Ready for state

Fatima, Russellville in sectional baseball

Fresh off district tournament titles, a pair of area baseball teams are scheduled for state tournament play today.

In Westphalia, the Fatima Comets (19-5) will take on the Holden Eagles (18-3) in a 5:30 p.m. contest at Lions Field in a battle of Class 3 ranked teams.

Fatima ended the regular season in a tie for No. 6 in the rankings compiled by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association, while Holden held down the No. 2 spot behind top-ranked Forsyth.

Tonight's winner will play either Richmond (11-6) or Maryville (5-10) in Wednesday's quarterfinal. With a win. Fatima would host Richmond or travel to Maryville.

The Russellville Indians (15-7) will open Class 2 tournament play at Harrisburg against the host Bulldogs (13-5) in a 6 p.m. contest.

It is a rematch of an April 4 game Russellville won 10-0 in six innings at home. Kaleb Libbert and Chandler Wolf combined on a one-hitter for the Indians, striking out 10.

The Russellville-Harrisburg winner advances to Wednesday's quarterfinal against the winner of Elsberry (9-9) and Canton (12-5).

With a victory, Russellville would host Elsberry or travel to Canton.