Bhatt shoots for state tennis; Mules run in district

By BRIAN ROSENER ~ DAR Sports Editor

Malay Bhatt played today for a third straight trip to the state tennis tournament while Poplar Bluff's track, baseball and soccer teams prepared for their district showdowns.

The Poplar Bluff senior was scheduled to play Carlos Espinosa of Eureka this morning at the Creve Coeur Racquet Club near St. Louis with the winner advancing to the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 singles championship match.

Bhatt, who is the second seed and defending champion, can qualify for his third trip with a win, then face either topseeded Thomas Wolff of Lindbergh or Parkway South's Michael Delcau for the district title.

The semifinal match was not completed at presstime.

Poplar Bluff's track teams will travel Saturday to Hillsboro for the Class 4 District meet after winning the SEMO Conference title earlier this week.

"If people do what they did at conference, we're going to be alright," Mules coach Lance Bell said. "We're going to have to have some people step up."

Lindbergh is the defending district champions and the team to beat in the field of 11 schools.

"They're solid in everything," Bell said of the Flyers.

So to were the Mules to win the SEMO title, winning eight events from the field to the track.

Before the meet Monday, it had been two and a half weeks since Poplar Bluff had competed in a meet. Bell said the rainy and cold weather this spring has made it tough to get in practices as well.

"A lot of kids this is the first year they've come out so they don't have a lot of races under their belt," Bell added. "The more they can race the better off they'll be."

That's especially true for the relay teams concerning handoffs and sprinters who need good reaction times when starting. Athletes with multiple events are also not use to the recovery time.

"They were fresh (Monday)," Bell said.

Poplar Bluff has just one defending district champion back in Philip Klaproth, who took the shot title last spring with a throw of 51-feet, 1-inch. Monday he cleared 51-4 to win.

The top four spots in each event advance to next week's sectional meet. The field events start at 11 a.m. Saturday.

SOCCER: The Lady Mules will play host Hillsboro at 5 p.m. Monday in the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 tournament. The winner advances to play topseeded Jackson on Tuesday with the championship Thursday.

BASEBALL: The Mules will play Seckman at 6:15 p.m. Monday at Jackson in the MSHSAA Class 4 District 1 opener. The winner advances to play second-seeded Hillsboro at the same time Tuesday with the winner advancing to play in the championship set for Thursday.