Softball

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Perryville softball is trending upward. The Pirates return eight starters from last year's 15-10 team that advanced to the district title game. Most of the players spent the summer playing travel ball together, and of the eight returning starters, four are sophomores...

SIKESTON — After a tough, 4-3 loss in extra innings to end it’s season in the district tournament, the Sikeston softball team is looking to come back hungrier in 2018. Under third-year coach Laura Brown, the Bulldogs finished the 2017 campaign with a record of 9-15. Sikeston, though, loses a pair of key contributors from last season’s roster — utility player Kylie Noe and catcher Ashton Drake...

No longer will Missouri high schools have to wait to see an enrollment spike or drop take effect. Beginning this year, the Missouri State High School Activities Association will release new class and district assignments annually. The goal is to make sure schools of similar size are competing against one another, accounting for sudden, drastic shifts in student enrollment...

Southland 14-year-old Jenna Gibson has participated in her fair share of softball competitions as she nears her sophomore year of high school. The right-handed pitcher, who has played softball in 14 states against teams from 28 states, is preparing to take her game to a 15th state in a few weeks...

Student-athletes from across Southeast Missouri were recognized for their outstanding achievements Saturday night at the region’s premier sports award show. More than 150 athletes from 57 area high schools were on hand for the Fifth Annual Semoball Awards presented by SoutheastHEALTH at the Donald C. ...

The wait is finally over. The fifth Annual Semoball Awards presented by SoutheastHEALTH kicks off Saturday. Southeast Missouri's premier sports award show will welcome more than 150 student-athletes from 57 area high schools to the Bedell Performance Hall on Southeast Missouri State's River Campus for an evening of recognition and celebration...

Meet the 12 members...

At the beginning of the season, Hailey Kutz didn't know anyone. With that unfamiliarity came stress for the Notre Dame softball freshman. The pitcher had to get used to her teammates and coaches, who wanted to ease her into a starting role. An injury to another pitcher the first weekend of the season threw a wrench into that plan. Suddenly, Kutz had added responsibility...

Less than a month ago, Oran baseball and St. Vincent girls soccer won Class 1 state championships, capping off a successful spring for area schools. Four teams, three in girls soccer and one in baseball, advanced to the final four with Jackson girls soccer making history by reaching state for the first time in program history...

After 10 months, the list is complete. On Monday, the 45 spring sport finalists for the 2018 Semoball Awards were announced during a selection show live on air on SEMO ESPN Radio 1220 AM. In addition to those individual student-athletes, 15 additional nominees were revealed for Coach of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year and Sportsmanship, plus the Lifetime Achievement Award winner...

The Missouri High School Fastpitch Coaches Association has released the 2018 Class 1 spring all-state softball team. Four players from the Missouri Bootheel have been selected all-state. Malden senior Lana Reed has been selected as a first-team all-state catcher. Reed hit .645 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs...

SIKESTON — With the summer just beginning and local sports teams a ways away from starting their respective seasons, comes a carousel of coaching changes. A new voice and vision are used to help struggling programs rise to the top and with that, here is the list of coaching changes for our local teams:...

The 2018 SCAA softball awards have been released. Bernie sophomore pitcher Alyson Marcum has been selected as the 2018 SCAA Softball Player of the Year. Marcum hit .750 with 13 home runs and 55 RBIs. She also finished 15-1 in the circle with a 1.21 ERA...

A slew of players from the Missouri Bootheel have been selected to the all-region softball team. Oran sophomore Kaylee Payne, Park Hills Central senior Karissa Belfield, Kennett senior Kayton Harris, Park Hills Central freshman Jessica Hulsey, Malden senior Alexis Campbell, Portageville senior Kelsi Miller and Scott City junior Courtney Enderle were selected first-team all-region infielders...

The Class 1, District 2 all-district softball team has been released. Kennett’s Kayton Harris, Kennett’s Sydni McAtee, Holcomb’s Hannah Burk, Holcomb’s Bailey Cupples, Campbell’s Hannah Farmer, Campbell’s Alexis Weidenbenner and Holcomb’s Jayden Kendrick were selected all-district infielders...

The 2018 Bootheel Conference softball awards have been released. Malden shortstop Lexi Campbell is the Bootheel Conference Player of the Year. Campbell batted .530 with four home runs and 26 RBIs her senior season. She also went 3-0 in the circle with a 3.62 ERA in 19 1/3 innings pitched...

The 2018 Tri-County Conference high school softball awards have been released. Southland freshman Jenna Gibson has been selected as Tri-County Conference Player of the Year. Gibson went 10-3 and struck out 142 in 68 innings of work in the circle. Gibson batted .630 with a .735 on-base percentage and 1.49 slugging percentage...

PARK HILLS, Mo. - The Kennett Indians softball team put up a late fight but was unable to overcome a seven-run deficit in the final inning Thursday evening. The Park Hills Rebels built a 7-0 lead and withstood a late rally as it beat Kennett 7-2 in a Class 1 quarterfinal at Park Hills Sports Complex...

