CAPE JUNIOR LEGION PUTS UP FIGHT BEFORE TOURNEY ELIMINATION

graphic: Junior American Legion State Tournament

(at Capaha Field)

Thursday's Results

(Game 1): Jefferson City 6, Springfield Glendale 1

(Game 2): Cape SEMO Bank 10, Imperial 8

Friday's Results

(Game 3): Imperial 7, Springfield Glendale 3, Glendale eliminated

(Game 4): St. Joseph 6, Cape SEMO Bank 5

(Game 5): Imperial 4, Cape SEMO Bank 2, Cape eliminated

(Game 6): St. Joseph 3, Jefferson City 2,

Today's schedule

1 p.m. (Game 7): Imperial vs. Jefferson City

7 p.m. (Game 8): St. Joseph vs. Game 7 winner

(second game scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m., if no team is undefeated)

SUM: Local squad puts up hearty fight, but ousted from tournament.

Although they were the only team with a losing record in the 1997 Junior American Legion State Tournament at Capaha Field, the Cape SEMO Bank Braves proved to be more trouble than their record indicated.

After turning in the upset of the tournament Friday with 10-8 win over Imperial, SEMO Bank came crashing back to earth with two bitter losses Saturday. Cape lost 6-5 to St. Joseph in its first contest of the day, then Imperial got its revenge by eliminating SEMO Bank 4-2.

"Both games were disappointing because we were in good position to win both of them," said Braves' manager Chris Stanfield.

The losses ended Cape's season with a 16-27 mark. Imperial (32-6) advances to another elimination game today against Jefferson City at 1 p.m. St. Joseph will face the winner of that game in the championship final beginning at 7 p.m.

"I think we proved to everybody that we're a good ball club," said Stanfield in reference to SEMO Bank's automatic berth as host of the tournament. "Even though we didn't win our way here, we deserved being here."

Against Imperial, the score was tied 2-2 until the bottom of the fifth when Imperial pulled ahead with two runs.

After taking the loss in relief earlier in the day, Justin Cook battled back with a gutsy performance against Imperial. Cook -- who pitched in all three of Cape's tourney games -- went six innings for the complete game, allowing 10 hits.

"I knew he'd bounce back because Justin's the type of kid that doesn't let much bother him," Stanfield said. "He deserved better, we just didn't hit the ball."

SEMO Bank got only six hits off Imperial starter John Baybo. Ryan Fenwick and Tommy Wencewicz both had two hits for SEMO Bank.

After Imperial scored two runs in the first inning, Cape answered with two runs on two hits in the second. Griffan Reutzel and Wencewicz started the inning with singles and scored on a groundout and passed ball respectively.

SEMO Bank had baserunners in every inning after, but were unable to score again.

Earlier in the day, a three run rally by St. Joseph in the bottom of the seventh inning kept SEMO Bank from advancing into the winners' bracket final.

Cape held a 5-3 lead going into St. Joe's final time at-bat, but a bases-loaded walk to St. Joe's Mark Wahlert brought home Tom Higdon for the winning run to end the game.

After SEMO Bank starter Mark Ostendorf allowed the first two batters to reach safely in the seventh with a single and a walk, Stanfield went to the bullpen and brought in Cook. Ostendorf allowed eight hits, five walks and was charged with three earned runs.

St. Joe's Higdon and Nate Kanascky ripped back-to-back RBI singles off of Cook to tie the score 5-5. Two outs and a walk later the bases were loaded for Wahlert, who walked on a 3-1 pitch.

After St. Joseph took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, Cape came back with four runs on five hits in the third. RBI triples by Mike Sullivan and Tommy Wencewicz helped build SEMO Bank's lead. Wencewicz's triple plated two runs and made the score 4-2.

St. Joseph scored an unearned run in the fifth to close to 4-3, but an RBI single by Wencewicz in the seventh gave SEMO Bank an insurance run heading to the bottom of the inning.

Wencewicz, Sullivan and Reuztel all had two hits for SEMO Bank. Mark Fisher led Cape with three hits.

Kanascky went 3-for-4 to lead St. Joseph. Josh Snodgrass pitched the final three innings, allowing one run, for the win.

In other action, Imperial started the day by eliminating Springfield Glendale 7-3. Eric Tolie had two hits and two RBIs for Imperial. Doug Lorella pitched five innings for the win.