STUCKEY'S DRAMATIC HR LIFTS KELLY TO WIN

BENTON -- Kelly High's baseball team, which finished third in last year's Class 2A state tournament, opened the 1998 season in style Wednesday by slipping past visiting Sikeston 4-3 in eight innings.

All-Stater Denver Stuckey, playing in front of several professional scouts, belted a leadoff home run in the bottom of the eighth to end the contest.

"It was really a dramatic victory and a good win against a very good team," said Kelly coach Mike Scott. "It's a nice way to open the season."

Stuckey had a big day. In addition to the home run, he doubled, singled, drove in two runs and pitched six strong innings although he did not figure into the decision. The righthander allowed two hits and one earned run while striking out 10 and walking none.

"Denver had a good day," said Scott.

Jason Glastetter was the winning pitcher as he hurled two hitless and scoreless innings.

Ben Klipfel added two of Kelly's eight hits.

St. Vincent 4, Leopold 2

PERRYVILLE -- St. Vincent built a 4-0 lead Wednesday then held off a Leopold rally in the seventh inning to improve to 2-0.

Leopold scored its two runs in the final inning, but Dusty Wengert relieved starter Justin Amschler for the save. Leopold had only two hits.

Bryan Meyer, Pat Brown and Josh Robinson all had two hits for the Indians, who totaled nine safeties. Brown had three RBIs.

The Indians travel to Crystal City on Monday.

Oran 10, Delta 0

ORAN -- The Eagles scored nine runs in the first inning Wednesday and were never threatened in a five-inning victory over Delta.

Oran only totaled six hits in improving to 2-0 on the year. Getting hits for the Eagles were Jeremy Pobst (two RBIs), Billy Loper (double), Justin Wierman, Ryan Dennis, Dustin Glastetter and Adam Friga.

Justin McAlister pitched three innings for the win, allowing one hit and striking out four.

Oran goes to Ste. Genevieve on Friday to face Valle.

GIRLS SOCCER

Notre Dame 2, Marion (Ill.) 0

Notre Dame improved to 1-1 on the season Wednesday with a shutout victory over Marion (Ill.) in the Noon Optimist Kickoff Classic.

Notre Dame's Shannel Bueltemann got the shutout in goal, stopping seven shots.

Teammates Marissa Gibbar and Michelle Hency took care of the scoring. Gibbar recorded an unassisted goal to put the Lady Bulldogs on the scoreboard and Lynne Obermiller assisted on Hency's score.

The Lady Bulldogs play Carbondale (Ill.) today in a consolation game.

BOYS GOLF

Sikeston 160, Cape Central 167

SIKESTON -- Cape Central dropped its opening golf match of the season, falling to Sikeston by seven strokes Wednesday.

Central's Dane McLaird earned medalist honors with a 38. Following McLaird for Central were Danny Groesbeck 40, Mike Oslund 44 and Josh Miller 45.

Sikeston was lead to victory by twin 39's from Brandon Couch and Blake Harmon.

Central plays Jackson and Notre Dame on Monday at Bent Creek in Jackson.

SOFTBALL

Kelly 10, Sikeston 0

BENTON -- The Lady Hawks rolled to an opening-season win over Sikeston at home Wednesday, closing out the victory in just five innings.

Britany Lambert went the distance on the mound for Kelly, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out four. She also had two of Kelly's nine hits.

Kelly also got a hit and two RBIs from Nicole Kern. Teammates Natalie Robert and Andrea Heisserer both added doubles.

"Our defense did really well," said Kelly coach Rhonda Evans, who's team committed no errors in the field. "For the first game I was really pleased."

Kelly hosts Notre Dame on Monday.

Leopold 21, St. Vincent 3

PERRYVILLE -- Leopold bombed St. Vincent in its season opener Wednesday, a five-inning, 14-hit game.

Jennifer Elfrink went 4-for-4 with a double and a triple, Jennifer VanGennip was 3-for-5 with two doubles and Nikki Seiler went 2-for-4 with a triple.

Lisa Peters went four innings and earned the win. She allowed four hits and three walks while striking out three.

BOYS TENNIS

Cape Central 7, Caruthersville 0

Cape Central's tennis team improved to 2-0 as the Tigers swept away Caruthersville at home on a windy Wednesday.

"It was a tough day to play," said Central coach Bud Craven. "The wind made things difficult."

Central hosts Charleston on Tuesday.

Results

SINGLES

Ben Roeger (CC) def. Ron Chanuitayapangs, 8-1

Arron Moore (CC) def. Brett Wilson, 8-0

Sean Maguire (CC) def. Scott Dorroh, 8-2

Drew Seib (CC) def. Daniel Maners, 8-0

Mick Metzger (CC) def. Todd Hatch, 8-0

DOUBLES

Roeger-Moore (CC) def. Chanuitayapangs-Wilson, 8-0

Maguire-Seib (CC) def. Dorroh-Manners, 8-0

JV BASEBALL

Cape Central 20, Chaffee 6

CHAFFEE -- Cape Central's JV opened its season Wednesday by routing host Chaffee.

Tim Huckstep had three hits for the Tigers while Josh McIntosh and Ty Fidler both added two. McIntosh was the winning pitcher.