Tigers open season with lopsided win

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Central's baseball team opened its season impressively Saturday as the Tigers routed Poplar Bluff 15-2. The contest was stopped after five innings by the 10-run rule.

The Tigers banged out 17 hits and had home runs by Chris Conrad and Patrick Slattery. Conrad went 3-for-4 with three RBIs; Slattery was 2-for-2 with three RBIs.

Seth Hudson, Mitch Craft, Jesse McGregor and Mark Dunaway all added two hits for the Tigers. Hudson stole three bases.

Starter John Thies took the win with three scoreless innings.

N. Dame 13, Jackson 12

Notre Dame began its season with a wild victory as Kyle Diveley homered, singled and had six RBIs.

Shane Kistner and Scott Wittenborn also had two hits apiece for the Bulldogs. Lee Essner was the winning pitcher.

For Jackson, also playing its season opener, Josh Parham and Jake Carter both had three hits. Brad Berry and Dusty Roberts added two each. Austin McDowell suffered the loss.

Track & field

PERRYVILLE INVITATIONAL

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Perryville's boys edged Jackson, 108.25 to 101, to claim the championship of the Perryville Invitational despite a stellar performance by Jackson sprinter Mario Whitney.

Whitney set meet records in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes and anchored the Indians' winning 400 and 800 relay teams.

Jackson's girls finished a close third behind Farmington (123.50) and Ste. Genevieve (109) with 103 points. Perryville placed fourth with 76.

-- From staff reports