TIGERS OPEN INAUGURAL SHOWCASE EVENT TODAY

It won't be hard to find a high school baseball game this weekend as the inaugural Cape Central Tigers' Showcase gets under way today.

Six schools will participate in the 10 games scheduled at three different sights this weekend. Notre Dame and Cape Central will host all of the varsity games while junior varsity games will be played at Arena Park.

"It's very similar to the Tiger Shootout," said Central baseball coach Steve Williams, alluding to Central's basketball event that matches up area teams with solid programs from outside the region.

"It's a chance to get some teams in from out of the area and play some games against players we don't normally see," Williams said.

Scott City is the only other local squad involved as two teams from Kentucky -- Calloway County and Heath -- along with Horn Lake (Miss.) converge on Cape Girardeau.

Heath officials contacted Williams wanting to get into the Showcase field, giving Williams cause for concern.

"Their coach called us and wanted to come play," Williams said. "Anytime a team calls and wants to play they're probably pretty good."

Horn Lake should be another tough team after finishing second in Mississippi's Chamber Classic Tournament last weekend among 16 other teams, including Cape Central which won three of its four tourney games.

"The teams from out of state are excited and we're excited because we feel Cape Girardeau baseball is pretty good," Williams said. "We had a number of pro scouts indicate they'd be here."

Notre Dame starts action today at 4 p.m. against Calloway County on the Bulldogs' field.

Saturday will be the busiest day of the showcase, with games beginning at 11 a.m. on all three fields and continuing through the afternoon until the final contests at 3:30 p.m.

Cape Central and Scott City will play four of the five varsity games Saturday. Central meets Calloway County at 11 a.m. and then Horn Lake at 1:15 p.m. Both games will be on the Tigers' field.

Scott City will play back-to-back games at Notre Dame starting at 11 a.m. The Rams duel Heath in the morning then face Calloway County at 1:15 p.m.

Heath and Horn Lake play Saturday's final varsity game on Central's field at 3:30 p.m. Arena Park will host all four of the JV games.

1998 Tigers' Showcase

Today's games

4 p.m. -- Notre Dame vs. Calloway Co. (Ky.) at Notre Dame

x-4 p.m. -- Notre Dame vs. Calloway Co. at Arena Park

Saturday's games

11 a.m. -- Cape Central vs. Calloway Co. at Cape Central

11 a.m. -- Scott City vs. Heath (Ky.) at Notre Dame

x-11 a.m. -- Cape Central vs. Calloway Co. at Arena Park

1:15 p.m. -- Cape Central vs. Horn Lake (Miss.) at Cape Central

1:15 p.m. -- Scott City vs. Calloway Co. at Notre Dame

x-1:15 p.m. -- Calloway Co. vs. Horn Lake at Arena Park

3:30 p.m. -- Heath vs. Horn Lake at Cape Central

x-3:30 p.m. -- Cape Central vs. Horn Lake at Arena Park

x-JV game