TIGERS `RAMMED' IN OPENER; SCOTT CITY, JACKSON ADVANCE

The Scott City Rams didn't treat Big 8 host Cape Central very kindly Friday night in their first round game at Capaha Field.

The Rams, behind three-hit pitching from Jason Landis, knocked the Tigers into the consolation bracket with an impressive 4-2 victory.

Central, now 10-11, will play Dexter today at 10 a.m., on Tiger Field in a consolation semifinal. Scott City (11-3) moves on to play rival Notre Dame in a 12:15 p.m., semifinal matchup at Capaha Field.

Notre Dame defeated Dexter 4-1 in a first-round game. Jackson and Sikeston will meet in today's other championship semfinal. Jackson slipped past Perryville 6-5 while Sikeston beat kelly 7-3.

Against Central, Landis, who earlier this season pitched 10 innings for no-decision in a loss to New Madrid, went the distance in improving his record to 3-1.

"The whole team played good and I just threw strikes like I'm supposed to," said Landis. "This was by far our best game. We came out with heart."

According to Scott City catcher, Keith Anderson, Landis also came out with some heat on his fastball.

"He had it all; everything was working," said Anderson with a laugh. "I bet his fastball was in the mid-80's, his curveball was snapping off and his slider was even working.

"Everything was working and when he's on, he's tough to hit."

The Tigers found that out the hard way.

"When you only get three hits it's hard to score any more runs than we did," said Central coach Steve Williams. "Landis was throwing strikes and getting us out."

Central did get the ball on the bat against Landis, who struck out just five Tigers. But Landis didn't walk a batter and his defense made several nice plays, especially in the outfield, to help out.

"We made some nice plays in the outfield on some hard hit balls," said Scott City coach Stephen O'Brien. "Our infield also made some nice plays and that's what won us the game."

Williams, although disappointed with the loss, was impressed with the entire game of the Rams.

"I told the kids after the game I was disappointed, but (Scott City) was just better than us today," Williams said. "We didn't boot the ball around the field or play without intensity. We just didn't get it done."

But the Rams did, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third inning off of Central starter Tatum Kitchen for a 3-0 lead. Kitchen (2-4) shook off the slow start to pitch possibly his best game of the season as he struck out 11 and walked only four batters.

But three of those walks came in the second inning, and coupled with hits by Scott City's John Wipfler and Anderson, the Rams took an early lead.

Central got back in the game with two runs in the fourth inning as Landis had his only real inning of trouble. Hits by Jeff Beasley and a Ross Bennett helped plate two Tiger runs in the inning.

Beasley, who singled to start the inning, scored on an Andy Sweet groundout to make the score 3-1. With two outs and Bennett on third base, the Tigers appeared to gain the momentum of the game with a gutsy call by Williams.

With Landis pitching from a full wind-up, Williams had Bennett steal home. Bennett slid easily across the plate to make it 3-2 as Landis made an awkward throw to the plate well over the head of his catcher.

Williams, who has tried that play with success in the past, was hoping to spark his team with the steal of home.

"The way we were swinging the bats, we had to try a number of things," said Williams with a smile.

But Landis shook off the one bad inning and kept the Tigers at bay the rest of the way. Scott City added an insurance run in the fourth when Howie Stubenrauch tripled when his ball took a bad hop past the right-fielder and later scored on a two-out wild pitch.

"This wasn't a fluke because Scott City is a good team especially with (Landis) on the mound," Williams said. "Our pitching was fine, our defense was good; we just didn't hit enough. Part of that's our fault, but most of that is a credit to Landis."

Beasly, Bennett and Kitchen had the only hits for Central. Anderson led Scott City with two hits, including a double.

Jackson 6, Perryville 5

PERRYVILLE - Jackson's Todd Wessel singled in Josh Adams with two outs in the seventh and the Indians emerged with a come-from-behind win in an opening-round game.

Winning pitcher Christopher Leimer struck out 15 and walked none. Leimer went all seven innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits.

After Jackson took a 2-0 lead in the third, Perryville (10-8) scored five in the fourth and took a 5-2 lead into the sixth inning.

Jackson (11-6) scored three runs in the sixth to tie the game at 5-all and scored the eventual game-winning run in the seventh.

Wessel, who went 2-for-2, also had an RBI triple in the sixth. Bert Hahs went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Jackson totaled 10 hits.

Sikeston 7, Kelly 3

Sikeston's Jared Self struck out the side in the final inning, including the fourth and fifth batters in Kelly's lineup with the bases loaded, in the final first round game at Capaha Field.

Kelly left eight runners on base in all, dropping its record to 8-7. Sikeston improved to 8-6.

Clay Hooper earned the win, pitching six innings and striking out 11. Denver Stucky took the loss for Kelly, dropping his record to 3-2.

Sikeston lead 7-1 entering the final inning before Kelly mounted a comeback. Both teams had six hits each. Stucky went 3-for-4 with a double and three stolen bases. Teammate John Livingston was 2-for-4 with a triple.