CAPE LEGION RIPS VAN BUREN TWICE

VAN BUREN -- Cape Girardeau's Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team enjoyed an extremely productive Sunday afternoon here by blitzing Van Buren in a doubleheader.

Ford & Sons won the nine-inning opener that counts toward the District 14 standings 9-3, then romped 9-1 in the seven-inning nightcap.

Cape is now 6-4 overall and 2-0 in District 14 play. Ford & Sons will host Perryville at 7:30 tonight in a non-district game at Capaha Field.

Travis Klipfel was the winning pitcher in the first game. He allowed five hits and two earned runs in five innings. Craig Ringwald hurled the final four innings in scoreless fashion, allowing just one hit while striking out six.

Ford & Sons belted three home runs, by Greg Craft, Todd Pennington and Shane Gibson. Craft's homer was a grand slam that highlighted a five-run Cape first inning.

Pennington went 4-for-5 to highlight Cape's 11-hit attack. Craft, Gibson and Nathan Essner all had two hits while Craft drove in five runs.

Joey McCullough got the win in the second game, allowing four hits and one run in six innings. He fanned five. Pennington fanned two during a hitless seventh.

Gibson, Ringwald, Andy Sweet and Michael Minner all had two of Cape's 12 hits. Minner doubled twice and had three RBIs while Ringwald added two RBIs.

Leading 2-0, Cape broke the game open with a five-run third.

Capahas games canceled

After being swept in a Saturday doubleheader at Evansville, Ind. -- and being outscored 18-3 in the process -- McDowell Capahas manager Jess Bolen was anxious for his team to get back on the field Sunday.

But a scheduled home doubleheader against Springfield, Ill., was wiped out when the visiting team experienced bus problems and could not make it to Cape Girardeau.

"It's not their fault, but it's disappointing," said Bolen. "The weather was great and we really wanted to play, especially after the way we played Saturday."

The Capahas, 5-3 on the season, will return to action Wednesday night at Fairview Heights, Ill.

Chaffee Junior Legion

KENNETT -- Chaffee split a road doubleheader with Dunklin County Sunday, losing 3-1 and winning 11-1.

Chaffee is now 8-4 overall and 5-1 in District 14 play.

In the opener, Brian Obermann was a tough-luck losing pitcher. He allowed just three hits and no earned runs while fanning eight.

Chaffee had eight hits, three by Travis Friga and two by John O'Rourke.

Matt Stroup got the win in the nightcap, hurling a five-hitter. He fanned nine.

Chaffee banged out 14 hits, led by G.P. Glueck with four. Lance Dohogne had three and Ryan Dennis two.

Chaffee is back in action tonight, hosting Mayfield, Ky., in a 6 o'clock doubleheader.