TIGERS HARNESS MULES 11-1

Cape Central showed no mercy Saturday afternoon.

The Tigers (2-1) scored at least one run in every inning and got solid pitching from Justin Cook as they clobbered visiting Poplar Bluff 11-1 in a five-inning, run-rule game.

Central combined for 11 hits, three of which were home runs.

Right fielder Justin Welker had the most damaging long ball in the first when he pulled an 0-2 pitch over the right field fence to put his team up 3-0.

"He threw me three curve balls and I pulled the first two foul over the batting cage," said Welker, who finished with three hits, four RBIs, a stolen base and two runs scored. "The last one I was able to take out."

Welker's shot barely cleared the fence, but it chased home Chad Jones and Zac Fidler, giving the Tigers the only runs they would need.

Poplar Bluff scored its only run of the game in the second when Ryan Whelan scored on a double by Andrew Barker.

From that point on, it was all Cape Central.

Richard Harrison hit a high, towering, second-inning homer which barely cleared the fence to give Central a 4-1 advantage.

In the third, the Tigers scored three runs on a hit, an error and two walks, which included a bases-loaded pass to Harrison that gave the Tigers a 7-1 lead.

In the fourth inning, Fidler, who was a triple shy of the cycle and scored three runs, murdered an 0-1 pitch over the scoreboard in left field to put Central up 8-1. Fidler and Welker provided six of the Tigers' 11 hits. Later in the fourth, Josh McIntosh hit a sacrifice fly which scored Mark Fisher.

With the bases loaded, Welker was hit by a pitch to drive in Central's 10th run in the fifth and the game ended when Rob Carr blooped an RBI single to left to score Fidler.

While Central's offense was putting up runs, Cook was putting down Mules (0-3).

Cook allowed just four hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out three.

The only run he gave up could've been avoided, but the Tigers didn't handle a relay throw properly and Whelan was able to sneak home.

But despite his solid outing, Cook was his own worst critic.

"I could've done better," said Cook. "My curveball was a little off. I felt good the first inning, but the second innning I kind of short-armed the ball. But we got the win so I guess that's good."

"I'm pleased with the fact that defensively we've been fairly solid," said Central coach Steve Williams. "I'm pleased with the fact that our pitchers are throwing strikes and I'm pleased with our hitters today because we came out and were aggressive and put the ball in play. Overall, we're not where we need to be, but we're on pace."

Lance Parson suffered the loss for Poplar Bluf. He went 3 1/3 innings and allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits and four walks. He struck out one.

* Central's junior varsity squad improved to 3-0 by beating Poplar Bluff 7-1 Saturday.

Gabe Keys struck out 13 in six innings while Chris Conrad had two hits.