THE LATEST LINE: IT'S GREAT THAT HIGH SCHOOLS WILL CONTINUE UNIFYING TITLES

I made my feelings clear a few weeks ago on the proposal to separate state championships in seven sports for public and private high schools in Missouri.

I wrote then that it was all a bunch of garbage and basically reflected the selfish feelings of various coaches and administrators around the state who wanted a shortcut to success.

And now that the proposal has failed -- it was resoundingly voted down late last week -- I can only say thank goodness.

Separate championships would have severely diluted the quality of state competition on both the public and private sides and would have caused logistical nightmares for most -- if not all -- of the private schools in the state.

As an athlete, you want to compete against the best the state has to offer, no matter what type of school is involved.

And as a fan, you want to see it happen.

* The amazing season for Cape Central's girls soccer team continued Saturday as the Lady Tigers beat Ft. Zumwalt South 2-0.

Central -- in just its second season for girls soccer -- improved to 13-0 by recording its 11th shutout.

Now, if the Lady Tigers were just beating up on teams from around here, I might not be all that impressed because the other squads in Southeast Missouri are also only in their second season of competition.

But the Lady Tigers have opened some eyes with some big wins over teams from the soccer-rich St. Louis area, including a victory over a Nerinx Hall squad that is ranked in St. Louis.

The Lady Tigers have a few more games this week as they attempt to finish the regular season with a perfect record. Then it will be on to district competition.

* Another local high school squad stringing together a bunch of victories in a row has been the Kelly softball team.

The Lady Hawks, a perennial state small-school powerhouse over the years (state softball competition is held in the fall), have gone undefeated this spring.

* The revamped Cape Central Big 8 Tournament held Friday and Saturday turned out to be quite an attractive showcase for many of the area's high school baseball teams.

Notre Dame continued its fine season by winning the championship and Scott City opened a lot of eyes by stunning Cape Central in Friday's first round.

* This baseball season hasn't exactly gone the way Southeast Missouri State University coach Mark Hogan had envisioned and today the Indians find themselves in a must-win situation.

After being swept in a doubleheader at Morehead State Saturday, the Indians' mission today is clear: win the final regular-season game against Morehead or hang up their gear for the season. The Tribe needs a victory to qualify for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

* Former SEMO baseball star Kerry Robinson, who has been rapidly climbing in the St. Louis Cardinals' minor-league organization, has gotten off to a strong start for the Redbirds' AA team in Little Rock, Ark.

An outfielder who is only in his third minor-league season, Robinson has his average in the high .300s as he continues to impress the Cardinals' brass.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian