Several district softball crowns to be decided today

If softball district championship games weren't already scheduled for today, Friday's rain made sure they are now.

Six games this afternoon will feature area teams bidding to advance to the state tournament in their respective classes.

The Jefferson City Lady Jays (17-8) will take on the Rock Bridge Bruins (19-8) for the Class 4 District 8 title at noon today.

Jefferson City, the top seed, advanced with a 12-1 win against Battle. Third-seeded Rock Bridge moved on with a 4-1 victory against Hickman. Those semifinals were played at Battle, but the title game will be on the artificial turf at Hickman.

Jefferson City defeated Rock Bridge 7-3 in eight innings in a Sept. 11 meeting in Columbia.

The Jefferson City-Rock Bridge winner will host either Troy (22-4-1) or Holt (23-4) in the sectional game Wednesday.

The Helias Lady Crusaders (20-5) will meet the Mexico Lady Bulldogs (22-4) for the Class 3 District 8 crown at noon today in Ashland.

The second-seeded Lady Crusaders defeated Fulton 8-2 in the semifinals, while top-seeded Mexico edged Southern Boone 1-0.

The teams split a pair of meetings this season, with each taking a 3-2 victory.

The Helias-Mexico winner will host St. Dominic (13-8) or Hannibal (9-10) in a sectional contest Wednesday.

The Blair Oaks Lady Falcons (23-4) will take on the Fatima Lady Comets (14-12) for the Class 2 District 9 title at 3 p.m. today on the artificial surface at South Callaway.

Blair Oaks, the No. 1 seed, was a 5-0 winner against Linn in the semifinals. Fatima, the No. 2 seed, topped Eugene 9-1 in its semifinal.

Blair Oaks defeated Fatima 11-0 on Sept. 27 in Wardsville.

The Blair Oaks-Fatima game is the second of a district title doubleheader in Mokane. The Class 2 District 8 championship game between top-seeded Father Tolton (16-8) and second-seeded North Callaway (14-12) is slated for a 1 p.m. start.

The Blair Oaks-Fatima winner will play Wednesday at the District 10 champion - either Iberia (18-5) or Cuba (13-9).

The California Lady Pintos (15-9) will look to continue their run through the Class 2 District 13 tournament when they play Holden (23-6) at 4 p.m. in Higginsville.

California, the No. 4 seed, edged Versailles 2-1 in the opening round before topping top-seeded Sherwood 3-2 in nine innings in Thursday's semifinal. Second-seeded Holden blanked Knob Noster 10-0 in the semifinals.

The California-Holden winner will play at the District 14 champion - either Lafayette County (7-15) or Richmond (10-13) in Wednesday's sectional.

The School of the Osage Lady Indians (16-8) will take on Sullivan (24-4) for the Class 3 District 10 title at 1 p.m. today in Sullivan.

Osage, the No. 2 seed, rolled to a 15-0 victory against West Plains in the semifinals, while top-seeded Sullivan blanked Salem 10-0.

Today's winner will host Borgia (17-5) or Union (16-8) in Wednesday's sectional.

The St. Elizabeth Lady Hornets (7-13) will look to hand Vienna (23-0) its first loss of the season today at 4 p.m. in the Class 1 District 5 title game in St. Elizabeth.

Third-seeded St. Elizabeth topped Russellville 4-2 in the semifinals, while Vienna was a 10-0 winner against Leeton.

Today's winner will play in the sectional Wednesday at Pilot Grove (22-3). The Lady Tigers defeated Jamestown 6-2 Friday to win the Class 5 District 6 title.