CAPE LEGION SEES NO-HITTER, VICTORY VANISH IN NIGHTCAP

On the surface, splitting a doubleheader with American Legion District 14 powerhouse Dunklin County would appear to be a nice accomplishment for Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons.

But the way Monday night's twin bill at Capaha Field evolved, Cape was no doubt quite disappointed to only win one of the two games.

Cape, which won the opener 3-2, was within one out of not only recording a sweep but also getting a no-hit pitching performance from Justin Welker, who carried a 2-0 lead into the seventh of the nightcap.

Dunklin County, however, scored two runs in the frame to force extra innings, then pushed across two runs in the ninth and was able to squeeze out a 4-3 victory after Cape managed just a single tally in the bottom of the ninth.

Ford & Sons is now 17-15 overall and 12-6 in District 14 play. Dunklin County, which has won the past five district tournament titles and leads this year's regular-season race by a wide margin, is 21-6 overall and 13-1 in the district.

"We had a chance to win both games and it was disappointing the way it ended," said Cape manager Tom Reinagel. "But I think we showed we can play with a very good team like Dunklin County."

Welker very nearly pulled off a rare no-hitter. He appeared to be cruising heading into the seventh as he had retired all 12 batters from the third through the six.

Welker then retired the first two batters handily in the seventh as Cape closed in on the sweep. But Welker walked No. 8 hitter Ben Pfeffer and then No. 9 man Billy Palmer got Dunklin County's first hit, a clean ground-ball single to left that barely eluded the diving attempt of Cape third baseman John Snider.

Leadoff batter Brian Lacy then drilled a single to center, scoring Pfeffer, and Palmer was able to also come home on a throwing error.

"Justin pitched such a great game," Reinagel said. "It was a shame he couldn't quite finish it off."

Even though Welker lost his no-hit bid and ended leaving the mound in the eighth, Cape still had a golden opportunity to record the sweep as it loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth.

But Dunklin County standout hurler Nathan Baker somehow worked out of that jam.

"That was a back-breaker," said Reinagel. "We should have won the game right there."

Dunklin County finally went ahead for good in the ninth off Jay Pierce, who had replaced Welker in the eighth. Lacy broke the tie with an RBI double and Derek Cunningham added an RBI single that would loom large.

In the bottom of the ninth, pinch-hitter Jason Chavez doubled with one out and Shane Kistner delivered an RBI single. But the threat ended there.

In seven-plus innings, Welker allowed one earned run and two hits while fanning five, walking four and hitting two batters. Pierce, who suffered the loss, gave up two runs and three hits in two innings.

Baker was fabulous for Dunklin County in pitching all nine innings. He allowed eight hits, with 14 strikeouts and four walks.

"He did a tremendous job for them," Reinagel said.

The same could be said for Chavez in the opener as Cape's ace won a duel from Dunklin County's Dustin Pritchett.

Chavez, who is now 8-1 his lone loss was a close decision to Dunklin County on the opening date of the season allowed five hits and no earned runs in seven innings. He fanned six and walked one.

"Jason pitched another great game," said Reinagel. "He and Justin have really come around to give us a great one-two punch and that makes me feel good with the districts coming up later this month."

Cape broke a 2-2 tie by scoring the game-ending run in the bottom of the seventh. Timmy Wencewicz led off with a double, was sacrificed to third by Pierce and scored on Snider's single.

Pritchett allowed five hits in 6 1/3 innings. He fanned two and walked three.

Ford & Sons had 13 total hits in the two games. Snider had two in the opener while Kistner delivered two in the nightcap.

For Dunklin County, which had 10 total hits, Cunningham had two in the opener and Lacy got a pair in the nightcap.