Essner pitches ND to triumph

Lee Essner remained unbeaten for Notre Dame, gaining a complete-game victory to lead the Bulldogs past Poplar Bluff 7-4 on Thursday in a SEMO Conference game at home.

Essner (4-0) allowed six hits, struck out eight batters and walked three, as Notre Dame improved to 8-4 (4-2 conference).

After Poplar Bluff had scored two runs in the top of the third to tie the game 2-2, Dane Balsman's two-out, two-run double in the bottom half of the inning put Notre Dame ahead for good. The Bulldogs took advantage of a bases-loaded throwing error on a potential inning-ending double-play to add three runs in the fourth.

NOTRE DAME 7, POPLAR BLUFF 4

Poplar Bluff 002 010 1 -- 4 6 3

Notre Dame 202 300 X -- 7 8 5

WP -- Lee Essner, 4-0. LP -- Patty. 2B -- Blackwell (PB), Matt Wulfers (ND), Dane Balsman (ND) , Derek Ressel (ND). Multiple hits -- Poplar Bluff, Blackwell 2-3; Notre Dame, Lee Essner 2-3, Blake Urhahn 2-3. Records -- Notre Dame 8-4.

Oak Ridge Tournament

Fourth-seeded Leopold defeated fifth-seeded Oak Ridge 9-4 in the first round of the Oak Ridge Tournament.

Matt Stoverink picked up his first win of the season. He pitched a complete game, fanning seven and walking three.

Leopold (3-5) will play top-seeded St. Vincent today at 5:30 p.m. in the semifinals.

Woodland defeated Meadow Heights 8-6 in a five-inning game stopped by darkness.

Josh Foster had two hits, including a double. Scott Crader and Travis Benfield each had triples for Woodland (9-1).

Woodland will play the winner of Oran and Valle at 9 a.m. Saturday in a semifinal game. The championship is 5 p.m. Saturday.

Oak Ridge 000 200 2 -- 4 6 5

Leopold 201 121 2 -- 9 7 3

WP -- Matt Stoverink, 1-0. LP -- Austin Moorison. 3B -- Nathan Thiele (L), Pohlman (OR), Moorison (OR). 2B -- Michael Vandeven (L). Multiple hits -- Leopold, Eric Seiler 2-4. Oak Ridge, Pohlman 2-3. Records -- Leopold 3-5.

Woodland 013 31 -- 8 7 3

Meadow Heights 102 03 -- 6 6 4

WP -- Andrew Wagner, 1-0. LP -- Joel Hahs, 0-2. 3B -- Scott Crader (W), Travis Benfield (W). 2B -- Josh Foster (W). Multiple hits -- Woodland, Foster 2-2; Jacob Gillis 2-2. Meadow Heights, Heath Fulton 2-2. Records -- Woodland 9-1, Meadow Heights 1-6.

Portageville 10, Scott City 8

Portageville scored five runs in the sixth inning to defeat Scott City at home.

Luke McClellan had two hits, including a two-run home run, for Scott City (3-5). Mark Johnston added three hits.

Scott City 400 201 1 -- 8 11 1

Portageville 111 205 0 -- 10 12 2

LP -- Mark Johnston, 2-2. HR -- Rhodes (P), Luke McClellan (SC). 2B -- Kyle Curry (SC), Andy Stevens (SC), Deere 3 (P), Robbin (P). Multiple hits -- Scott City, Johnston 3-4; Matt Schaefer 2-3; McClellan 2-4. Portageville, Deere 4-4; Rhodes 3-4; Chamberlain 2-2; Robbin 2-3. Records -- Scott City 3-5, Portageville 4-3.

Dexter 15, Chaffee 3

Dexter scored nine runs in the second inning and went on to defeat Chaffee in six innings.

Jesse Gettings hit a double for Chaffee and took the loss on the mound.

Dexter 090 033 -- 15 18 1

Chaffee 003 000 -- 3 3 7

WP -- Josh Miller. LP -- Jesse Gettings, 0-2. 2B -- Gettings (C). Records -- Chaffee 1-9.

SIKESTON 10, JACKSON 1

Sikeston 003 131 2 -- 10 13 1

Jackson 001 000 0 -- 1 6 1

WP -- Blake DeWitt, 3-0. LP -- Brandon Gendron. HR -- Blake DeWitt (S). 2B -- DeWitt (S). 3B -- Nathan Eaves (S). Multiple hits -- Sikeston, DeWitt 3-4; Richard Landers 2-3; Scotty Keenan 2-4; Jackson, Tyler Profilet 3-3. Records -- Jackson 8-3, Sikeston 13-0.

