Zalma hires coach; Bell City looking

Zalma will have a new basketball coach for 2005-06, while Bell City still is searching for the replacement for coach and athletic director David Heeb.

Zalma named Ryan Harmon, the junior varsity and junior high basketball coach who is completing his first year at the school, as the replacement for Dwyght Ford.

Zalma finished 4-19 in 2004-05. Ford still is the baseball coach at the school.

Bell City superintendent Rhonda Niemczyk said Thursday the school still is accepting applications and conducting interviews for a replacement for Heeb.

Heeb last week accepted the post at his alma mater, Scott County Central, after guiding Bell City to a fourth-place finish this past season and Class 1 state championships in 2002 and 2004.

"I'm staying at Maplewood," said Frazier, who played basketball for Lennies McFerren at Charleston High School. "I am committed to building something, and I wanted to stay here until I finished what I started."

Maplewood-Richmond Heights was 16-9 this past season without the benefit of a home gymnasium -- the school is building a new one -- but the Blue Devils were upset in the first round of their Class 2 district tournament.

In four years at M-RH, Frazier, who played collegiately at St. Louis University, has a 53-48 record, but the Devils are 50-26 in the last three seasons.

Introducing baseball

Another school has joined Saxony Lutheran in fielding a high school baseball team for the first time this year.

Eagle Ridge Christian School in Cape Girardeau opened its inaugural season Tuesday with a doubleheader against Elite.

Eagle Ridge, coached by Cliff Simmons, will play its home games at Arena Park. The team's next scheduled home game is April 19 against Saxony Lutheran, followed by April 21 against New Salem and April 28 against Saxony.

College notes

* Notre Dame graduate Lee Essner is hitting .344 for the Maryville University baseball team. He is tied for the team lead with 17 runs scored through 18 games. On the mound, Essner has made three appearances spanning 3 2/3 innings. He is 2-0 and has not allowed a run.

<li> Central graduate Sean Bard is leading Mineral Area College's baseball team in hitting with a .362 batting average to go along with 21 RBIs. Mineral Area is 12-15 this season.