American Legion Zone 4 Tournament team profiles

ANHEUSER-BUSCH

Record: 22-12

n Manager: Ron Clifton

Coaches: Mike Clifton, John LeClerc, Geoff Macy, Todd Robinson, Carl Lavall

n Top hitters: Jim Fulton (.410, 9 2B); Ron Martin (.380, 8 HR, 9 2B, 30 RBIs); Brian Shephard (.375, 4 3B, 10 2B); Ed Dodson (.360, 24 RBIs); Josh Morgan (.330, 3 HR)

Top pitchers: Martin (10-1, 0.75 ERA); Josh Morgan (2-5, 1.65)

n Noteworthy: Martin, a left-hander who will be a senior at St. Mary's High School in St. Louis, has pitched back-to-back seven-inning no-hitters, striking out 28. He is regarded as one of the state's top professional prospects for next year. ... A-B's pitching depth will be challenged as three hurlers recently left the team.CAPE GIRARDEAU

Record: 21-16

Manager: Tom Reinagel

n Coaches: Jeff Graviett, Bill Bohnert, Cory Crosnoe

Top hitters: Shane Kistner (.470, 3 HR, 39 R, 18 SB); Tyler Schlosser (.395, 4 3B, 9 2B, 30 RBIs, 30 R); Aaron Dohogne (.375); Dustin Tatum (.359, 4 HR, 35 R); Matt Wulfers (.351, 4 3B); Tim Wencewicz (.339, 5 HR, 10 2B, 28 RBIs, 32 R); Josh Ford (.327); Seth Hudson (.317, 40 R, 10 SB)

n Top pitchers: John Thies (8-3, 2.99); Jeff Brosey (2-3, 2.33); Wayne Essner (2-2, 3.37); Wulfers (3-1, 4.87); Mark Wittenborn (2-3, 4.82)

Noteworthy: Cape Girardeau had a solid regular season before fizzling in the district tournament, going just 1-2, but it gets a reprieve with an automatic zone berth by serving as the event's host, ... Cape led first-round opponent Festus most of the way during an early-season matchup before falling 8-7.DUNKLIN COUNTY

Record: 35-7

Manager: Jamie Johnson

n Coaches: Aaron Gurley

Top hitters: Billy Palmer (.443, 11 3B, 14 2B, 35 RBIs, 48 R); Nathan Baker (.389, 6 HR, 57 RBIs); Matt Thomas (.340, 9 HR, 49 RBIs, 45 R, 19 SB); Dustin Pritchett (.335, 32 RBIs, 43 R); Jeromy Lyons (.330, 58 R).

n Top pitchers: Baker (7-0, 1.66); Jonathon Winston (8-2, 3.40); Pritchett (2-0, 2.25); Tyler Boatwright (4-0, 3.71)

Noteworthy: Dunklin County has dominated District 14 in recent years, winning six of the past seven titles and advancing to zone play the last four years. ... Dunklin County finished second in the state in 1999 and won 2000 state crown on the way to a second-place regional finish. ... Baker has signed with Division I Southeast Missouri State University.

FESTUS

Record: 29-12

n Manager: Pat Bone

Coaches: Anthony Underwood, Matt Brown, Josh Thomas, Mike Walker, Barry Foster

n Top hitters: Johnny Mitchell (.488, 30 RBIs, 41 R); Nathan Picarella (.402, 7 HR, 4 3B, 15 2B, 46 RBIs, 50 R); Sam Hahn (.366, 3 HR, 13 2B, 35 RBIs); Jeff Melton (.365, 30 RBIs, 40 R); Scott Bremer (.360); Joe Ramey (.340, 4 HR, 28 RBIs); Adam Whitehead (.333, 4 HR, 43 R)

Top pitchers: Jake Habsieger (7-1, 3 S, 1.66); Denny Foster (6-0, 1.77); Andy Politte (4-2, 2.89); Tyler Norrick (3-3, 4.78)

n Noteworthy: Festus has won 21 of its last 22 games. ... Habsieger, a left-hander who was selected in the 44th round of this year's amateur draft but will instead pitch for Jefferson College, has 109 strikeouts in 67 innings. ... Norrick has signed with Division I Southern Illinois.OAKVILLE

Record: 33-9

Manager: Ryan Hetzer

n Coaches: Mike Wilhelm

Top hitters: Jason Perniciaro (.535, 3 HR, 21 2B, 61 RBIs, 45 R); Neil Graser (.401, 2 HR, 17 2B, 32 RBIs, 51 R); Jason Murray (.396, 29 RBIs); Kyle Kolb (.381, 5 HR, 18 2B, 43 RBIs); Andy Hecht (.378, 33 RBIs); Mike Merkel (.360, 15 2B, 35 RBIs, 46 R); Collin Milligan (.358).

Top pitchers: Murray (8-1, 1.00), Chris Jones (9-2, 1.54); Matt Boyer (6-2, 3.02)

n Noteworthy: Oakville emerged from rugged District 10 in St. Louis County for the second year in a row, led by a .360 team batting average and a strong pitching staff. ... Murray, Kolb and Jones have all signed with Division I Indiana State. ... Most of the key players returned from last year's squad that went 0-2 in the zone.

-- Marty Mishow