CAPE LEGION LOSES PAIR AT DUNKLIN CO.

SENATH, Mo. -- The Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team finished up its season-opening doubleheader late Friday night by dropping the nightcap to District 14 rival Dunklin County 5-4 in eight innings.

Dunklin County, the defending American Legion state champion, had also won the opener 4-2.

The squads ended the regulation seven innings tied 3-3. Cape took a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by Dusty Barrows, but two errors led to a pair of unearned runs by Dunklin County in the bottom of the eighth.

Barrows and Timmy Wencewicz both had two of Cape's eight hits in the second game. Ford & Sons had just 12 hits in the doubleheader.

Jay Pierce suffered the loss, in relief. Starter Justin Welker allowed just one hit but three runs (all earned) in 3 1/3 innings. Mark Wittenborn relieved Welker and John Snider, who replaced Wittenborn, hurled 2 1/3 scoreless frames.

"We made a lot of mistakes, but as a team we're young and we just need some more games," said Cape manger Tom Reinagel. "But I was proud of them for the way they battled."

Ford & Sons will play its first home games Monday when Perryville visits Capaha Field for a 6 p.m. doubleheader.

Chaffee Legion sweeps

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Chaffee Medicap Pharmacy Legion squad kicked off its season by winning a pair of extra-inning games from District 14 foe Poplar Bluff Saturday, 3-2 in eight innings and 10-9 in 10 innings.

Matt Stroup won a pitcher's duel from Blake Blue in the opener as both teams had just four hits. Stroup, working all eight innings, struck out eight and walked one.

Trailing 2-1, Chaffee tied it in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Perry Rice. Then in the eighth, Chaffee went ahead for good as Garrett Cook singled, stole second and scored on an error.

Three Chaffee hurlers combined for 18 strikeouts in the nightcap. Starter Scott Eftink fanned six while allowing six hits and five runs in three innings. Adam Friga fanned five and gave up one run on two hits in three innings. Winner Justin Simpher worked the final four frames, allowing three runs (none earned) on two hits, with seven strikeouts and three walks.

Stroup, Rice and Eftink all had two of Chaffee's nine hits.

"It wasn't pretty, but that's two wins and we'll take them," said Chaffee manager Jeff Graviett. "We got good pitching, but we didn't hit."

Cape Yankees rout Scott City

SCOTT CITY, Mo. -- The Cape Sr. Babe Ruth Yankees opened their season Saturday with a doubleheader sweep at Scott City, romping 13-3 in six innings and 24-0 in five innings.

In the first game, Cape had 10 hits. Ricky Renfroe tripled and doubled while driving in four runs. Arthur Pilsner had two hits and scored three runs and Matt Pobst added two hits.

Matt Wilson and Jeff McGreggor shared the pitching duties. Wilson went the first 2 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and one run. McGreggor, the winner, gave up three hits and two runs in 3 2/3 innings.

The Yankees had 15 hits in the nightcap, Renfroe again delivering a triple, a double and four RBIs. Garrett Williams had four hits and scored five runs, Chris Honey had two hits and five RBIs and Gabe Keys added two hits.

Again Cape used two hurlers. Winner Jim Davis went the first three innings, allowing two hits. Adam Ralls finished up, giving up one hit in two innings.

Cape Jr. Legions wins two

The Cape Best Mortgage Junior Legion squad remained perfect at 9-0 by sweeping visiting Perryville Saturday, winning 12-2 in five innings and 8-5.

In the opener, Jason Gibson pitched a one-hitter, with six strikeouts and three walks. Cape had 10 hits, including three home runs: by Mitch Craft, Josh Ford and Aaron Dohogne. Seth Hudson went 4-for-4 while Craft had two hits.

Cape had 12 hits in the nightcap, Ford, Dohogne, Chris Conrad, Mark Dunaway and Chris Daniel all getting two. Matt Wulfers, John Thies and Lee Essner all pitched, allowing nine hits and fanning eight.