Thies-powered Tigers reach district finale

Central ace John Thies threw another gem as the top-seeded Tigers cruised into the Class 4, District 1 Tournament finals with a 5-1 win over fifth-seeded Seckman at Fox High School Wednesday.

Thies allowed only three hits and four walks, and held Seckman scoreless until the Tigers (18-9) committed three errors in the seventh. Offensively, Seth Hudson and Chris Conrad led the Tigers with two hits apiece. Central outhit Seckman (12-13) 9-3.

The Tigers will start Jake Welch in today's 3 p.m. championship game against second-seeded Fox, which advanced to the finals with a win over sixth-seeded Jackson.

Fox (14-12) advanced with a 5-1 win. Jackson (11-12) received a strong performance from starter Jason Meystedt but could not overcome four errors. Meystedt allowed only four hits and three walks over six innings.

Class 3, District 1

Second-seeded Notre Dame finally debuted in the rain-delayed Class 3, District 1 Tournament in Dexter with an 8-3 victory over seventh-seeded Fredericktown.

Jared Jinkerson held Fredericktown (6-15) to five hits, striking out eight and walking one.

The Bulldogs (17-6) supported Jinkerson with 11 hits, including a home run by Kyle Diveley and three hits apiece by Blake Urhahn and Andy Ralls. Matt Smith added a pair of hits.

Notre Dame took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning, where it put together five of its hits off losing pitcher Josh Skaggs. Matt Wulfers and Wayne Essner each had two-run doubles in the five-run inning to put Notre Dame ahead 7-1.

Class 1, District 3

Steven McCain pitched a complete game and Zalma cruised past Oak Ridge 12-2 in the first round of the Class 1, District 3 Tournament at Leopold.

Zalma jumped out in front 3-1 after the first inning and never trailed. Andy Sitzes led Zalma by going 2-for-5 with three RBIs. McCain and Jared Huffman added two hits apiece for Zalma (2-5). Zach Ruesler had two hits for the Blue Jays (3-12), including a home run.

In the other first-round game, Valley of Caledonia dispatched Meadow Heights 11-1 in five innings.

Class 2, District 2

Seventh-seeded Scott City's upset run ended in the semifinals of the Class 2, District 2 Tournament in Ste. Genevieve, but top-seeded Kelly was not immune to the upset bug.

Scott City (2-16) saw its season end with a 2-0 loss to third-seeded Valle (11-11). Fifth-seeded St. Vincent (12-13) will face Valle in today's championship game after its 3-2 upset of Kelly (9-11) in the other semifinal.

--From staff reports