Area digest 7/7/03

Capahas finish event with consolation title

VALMEYER, Ill. -- The Craftsman Union Capahas claimed the consolation trophy Sunday with a 4-2 win over Fairview Heights (Ill.) in a three-day tournament at Valmeyer.

The Capahas (25-2) took a 2-0 lead early on doubles by Lance Seasor and Steve Kress, then broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fourth on home runs by Kress and Dave Lawson -- his fourth in three tournament games.

John Nourie (5-0) pitched five innings of the win and gave up three of Fairview Heights' four hits. He struck out six and walked three. Justin Simpher closed with four strikeouts and no walks in two innings.

Kress finished 2-for-3.

The Capahas are off until the start of the NBC Regional Tournament on Friday. Tuesday's game against the Riverdogs was called off because Capaha Field will be unavailable.

Ford & Sons take fourth in Ballwin tournament

BALLWIN, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau's Ford & Sons American Legion team placed fourth in the Firecracker Classic Tournament with a 7-5 loss Sunday to Decatur, Ill.

Decatur scored five runs in a big fourth inning to go ahead for good. Blake Urhahn and Tyler Schlosser both were 4-for-5, and Sean Bard was 2-for-4 for Ford & Sons (17-11).

In a morning game, Ford & Sons finished its pool play with a 2-2 record after defeating Manchester 8-3. Schlosser was 3-for-5, and Urhahn, Chris Conrad and Luke McClellan had two hits apiece. Urhahn picked up the win.

Cape A's take late lead to win tournament

Chance Franklin hit a two-run triple in the bottom of the seventh inning to push the Cape Girardeau A's to a 3-2 win over Chaffee for the title Sunday in the Pop's Pizza Firecracker Classic for Senior Babe Ruth teams at Capaha Field.

Andy Ralls, who shared the MVP title with Chaffee's Chase Eskew, was 3-for-3 and Mark Dunaway was 2-for-3 for the A's. Tim Davis pitched all seven innings for the win and gave up three hits, struck out nine and walked five.

Eskew pitched all seven innings of the loss and allowed eight hits, a walk and struck out two. James Reischman was 2-for-3 with a triple.

In other finals Sunday, Dexter defeated Oran 5-2 for third place, and Steele defeated Charleston 12-6 for fifth place.

The complete all-star team list appears onPage 2B.

Standridge takes over for fourth ATPR sprint win

BENTON, Mo. -- Defending sprint division champ Robbie Standridge of Springfield, Ill., passed early leader Jason Evans of Sikeston, Mo., to win for the fourth time this season in the class Saturday at AutoTire and Parts Racepark.

Evans was second and Chad Souders third.

Rusty Griffaw of Festus, Mo., led defending track champ Chris Hall to the finish of the modified feature race in a reversal of the previous week's finish.

Dietrich Bollinger of Benton won in pure stocks over Chuck Tilley and Danny Hampton.

Complete results appear on Page 2B.

Riverdogs drop a pair to unbeaten Centralia

CENTRALIA, Ill. -- The Riverdogs were swept by Centralia on the road late Saturday.

Centralia out-hit the Cape Girardeau team 11-3 in the first game and won 4-0 in seven innings. Steve Fowler took the loss with four runs, a walk and two strikeouts.

A two-run home run set the tone for the second game, a 9-3 Centralia win in five innings. The lead was 9-1 after three innings. Matt Davis pitched two innings for the los and gave up eight runs and seven walks. The Riverdogs (6-11) out-hit Centralia 6-5, led by two hits apiece from Shane Gibson and Adam Friga.

-- From staff reports