Cape clicks on all cylinders

The Cape Girardeau American Legion baseball team played a complete game Wednesday to continue its late-season surge.

Cape Ford & Sons played solid defense, had a strong pitching performance from Lee Essner and pounded out 18 hits to defeat Metropolis, Ill., 14-0 in seven innings at Capaha Field.

Essner allowed just three hits to Post 306 -- singles in the first, fifth and sixth innings. Essner walked one and hit three batters, while striking out seven.

"He was in command all night," Cape coach Michael Minner said. "He got ahead in the count, and we played good defense behind him."

In addition to good pitching and good defense, Cape (16-22) hammered three Metropolis pitchers.

Ford & Sons had five hits in the first inning, when it took command with four runs. Kendal Deason tripled to lead off and Kent Deason followed with an RBI double. After Sean Bard walked, Scott Brueckner singled to score Kent Deason. Tony Leuckel singled to load the bases. Bard later scored on a Jason Schenimann sacrifice fly.

Post 63 added three more runs in the second inning. Kendal Deason reached base on an error and scored on a single by Kent Deason, who in turn scored on a single by Leuckel. Bard, who singled, scored on a bases-loaded walk to Zac Horman.

"Kent is tearing it up right now," Minner said. "That's why he was in the two-hole tonight and he continued to hit."

Kent Deason went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Horman went 3-for-3 with three RBI's.

The win was the second in two nights for Cape. Ford & Sons defeated conference opponent Sikeston 7-5 Tuesday night to improve to 4-2 in District 14. Sikeston fell to 3-3 in the district with the loss.

Cory Huskey pitched six innings for Cape to earn that win. Huskey was returning from a knee injury for the game against Sikeston. He started as the designated hitter against Metropolis, but after striking out in the first, Huskey was replaced by Jake Welch.

"He didn't look comfortable, and we didn't want to risk it, because we're going to need his pitching in the district," Minner said.

While Huskey should be ready for district play, Patrick Slattery will miss the rest of the season with a torn meniscus in his right knee suffered July 6 against Jackson in a game that was washed out after four innings.