Area digest

Long strikes out 19 for Jackson in Legion win

Jackson starter Kyle Long struck out 19 batters in a complete-game shutout to help stave off elimination in a Senior Legion District 14 game Wednesday night.

Long allowed only five hits in a 1-0 win over Poplar Bluff. Jackson's only run came in the bottom of the fifth. Brandon Gendron doubled with one out and Jason Owen singled to drive Gendron home.

Jackson will next face Chaffee, which eliminated Sikeston 11-8 in the first elimination game.

Chaffee trailed early but used seven runs over the seventh and eighth innings to stay alive in the tournament. Both teams benefited from sloppy defensieve efforts and combined for 11 unearned runs.

Zach Horman picked up the win for Chaffee on his home field, pitching 4 1/3 innings of three-hit relief. Eric O'Hare started for Chaffee and allowed six runs, four earned, on eight hits.

Nathan Seyer, Ryne Wood and O'Hare each had two hits and two RBIs apiece. Horman added two hits and two runs, and Joey Bickings had two RBIs and two runs.

Capahas pick up win against St. Louis Spikes

Justin Simpher pitched a complete game for the Cape Girardeau Craftsman Union Capahas in an 8-4 win over the the St. Louis Spikes on Wednesday.

Simpher struck out eight batters and walked one. Simpher was aided by 13 Capaha hits, led by Dave Lawson's 3-5 performance. Adam Garrett, Lance Seasor and Justin Welker had two hits apiece for the Capahas.

The Capahas improved to 30-5 and will return to St. Louis for a game today.

Blose tied for sixth in stroke-play tournament

Cape Girardeau's James Blose shot a 71 Wednesday in the first round of the Missouri Stroke Play Championships at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis.

Blose sits tied for sixth place three strokes behind Antonio Serrano of Springfield. Jackson's Mark Allen is six strokes back with a 74.

Graviett to play baseball at Mineral Area College

Oran all-state pitcher Trey Graviett has signed to play baseball next season at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo.

Graviett, who bats right and throws left, led the Eagles to a second-place finish in Class 1 and was selected the Southeast Missourian Player of the Year. Graviett was a double threat for Oran while batting .475 with eight home runs. He compiled an 8-1 record and 1.52 ERA on the mound and struck out 91 batters in 64 1/3 innings.

Southeast tennis players earn academic honors

Southeast Missouri State University tennis players Andrea Aldana and Kay Ehlke are two of 301 women's Division I tennis athletes to be chosen as an International Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete this season.

To earn ITA Scholar-Athlete status, a player must be a varsity letter winner and have a grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) for the current academic year.

Aldana and Ehlke were the only players chose from the Ohio Valley Conference.

Elfrink, Vandevin win SEMO horseshoe event

Tyler Elfrink and Jacob Vandevin won the SEMO Horseshoe Association event Sunday at Scott City Park in Scott City.

On Saturday, the pair of Cori Stoverink and Dennis McMillan won an event in New Hamburg, Mo.

Sixth annual Wiffleball tournament this weekend

The 2003 Wackfest, an annual Whiffleball tournament, is scheduled for this weekend. Eight teams will participate in the round-robin event.

Games will be played all day Saturday and will resume at 10:30 a.m. Sunday with the championship at 3 p.m.

Spectators are welcome at 3915 State Highway W.

-- From staff reports