Cape grabs win when Sikeston forfeits

~ Sikeston didn't have enough players to compete Wednesday.

The Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team kept alive its hopes of winning a district title without taking the field.

Cape, which is hosting the District 14 tournament, earned a forfeit victory in Wednesday's scheduled 5 p.m. losers bracket game against Sikeston.

Ford & Sons coach Dave Meyr said Sikeston coach Todd Baker called him after Cape's team had arrived at Capaha Field to say Sikeston did not have enough players to compete in the game.

District rules mandate that teams must have 12 players in uniform to start a district tournament contest.

"He just said they didn't have enough players," Meyr said. "At least we get to save a pitcher this way."

A somewhat similar situation happened to the squads during the 2005 District 14 tournament in Senath, Mo.

Cape was scheduled to play Sikeston in the losers bracket final that year. Sikeston showed up with only 11 players and had to forfeit.

Second-seeded Ford & Sons (29-19) opened the five-team tournament Tuesday night with a 12-4 loss to third-seeded Dunklin County.

Cape will play fifth-seeded Jackson at 5 p.m. today in another elimination game. The winner advances to today's 8 p.m. losers bracket final.

Fourth-seeded Sikeston is the first team to be eliminated from this year's tournament.