KENNETT, Mo. - The Kennett Indians softball team trailed 4-1 after two innings of play but still found a way to secure a run-rule victory against the Portageville Bulldogs in a Class 1 sectional Monday at Indian Park. Kennett erased a 4-1 deficit by scoring 11 unanswered runs and hung on to beat Portageville 14-4 in five innings...

PARK HILLS, Mo. – The Park Hills Central Rebels improved from a narrow 2-1 triumph on Apr. 8 against the Malden Green Wave to achieve a 16-0 victory in a Class 1 softball sectional on Monday. Park Hills senior Caitlyn Holmes notched her first home run against Malden to gain a 4-0 lead for Central in the third inning. ...

ZALMA, Mo. — East Prairie defeated Zalma, 10-3, on Wednesday at Zalma High School. Luke Marcum provided support not only at the plate but on the mound as well. At the plate, Marcum went 3-for-4 and led East Prairie (8-6) in hits. On the mound, he was also sensational, as he gave up one earned run on five hits...

KENNETT, Mo. - Kennett Indians softball coach Laurie Vaughan emphasized putting the ball in play and making defensive plays behind their pitcher before the start of Wednesday’s Class 1, District 2 championship against the Holcomb Hornets. The Indians appeared to take both messages to heart from start-to-finish. The Kennett offense never struck out and the Kennett defense did not commit an error behind its pitcher...

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. – The top-seeded Portageville softball team didn't have much trouble capturing their second-straight district championship. The Bulldogs rolled past sixth-seeded Cooter 18-1 on Wednesday to win the Class 1, District 1 Tournament in Caruthersville, Mo...

KENNETT, Mo. - It required three pitchers but the Holcomb Hornets found a way to advance to the Class 1, District 2 softball championship late Tuesday night. Holcomb senior Caroline Dunbar surrendered two runs in a four-inning start before giving way to reliever Carli Morgan who pitched a scoreless fifth inning. Reliever Bailey Cupples followed by pitching the final two innings without allowing a run after she was brought in for a six-out save after Morgan went down with a hand injury...

KENNETT, Mo. - The Kennett Indians high school softball team will have the opportunity to defend its district title. No. 1 seeded Kennett scored one run in the first inning, four runs in the third inning, one run in the fourth inning, one run in the fifth inning and three runs in the sixth inning as it beat No. 5 seeded Senath-Hornersville 10-0 in a Class 1, District 2 semifinal Tuesday at Indian Park...

Derek Kirn belted a two-run home run as the Perryville baseball team clinched the regular-season conference championship with a 7-3 victory over Windsor on the road in Imperial, Missouri, on Tuesday. Trent Unterreiner was the winning pitcher and had a double and two RBIs for the Pirates (12-7, 4-0 JCAA Conference-Large Schools Division). He gave up three earned runs on seven hits and recorded seven strikeouts and two walks...

ORAN, Mo. -- Scott City softball had its chances, but in the end, the Rams fell just short in their bid for a fifth consecutive district title. Second-seeded Park Hills Central scored a run its first time up and led the rest of the way, breaking open a tight contest with three runs in the seventh inning and holding off top-seeded Scott City for a 7-3 victory in the Class 1 District 4 championship Tuesday at Oran High School. ...

BERNIE, Mo. – The East Prairie baseball team started out on fire, raking in six runs through the first two innings on Tuesday. But a solo shot from Bernie’s Josh Vaughn gave the Mules a 9-8 walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh at Bernie High School. The two teams combined for 19 hits and five home runs on Bernie’s short porch...

Rylee Venable had a home run and four RBIs to lead the top-seeded Scott City softball team to a 13-3 semifinal victory over fourth-seeded Advance in the Class 1 District 4 Tournament at Oran. Kaileigh Dirden was the winning pitcher and also doubled and drove in three runs for Scott City (16-3). She threw a complete game and allowed three earned runs with eight strikeouts and no walks...

KENNETT, Mo. - The Senath-Hornersville Lions and Southland Rebels both secured run-rule victories in their opening games at the Class 1, District 2 softball tournament Monday at Indian Park in Kennett. No. 5 seeded Senath-Hornersville jumped out to a 9-0 lead on its way past No. 4 seeded Campbell 14-3 in six innings in the first district quarterfinal Monday...

Reid James got on base two of his four times at the plate as the fifth-seeded Notre Dame baseball team rebounded from a tough opening-round loss a day earlier to pick up a 5-2 win over eighth-seeded New Madrid County Central in a consolation semifinal of the SEMO Conference Tournament at Cape Girardeau Central High School on Saturday...

The third-seeded Kennett Indians struck for three runs in the third inning Saturday and beat seventh-seeded Dexter 5-2 in a consolation semifinal of the SEMO Conference Baseball Tournament at Cape Central High School. The Indians will face Notre Dame in the fifth-place game at 2:15 p.m. Monday. Dexter (3-12) will meet New Madrid County Central for seventh place at noon Monday. Both games will be played at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau...

KENNETT, Mo. - The Holcomb Hornets varsity softball team has experienced few offensive droughts this season. Holcomb entered Friday’s Tri-County Conference Tournament championship having scored at least eight runs in every game it has competed in this spring...

