BEST MORTGAGE FALLS IN DISTICT TOURNEY

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau's Best Mortgage Junior American Legion baseball team fell one victory short of the District 14 Tournament championship.

Top-seeded Sikeston, which had lost to second-seeded Cape Sunday to fall into the loser's bracket, defeated Best Mortgage twice Monday to claim the title. Scores were 5-0 and 8-2.

Sikeston will take a 40-7 record into the zone tourney. Cape ends its impressive season at 39-11.

"We didn't play very well today and nothing went our way, like it had all year." said Cape coach Matt Welker. "But Sikeston has a really good team."

Blake DeWitt pitched a seven-hit shutout in the first game, with nine strikeouts.

Lee Essner hurled all seven innings for Cape, allowing 10 hits. He fanned five and walked one.

Mitch Craft led Cape's offense with two hits.

In the final, deciding contest, Lance Rhodes pitched six innings for the victory.

Matt Wulfers took the loss as he allowed eight hits and seven runs -- but just one earned run -- in 3 2/3 innings. Jason Gibson gave up one run in 1 1/3 innings and John Thies hurled a scoreless frame.

Cape again had seven hits, two by Seth Hudson.

"It was disappointing today, but we had a great season and I'm really proud of the guys," Welker said.