SOFTBALL

Scott City 9, Portageville 1

Ashton Phillips pitched three innings and had two hits, including a home run,in a road win for Scott City (5-4).

Scott City 050 200 2 -- 9 7 0

Portageville 000 000 1 -- 1 1 5

WP -- Ashton Phillips, 3-1. LP -- Deere. HR -- Phillips (S). 2B -- Kelly Hicks (S). Multiple hits -- Scott City, Phillips 2-4; Alana Newell 2-3. Records -- Scott City 5-4.

Oran 19, Oak Ridge 3

Oran pounded Oak Ridge in the first round of the Oak Ridge Tournament.

Jami Pobst hit a home run and picked up her third win of the year on the mound.

Tori St. Cin had three hits, including a triple, for Oran (4-1).

Oran 311 2(12) -- 19 14 3

Oak Ridge 101 01 -- 3 2 7

WP -- Jami Pobst, 3-0. LP -- Ponder. HR -- Pobst (O). 3B -- Torie St. Cin (O). 2B -- Wendy Eftink (O), St. Cin (O). Multiple hits -- Oran, St. Cin 3-5; Mandy Wood 2-2; Eftink 2-5. Records -- Oran 4-1.

GIRLS SOCCER

Central 2, Marion (Ill.) 1

Central (7-5) fell behind 1-0 in the first 10 minutes of the game before coming back for a home win.

Megan McDonald scored on an assist from Emily Morris to tie the game 16 minutes in. Heidi Pilsner scored the winning goal 15 minutes later on an assist from goalie Chelsey Burns.

Central's JV won 3-0.

Perryville 2, St. Vincent 1

Chris Schremp scored in the 55th minute to lift Perryville to a victory against rival St. Vincent (4-9). Jody Amschler assisted on Schremp's tally, which was the lone goal of the second half.

Kasey Riney opened the scoring for Perryville (5-4) with an assist from Ashly Hadler. St. Vincent's Jessica Berhle tied the score with a goal assisted by Theresa Mattingly.

Chastity Marr made six saves for the Pirates and Michelle Herzog had 10 for the Squaws.

TRACK AND FIELD

Central, Jackson split a dual

Jackson's girls and Central's boys both won with 82-64 scores. Lucas McIntosh was the only double-winner on the day, claiming 110- and 300-meter hurdles for Jackson's boys.

Girls

3,200 relay -- 1. Central 10:14 (Jennifer Pancoast, Linnea Woldtvedt, Holly Shaffer, Stephanie Wehner); 100 hurdles -- 1. Trisha Kluesner (J) 15.9, 2. Jami Dement (C) 18.5, 3. Sarah Terry (J) 18.8; 800 relay -- 1. Jackson 1:50.4 (Rachel Kahle, Rebecca Martin, Kluesner, Melanie Essner); High jump -- 1. Courtney Schuessler (C) 4-8, 2. Lisa Langenfeld (C) 4-6, 3. Sarah Dumey (J) 4-6; 100 -- 1. Kahle (J) 12.8, 2. Essner (J) 13.0, 3. Jamie Lester (C) 13.3; 1,600 -- 1. Pancoast (C) 5:25, 2. Rachel Schmidt (J) 5:57, 3. Ashley Meyr (J) 5:57; 400 relay -- 1. Jackson 52.0 (Kahle, Martin, Kluesner, Essner); 400 -- 1. Rachel Lowes (J) 1:02, 2. Jordan Cook (J) 1:04, 3. Schuessler (C) 1:05; Triple jump -- 1. Dumey (J) 32-6 3/4, 2. Audrey Stanfield (J) 32-5, 3. Dani Gross (C) 32-1; Long jump -- 1. Gross (C) 15-1, 2. Dement (C) 14-8, 3. Stanfield (J) 14-8; 300 hurdles -- 1. Renee Moreland (C) 51.0, 2. Kluesner (J) 53.0, 3. Lester (C) 54.0; Discus -- 1. Loni Littlepage (J) 88-11, 2. Amanda Peiffer (J) 79-4, 3. Lauren Loftis (C) 72-5; Shot put -- 1. Martin (J) 38-1, 2. Peiffer (J) 37-5, 3. Brianna Egbuka (C) 29-7; 800 -- 1. Shaffer (C) 2:26, 2. Lowes (J) 2:36, 3. Schmidt (J) 2:42; 200 -- 1. Nicole Jackson (C) 27.5, 2. Kahle (J) 28.4, 3. Stanfield (J) 29.2; Pole vault -- 1. Amy West (J) 9-6, 2. Maggie Limbaugh (C) 9-0, 3. Emma Porter (C) 9-0; 3,200 -- 1. Woldtvedt (C) 12:00, 2. Beth Tate (J) 14:13, 3. Chelsea Brown (J) 14:32; 1,600 relay -- 1. Central 4:15.2 (Meg Yates, Moreland, Wehner, Shaffer).

