TIGERS ADVANCE TO BIG 8 SEMIS

The Dutchmen of Owensville High could have used a Flying Dutchman or two in their Big 8 Tournament game Friday.

Or at least a Fielding Dutchman, since Honus Wagner has long been grounded. Owensville's six errors were a gift that kept on giving in Cape Girardeau Central's 7-3 opening-round win at Capaha Field.

The Tigers improved to 11-9, dropping Owensville to 4-8.

Central scratched up five hits off Dutchmen right-hander Kendall Clavin and its defense, which this season also has been plagued by lapses, held its errors down to two.

But for all the appetizing opportunities afforded by Owensville's errors, Central coach Steve Williams craved more.

"We were a little disappointed because we didn't play as well as we wanted to," Williams said. "Owensville is young and they made some mistakes, but we should have capitalized on them a little more than we did. We were very fortunate in the fact that we were able to get some runs late and hang on to win."

Tigers starter Travis Klipfel put in a solid effort, limiting the Dutchmen to five hits and striking out eight.

"Travis wasn't as sharp as he was last time, but he was sharp enough," Williams said. "He made some good pitches when he had to and he battled out there."

Owensville made three errors in the first inning. The Tigers got a run as Zac Fidler singled and later scored on an errant throw.

With the score 1-1 in the fifth, Central struck for four runs. T.J. Erlacker walked and Mike Sullivan singled off Clavin's glove with one out.

Pinch hitter Matt Welker then lifted a fly into right, but Adam Niewald was positioned too shallow and dropped the ball after making a long chase. Erlacker and Sullivan both scored on the error.

The next batter, Josh McIntosh, reached on an error. Welker stole home and McIntosh came home on a Dusty Barrows single.

Owensville cut the four-run deficit to 5-3 in its half of the fifth. But Central tacked on runs in the sixth -- on Sullivan's RBI single -- and the seventh on Barrows' RBI triple.

Central will play at 12:15 p.m. today at Capaha in the semifinals.