Area digest

Jackson eliminated from junior Legion tournament

After winning an elimination game Friday morning, Jackson's junior American Legion team was eliminated Friday night in a 6-1 loss to Ballwin in the Junior Legion State baseball tournament at Jackson.

Jackson avoided elimination with a 10-0 six-inning win over Willard in its first game. Kyle Brown pitched all six innings and allowed only four hits. Trey Busch had three hits and three RBIs and Dane Balsmann added two hits and three RBIs for Jackson.

In the evening game Jackson led 1-0 into the fifth inning before giving way. Rex Meyr, Sam Lincoln and Zach Brazer had two hits apiece for Jackson.

In other games, Liberty defeated Kirksville 6-1 to remain the only undefeated team in the tournament. Liberty will play the winner of the Kirksville/Ballwin elimination game today at 7 p.m. for the championship.

Local Babe Ruth team wins tournament opener

The Heartland Babe Ruth softball 10-and-under National All-Stars made up of girls from Chaffee, Delta, Oran, Kelso, Benton, Scott City and New Hamburg won 13-2 over Southern Plains, Colo., in the opener of the Midwest Regional Tournament in Denver, Colo.

The Heartland National All-Stars qualified for the tournament by winning a state tournament earlier this month. Danielle Gibbons was the winning pitcher after striking out five and allowing no hits in three innings. Taylor Irwin led an 11-hit attack for Heartland with two hits.

14-and-under Heartland team wins opening game

The 14-and-under Heartland Nationals softball team defeated Colorado East Central 17-2 in its opening game of a regional tournament in Burlington, Colo., Friday.

Wendy Eftink was 2-for-4 and had three RBIs and three runs. Chelsea Bradley hit a double and four RBIs. Whitney Howell struck out six in six innings.

Blose finishes tied for seventh in state event

Cape Girardeau's James Blose finished in a three-way tie for seventh place Friday at the Missouri Stroke Play Championship in St. Louis.

Blose finished with a three-round total of 296, 13 strokes behind David Jenkins.

-- Staff reports