Boys

3,200 relay -- 1. Central 9:19.8 (David Jenkins, Trey Willis, Mark Welker, Beau Jordan); 110 hurdles -- 1. Lucas McIntosh (J) 16.2, 2. Clayton Hill (C) 16.5, 3. Will Perry (J) 16.9; 100 -- 1. Marcus Rice (C) 11.3, 2. Aaron Fortner (J) 11.5, 3. Trae Smith (J) 11.9; 800 relay -- 1. Central 1:33 (Calen Wills, Zeno Walker, Rice, Will Johnson); High jump -- 1. Alex Austin (J) 5-6, 2. John Mosby (C) 5-6, 3. Xavier Delph (C) 5-4; 1,600 -- 1. Jake Bloodworth (J) 5:08, 2. Dominic Jamm (C) 5:13.10, 3. Paul Stone 5:14.01; 400 relay -- Central 44.6 (Johnson, Rice, Wills, Walker); 400 -- 1. Isaac Venable (J) 53.2, 2. Josh Smoot (C) 56.5, 3. John Simmons (J) 58.4; Triple jump -- 1. Delph (C) 39-8, 2. Andrew Lorenz (J) 35-5, 3. David Birk (J) 34 1/4; Long jump -- 1. Rice (C) 18-6, 2. Mike Wood (J) 18-4, 3. Delph (C) 17-8; Discus -- 1. Brad Crader (J) 136-1, 2. Darren Neels (C) 134-4, 3. William Uren (J) 128-5; Shot put -- 1. Mark Egbuka (C) 46-5, 2. Crader (J) 44-9, 3. Andy Glass (J) 43-5; 300 hurdles -- 1. McIntosh (J) 46.4, 2. Clayton Hill 46.99, 3. Tyler Holman (J) 47.0; 800 -- 1. Jordan (C) 2:17.36, 2. Earl Popp (J) 2:17, 3. Jenkins (C) 2:19.81; 200 -- 1. Neal Grossheider (J) 24.2, 2. Venable (J) 25.23, 3. Fortner (J) 25.24; 3,200 -- 1. Stone (C) 11:18.20, 2. Brock Howard (J) 11:22, 3. Alex Schroeder (C) 12:00.82; 1,600 relay -- 1. Central 3:50.27 (Wills, Jenkins, Smoot, Walker); Pole vault -- 1. Jarred Harris (C) 13-0, 2. Andy Matthews (C) 13-0, 3. Lance Altenthal (C) 11-6.

GIRLS SWIMMING

Lafayette 147, Central 39

Central won just one event against the reigning state champions. Jackie Erlacker scored a 195.05 in diving to pick up Central's (7-3) lone win.

Central results

Diving -- 1. Jackie Erlacker 195.05; 200 free relay -- 3. 1:52.43 (Callie Hoffman, Hannah Kinder, Hannah Lewis, Cassie Kipper); 100 breaststroke -- 3. Brett Ford 1:18.20; 400 free relay -- 3. 4:15.62 (Hoffman, Kinder, Lewis, Kipper)

GOLF

Central 153,

Farmington 158

Todd Obergoenner shot a 1-under-par 34 on the front nine at Cape Girardeau Country Club to lead Central. Blake Driskell added a 39. Tyson Seabaugh and Zack Kluesner each carded 40s for Central (8-0).

Other events

Central's junior high girls track team finished second to Jackson at the Poplar Bluff Invitational. Central's boys finished fourth.

Central winners

Girls: Lindsey Pingel, 800; Jennifer Willis, triple jump.

Boys: Adrian Cox, triple jump.

Perryville's JV girls placed first in the Herculaneum Invitational on Wednesday.

In the varsity meet, Perryville's Melissa Crannick won the 100 in 13.1 seconds.

Perryville winners

Brittany Castleberry (100, 200); Leslie Schilli (1,600, 3,200); Bethany Steffens (800); 3,200 relay (Castleberry, Schilli, Steffens and Lindsey Lappe).

Central's freshman boys track and field team placed first at the Poplar Bluff Invitational.

Central winners

Allen Walker, 100; Anwar Glenn, 200; Dale Brannock, 3,200; Ombra Dockery, high jump; Matt Willingham (pole vault); 800 relay; 400 relay.

-- From staff reports