POPLAR BLUFF -- Poplar Bluff scored four runs in the fourth inning to prevent Notre Dame from picking up its first win of the season in a 7-3 victory.

Josh Eftink and Scott Reinagel each had two hits, but it was all the offense Notre Dame (0-2) could muster. Eftink's hits included a two-run homer in the third inning, which tied the score 2-2 at the time.

Poplar Bluff moved ahead for good in the bottom of the third with a single run and belted a two-run homer of its own in the fourth to take a 7-2 lead.

Keith Hamm pitched five innings for the Bulldogs and suffered the loss. He struck out two, walked one and gave up six hits. Mark Ostendorf pitched a hitless sixth for Notre Dame.

Perryville 6, Festus 5

PERRYVILLE -- Josh Moll struck out 12 Festus batters and his teammates popped for five runs in the second inning as the Pirates gained their first win of the season.

Moll also walked nine batters and gave up four hits.

Perryville (1-1) had just five hits, but three came in the second inning. The Pirate inning was also aided by two walks, a hit batsman, an error and two balks. Todd French and Ben Kohm each had two-run singles in the inning, which gave Perryville a 5-1 lead.

Perryville led 6-1 after three innings. Festus scored a single run in the fifth and two in the sixth to account for the final score.

Zalma 3, Meadow Height 2

PATTON -- Zalma made the most of its two hits Thursday, scoring three runs to knock off Meadow Heights.

Meadow Heights actually out-hit the Bulldogs 5-2, but Zalma's improved to 1-1 on the season. Zalma's Gandy Wade broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning when he scored the winning run on a passed ball.

Wade had one of Zalma's two hits; Lucus Lemons had an RBI-single for the other. Wade was also the winning pitcher, hurling all seven innings, striking out 11 and walking three.

Meadow Heights pitcher Ronnie Laurentius took the loss despite striking out 15 and walking only two batters.

Jackson 11, Ste. Genevieve 4

STE. GENEVIEVE -- Jackson rallied from a 4-1 deficit to win its season-opening contest Wednesday.

The Indians scored three runs in the fourth inning and four in the fifth to go ahead for good. Jason Goben pitched all seven innings for the win.

Jackson totaled 11 hits with Tory Meyr and Ben Turner tallying three each. Meyr also sparkled in the field with two nice plays at his shortstop position.

TRACK

CHS sweeps Sikeston

SIKESTON -- Cape Central's boys and girls track teams raced past Sikeston Thursday in a season-opening dual meet.

The Lady Tigers won all 17 girls events to whip the Lady Bulldogs 134-10. The Tigers won all 12 running events to claim a 92-42 victory over the Bulldogs.

For complete results see Scoreboard on Page 2B.

Central goes to New Madrid for another dual meet Tuesday.

GOLF

Notre Dame wins triangular

JACKSON -- Notre Dame opened its season with a win in a triangular meet at Bent Creek Golf Course Thursday.

The Bulldogs scored 182 to beat St. Vincent (188) and Perryville (192). Notre Dame's John Brey was the meet medalist; he shot 40.

Also for the Bulldogs, Matt Howard shot 44, Jonathan LeGrand 46 and Chris Koeper 52.

For St. Vincent, Ben Favier shot 45, Joe Ponder 47, Matt Hoch 48 and Matt Eschenbrenner 48.

Ryan Besand shot a 46 to lead Perryville. Jeff Hotop shot 47, Nathan Rellergert 48 and Josh Ponder 51.

JV BASEBALL

Cape Central 20, Chaffee 6

CHAFFEE -- Cape Central's JV opened its season Wednesday by routing host Chaffee.

Tim Huckstep had three hits for the Tigers while Josh McIntosh and Ty Fidler both added two. McIntosh was the winning pitcher.