDow.

Steer Riding -- 1, Spencer Stith; 2, Cole Ward.

Calf Roping -- 1, Branden Duff; 2, Jake Sanders.

Pee Wee Barrels -- 1, Mackenzie Gass; 2, Brandi Gilmore.

Junior Barrels -- 1, Anna Cate Clayman; 2, Darby Ferguson

Senior Barrels--1, Jessie Pratt; 2 (tie), Morgan Hall, Stephania Jordan (Advance).

Junior Bulls -- 1, Cole Baker; 2, Kaleb Ward

Senior Bulls -- 1, Jerry Seabaugh, Delta; 2, James Earl Carter

Team Roping (Header) -- 1, Hunter Grantham, Jackson; 2, Danny Coppage.

Team Roping (Heeler) -- 1, Kirk Schott; 2, Andrew Cowger.

Umpires meeting April 9

The Heartland Officials Association Baseball/Softball Umpires meeting will be 6 p.m. April 9 in Room 107 of the Student Recreation Center at Southeast Missouri State. The Part II Exams for both baseball and softball will be given; exam answers much be postmarked by April 10 to receive credit at the state office.

All prospective members must have their application received and approved prior to the meeting to take the exam.

For information, contact Rick Heuring at 264-3643 or visit the Web site, www.heartlandofficials.org.

Mack wins feature at Poplar Bluff

Auto racer Joey Mack of Benton, Mo., won the feature Saturday night at Poplar Bluff, claiming the top prize of $1,000.

Mack had finished fifth in his opening race at the track on March 18. He plans at least seven races for April, including the Mid-America Racing Series opener April 8 at West Plains.

-- From staff reports

Two local drivers win at Sikeston

Mark Murakami of Cape Girardeau placed first in the Super Pro Class on Saturday at the Sikeston Drag Strip, while Charles Seabaugh of Oran picked up his first victory the ET Class in his Easy Rider pickup.

Murakami, the strip's defending class champion, broke his car and had to use his brother-in-law's dragster to pull out Saturday's win.

-- From staff reports