Kaylee Payne belted a triple as a good fifth inning helped lift Oran softball to a 6-3 victory over Portageville in its final regular-season home game on Thursday. Alyssa Spane went 5 1/3 innings in the circle to obtain the win for the Eagles (12-2). ...

The seedings are set for Class 1, District 1 at Caruthersville; Class 1, District 2 at Kennett; and Class 1, District 3 at Bernie. See the brackets for each district softball tournament below: Class 1, District 1 at Caruthersville Class 1, District 2 at Kennett...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — The New Madrid County Central baseball team ended its six-game losing streak on Thursday, as the Eagles defeated Cooter High School 4-3 at New Madrid County Central High School. Despite four errors in the game, the Eagles were able to rally around a three-run second inning and win a much-needed contest. Cooter (9-6) would rally though, with two runs in the fifth and another run in the sixth, but would not be enough...

SENATH, Mo. - It took a late offensive spurt but the Kennett Indians softball team found a way to repeat as champions at the Bootheel Conference Tournament late Wednesday night at Senath. No. 2 seeded Kennett scored all six of its runs after the fifth inning as it rallied from a 2-0 deficit to upend the No. 1 seeded Malden Green Wave 6-2 in the title game of the Bootheel Conference Tournament...

SOFTBALL: Kennett wins BHC tournament, Holcomb and Southland reach Tri-County finals SENATH, Mo. - The No. 2 seeded Kennett Indians took home the top prize at the Bootheel Conference softball tournament late Wednesday night at Senath. Kennett rallied from a 6-4 deficit to defeat No. 6 seeded Campbell 11-10 in its semifinal. Kennett then overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat No. 1 seeded Malden 6-2 in the championship...

Advance softball scored four runs in the seventh inning to pull off a 4-1 comeback road win over Meadow Heights on Wednesday in Patton, Missouri. Alexus Hubbert had an RBI double in that inning and went 2-for-3. Alli Johnson got the complete-game win for Advance (5-10), giving up four hits, two walks and an earned run while notching five strikeouts. She also had two hits...

Mik Liley bagged two goals to lead the Jackson girls soccer to a 3-0 home win over St. Vincent on Tuesday. Natalie Miller got the other goal for the Indians (12-3), and Grace Pehle provided two assists. Taylor Nelson also had a helper. Emily Hermann made two saves in goal to get the shutout...

NEELYVILLE, Mo. — The Sikeston baseball team continued its winning ways on Saturday, as the Bulldogs defeated Doniphan High School 7-6 in the second day of the Neelyville Tournament. Junior Nate Self was active on both the mound and the plate. At the plate, Self went 2-for-3 — which continued his nine-game hit streak — with one RBI and two runs scored...

CALDWELL, Mo. - The Southland Rebels high school softball team improved to 7-2 with a 7-3 home victory against the Senath-Hornersville Lions Friday. Jenna Gibson threw all seven innings in the circle for Southland. She allowed three hits, struck out 14 and walked one...

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. - The Kennett Indians high school softball team won the bronze bracket at the Old Settlement Tournament Saturday at Ste. Genevieve. Kennett beat Valle Catholic 12-3 in a bronze bracket semifinal and Bismarck 9-0 in the bronze bracket title game...

The Jackson boys golf team continued its impressive season by adding more hardware to its case as the Indians edged Marquette by one stroke to capture the championship of the Mehlville Invitational Tournament at the Crown Pointe Golf Club in Farmington, Missouri, on Saturday...

The schedule has been released for the highly anticipated Bootheel Conference softball tournament. Weather permitting the eight-team event will take place Monday and Tuesday at Senath-Hornersville High School. Quarterfinals take place Monday. No. 1 seeded Malden plays No. ...

Claire Ramsey hit a double and drove in three runs as the Oran softball team started strong to pick up a big 8-4 win over traditional powerhouse Kennett on Tuesday. Alyssa Spane went the distance in the circle to come away with the win for the host Eagles, who improved to 8-1 with the victory. Spane recorded four strikeouts and two walks...

HOLCOMB, Mo. - The Holcomb Hornets softball team locked up the No. 1 seeded in next week’s Tri-County Conference Tournament with an 18-3 victory three-run victory against Southland Thursday afternoon. Holcomb finishes Tri-County Conference regular-season play with a perfect 5-0 with the win...

BENTON, Mo. — The Kelly baseball team overcame a four-error game, as the Hawks defeated Gideon High School at home on Thursday. Grant Menz had a solid evening at the plate as well but struggled on the mound. Menz gave up nine hits on four earned runs, to go along with seven strikeouts...

Oran 8, Kennett 4 ORAN, Mo. - The Kennett Indians varsity softball team fell behind 6-0 after two innings of play and never recovered as it suffered an 8-4 road loss at Oran Thursday. The top four hitters in the Oran batting order - Sydney Kern, Kaylee Payne, Leah Cauble and Claire Ramsey - each collected a pair of hits. Cauble had two RBIs and Ramsey tallied three RBIs. Jesse Long and Samantha Welter both collected a hit and one RBI for Oran...