Beggs tosss perfect game against Poplar Bluff

POPLAR BLUFF -- The Kelly Lady Hawks bounced back from a tough defeat with a 2-0 extra-inning win over SEMO Conference opponent Poplar Bluff on Tuesday.

Kelly senior Whitney Beggs (7-4) tossed a perfect game, retiring all 27 batters she faced in the nine-inning contest. She struck out 11.

"It was truly a perfect game," said Kelly coach Rhonda Ratledge, whose defense converted all of its 16 chances. "And we got the extra-inning win."

Kelly had lost four of five previous extra-inning contests, including a disappointing one-run extra-inning loss to rival Notre Dame on Monday.

In a scoreless tie in the top of the ninth, Lady Hawk Jessica Burnett reached on an error, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kelly Essner then singled Burnett home with the game-winning run.

The Lady Hawks added an insurance run when Essner, who had stole second and was sacrificed to third on Beggs' bunt, crossed the plate on a Poplar Bluff error.

Kelly (17-6) also got hits from Burnett (1-4, triple), Summer Proctor (1-4, single), Mindy Robert (1-4, single) and Brittany Ponder (1-3, single).

Kelly hosts Dongola (Ill.) on Friday at 4 p.m., then travels to Jackson for a conference game on Monday for the regular-season finale.

A win clinches the SEMO Conference title for Kelly.

SIKESTON - Allison Blurton struck out 16 in Sikeston's 2-1 win in extra innings over East Carter on Tuesday.

Blurton allowed two hits and walked one in the complete-game performance.

"Blurton came out and pitched a good game," said Sikeston coach Tiffany Glastetter. "She was very solid. Her fastball was working and East Carter couldn't catch up. She would mix in the change every once in a while and it would keep them off balance."

Sikeston (14-4) drew first blood with a single run in the sixth when Aly Friend laid down a bunt to score Blurton from third.

East Carter tied the game with a run in the seventh.

In the eighth, the Lady Bulldogs pushed across the winning run on a bunt by Beth Ziegenhorn which plated pinch runner Kashe Hudson.

Blurton and Erin Wibbenmeyer led the Sikeston offense, each with three hits in four at-bats.

Kaycie Williams, Ziegenhorn and Barbara Hobbs contributed a hit apiece to the nine-hit Lady Bulldog attack.

The Sikeston junior varsity visits Notre Dame for a 4 p.m. ballgame today.

DELTA -- Delta dropped a 2-1 decision to St. Vincent in softball action on Tuesday.

St. Vincent scored a run in the first and another in the third, both unearned, against hard-luck loser Sarah Cook. Cook pitched a two-hitter with six strikeouts and three walks in a route-going effort.

Delta (13-9) rapped eight hits, but stranded 13 runners. The Lady Bobcats scored its lone run in the sixth inning.

Casey Seabaugh and Shea Smith led Delta with two hits each and Krystal Burnett and Sara Blattel had one hit apiece.