Cape A's head back to Senior Babe Ruth state finals

The Cape Girardeau Senior Babe Ruth A's have new players, a new manager and they've even switched names this year. Through it all, their play has remained the same.

The A's, formerly the Cape Yankees, will make their third consecutive trip to the state tournament in Dexter starting today, but the team's first under new manager David Meyr. The team reached the tournament by winning its six-team conference, finishing with a league record of 16-1-1.

"It's a good feeling to go back to state again. That's what we shoot for every year. Winning the conference is kind of the first step," Meyr said.

Meyr, in his sixth year with the team, took over managerial duties for Jeff Glenn beginning this year. The A's finished with a record of 31-2-1, its best ever during Meyr's six years with the club.

Meyr credits the defense for the team's overall success.

"Pitching and defense is what really has made the team this year," he said.

The A's have pitched a combined 15 complete games, and the team ERA is a minute 2.67. A's pitchers have allowed only 3.6 runs per game.

Meyr says the club has always had good pitching, but never this deep.

Tim Davis (6-0) from Shawnee (Ill.) High School leads the team with a 1.03 ERA.

The A's have done it from the offensive end as well. They have a team batting average of .364, and eight players are hitting over .400, including team leader Andy Ralls. Ralls, the co-MVP of the Firecracker Classic tournament, is a Notre Dame Regional High School athlete who leads the A's with a .545 average.

In addition to the statistics, the team has displayed a confidence that, has made the coaches' jobs easier.

"They respond really well to what the coaches tell them.

"You can tell that by the way they walk onto the field. We go onto the field not just thinking, but knowing we're going to win the game," Meyr said.

Only six players returned from last year's team, which went 1-2 in the state tournament. But he says he hasn't tried to do anything different in his first year as manager.

"I just pat them on the back and tell them to go do their job,"Meyr said, "and they do."

That confidence is the biggest reason why Meyr thinks this team "has what it takes" this year.