Fritz leads Bulldogs to victory

SIKESTON -- Sikeston's soccer team defeated Fredericktown 4-1 on Monday.

Tanner Fritz had a big day for the Bulldogs, scoring two goals while providing an assist for another.

"He had a really good game," said Sikeston coach Derrick Long. "He's been a big part of our offense. We've been playing him some at midfield and some up top. Wherever we put him, he's one of our stars."

Unfortunately, Fritz received a red card in the win and will have to sit out today's match against rival Notre Dame.

Sikeston fell behind early when Fredericktown's Michael Francis scored at the 19 minute mark. Lance Rhodes was able to tie the score before halftime, scoring at 30 minutes off an assist from Fritz.

In the second half, Brad Deere gave Sikeston a 2-1 lead with a goal at 45 minutes. Ross Gelsheimer provided the assist.

Fritz scored his first goal at 52 minutes off an assist from Deere, then scored on a penalty kick at 65 minutes to make it 4-1.

"It's good to get a win, but I thought we started off a little sluggish," said Long. "It was 1-1 at half against a first-year program. We should've really dominated the game. We came out a little sluggish and let them get an early lead. But we fought back, which is good. We finally gained the lead, then we pretty much controlled the momentum from there."

Sikeston outshot Fredericktown 33 to 13. Keeper Jason Deere had 12 saves. The Bulldogs will travel to Notre Dame today for a 4 p.m. match.

VARSITY TENNIS

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The Sikeston girls tennis team closed out the regular season schedule with a 1-8 loss to Cape Central on Monday in Cape Girardeau.

Sikeston ends the regular season with a 7-6 record.

The Lady Bulldogs will host 12 teams in the district tournament on Thursday starting at 9 a.m.

"The district will be tough," said Sikeston head coach Lynne DeWitt. "There's 12 teams in it. Getting to be the host helps. It's good that we don't have to go anywhere."

On Monday, Sikeston's only win came in the No. 1 doubles match. The Lady Bulldogs' Elizabeth Killion and Lindsay Leible defeated Allie McGinty and Erica Foley 8-3.

The rest of the day belonged to Cape Central.

"We didn't play very good," said DeWitt. "Cape has a good team but we didn't play very good. Elizabeth had a good match but Lauren Sulser was playing well today. Lindsay Leible had a good match too. They played well on doubles."

In singles, Killion lost to Sulser 6-8; Leible lost to Allison Campbell 7-9; Charlie Richey lost to McGinty 0-8; Jeri Nichols lost to Foley 1-8; Chelsea Gilliland lost to Liz Lafoe 5-8; and Jamie Davidson lost to Brett Ford 0-8.

In doubles, Richey-Nichols lost to Lafoe-Ford 7-9 and Gilliland-Davidson lost to Burns-Zaruba 4-8.

The Sikeston junior varsity lost 0-9 to the Lady Tigers' jayvee.

VOLLEYBALL

SIKESTON - The Sikeston volleyball team lost to Caruthersville on Monday at the Sikeston Field House 6-15, 11-15.

Caruthersville entered Monday's contest ranked No. 9 in the regional high school volleyball poll.

"We played them before in a tournament that they ended up winning," said Sikeston head coach Steve Beydler.

"We knew they'd be tough. They keep the ball alive and they work it to their two good middle hitters. When they're on, the ball screams off their hand. For the big part of the night their hitters hit well and they hit where people weren't standing. We played fairly well in the second game and we built a lead. It was much tighter than the first game but we couldn't hold on."

Statistically, Sikeston was led by Emily Slaten (9 points, 1 kill), Joy Daniel (6 pts, 3 aces, 3 kills, 1 block), Maggie Pfefferkorn (2 pts, 1 ace), Rachael Vining (1 kill), Paige Kaiser (1 pt, 3 kills), Lindsey Davis (1 pt), Berneatress Hunt (4 kills, 2 blocks), Tara Shoemaker (2 kills, 1 block).

"We play some very tough teams," said Beydler. "We seem to have trouble getting over the hump for an entire match. We can win a game and take it to three but we haven't been able to put away a match against these good teams."

The Sikeston junior varsity lost 6-15, 10-15 to the Lady Tigers.

The Lady Bulldogs (8-7-2) will host Portageville today at 6 p.m.

VARSITY SOFTBALL

BENTON -- Kelly's softball team ended the regular season with a 10-4 win over Jackson on Monday.

The Lady Hawks will start district play on Friday, where they have been seeded first in 2A District 2.

"It was a good ending to the (regular) season," said Kelly coach Rhonda Evans. "This was senior night, so the girls were on top of things and excited."

Kelly ace Dana Essner got the complete-game win, allowing three earned runs on nine hits and two walks. She took six batters down via strikeout.

"Dana threw a good game," said Evans. "It was colder weather than we're used to, so it took a little bit longer for her to warm up. Most of those hits came in the first couple of innings."

At the plate, Sara Essner and Kelly Essner were both 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Christy Kluesner was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Other hits came from Dana Essner, Cara Scherer and Allison Johnson. Jackson's Riggs was charged with the loss. Roberts led the Lady Mules' offense, batting 2-for-3.

Kelly improves to 15-4 with the win. Their first district game will be at 4 p.m.

"The girls have been playing really good the last couple of weeks," said Evans. "All year, you build up to this point. From here on out, it's everything we've been working for."