CAPE HANDS DUNKLIN CO. ITS FIRST DISTRICT LOSS

In the nightcap of an American Legion doubleheader Wednesday, Cape Ford & Sons pitcher Dustin Glastetter played the recent role of Randy Johnson. And Dunklin County starter Chris McClain was Jose Jimenez.

McClain tossed a seven-inning no-hitter, out-dueling Glastetter as Ford & Sons dropped the second game 3-0 after handing Dunklin County an 8-2 loss -- its first in district play -- in the opener.

Glastetter pitched brilliantly in the nightcap, allowing three runs (none earned) on just five hits. He fanned eight and walked three, but, like Johnson in his past three stellar starts, had a loss to show for it.

With the split, Cape maintained its .500 status at 16-16 overall. It is 6-5 in league play.

"`Glas' shut them out for seven innings," said Ford & Sons manager Ron Michel. "Our defense let him down there in the seventh.

"But we threw two of our best pitchers tonight. All we had to do was score runs and play some defense. We did that in the first game, but we didn't get the defense when we needed it in the second game."

Dunklin County (24-5, 13-1) broke a the scoreless tie in the top of the seventh inning. With runners at first and second, Glastetter induced a ground ball which was an ideal double-play ball. Cape Shortstop Steve Fowler fielded the chopper in stride toward second base and forced out the runner, but his throw to first sailed into the visitors' dugout, allowing a run to score and the batter, Brandon Irions, to advance to second.

Irions scored when the next batter, Jon Blinkard singled up the middle.

Blinkard, who stole second, scored on a single through the left side.

Cape's batters, meanwhile, were clueless as how to hit McClain.

McClain fanned nine and only two balls left the infield. Cape did manage seven base runners (four walks and three errors). But McClain didn't even let a runner reach third.

"He was way too good for us," Michel said. "He had a strange motion an we couldn't pick up the ball. He had a nice change too."

Cape center fielder Tommy Wencewicz saved a run in the third when, with two outs, he made a diving catch on a lazy fly ball. He stranded a runner at second base.

Unlike the nightcap Cape didn't have troubles swinging the bat in the opener.

Ford & Sons punched eight runs across on eight hits and handed Dunklin County its first district loss.

Garrett Broshuis dominated on the mound, giving up two runs (one earned) on just four hits. He fanned seven and walked two.

Dunklin County's batters repeatedly swung late on Broshuis' fastball.

Offensively, Cape scored at least one run in every inning but the third.

The most damage came in the fourth when Cape scored three runs on just two hits to extend its lead to 5-0.

Dunklin County starting pitcher Landon Kersey literally gave Cape four runs. The southpaw balked home a run, gave up two runs on wild pitches and walked home another.

Designated hitter Mark Fisher and first baseman Matt Bollinger each drove in two runs and had two hits apiece. Fisher also drew a walk and scored. Bollinger scored twice and reached on an error.

Nathan Essner, Cape's left fielder, also had two hits -- both bunt singles. he also walked twice and scored once.

Dunklin County scored both of its runs in the seventh on an RBI triple by Brandon Swindle. Swindle scored on a throwing error.

Michel is already looking forward to Saturday for a doubleheader rematch with Dunklin County.

"We'll go down there and pick up two more wins," he predicted.