CAPE LEGION SPLITS AGAINST PERRYVILLE

The American Legion color guard was out in full force and former longtime area umpire Mark Seyer threw out the first pitch.

Cape Girardeau's Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team certainly opened its home schedule in grand style Monday evening at Capaha Field.

And as far as the actual playing was concerned, things could not have been much more exciting as Ford & Sons and Perryville exchanged a pair of 6-5 victories, Cape prevailing in the opener and the visitors triumphing in the nightcap.

In the first game, Cape trailed 5-3 entering its final regulation at-bat in the bottom of the seventh inning. Tyler Schlosser led off with a single and Jason Chavez and T.J. Erlacker followed with singles, Erlacker's hit driving in a run to make it 5-4.

A double play brought home the tying tally, then Shane Kistner ended the contest in dramatic fashion with a walk-off home run over the 380-foot sign in left-center field.

Kistner, Justin Welker, Travis Wissman and Dusty Barrows each had two of Cape's 10 hits.

Chavez was the winning pitcher, in relief, as he hurled the final inning, allowing a run on two hits. Starter Jay Pierce gave up six hits and four runs -- just one earned -- in 5 2/3 innings. Richard Harrison retired the final batter in the sixth.

Brandon Carroll doubled twice and had three of Perryville's eight hits. He also drove in three runs. Mark Scholl added two hits for Perryville.

Colby Palisch pitched all seven innings and took the loss.

It was then Perryville's turn to score the winning run in the seventh. The nightcap was tied 5-5 and Perryville's first two batters were retired in the top of the frame. But Andrew Meyr walked and scored on a bang-bang play at the plate after a double by Ryan Brown.

Cape had eight hits, led by Kistner with two and two RBIs. Welker and Barrows also had two hits apiece.

Starter Mark Wittenborn allowed four hits and five runs just two earned in four innings. Luke Johnson suffered the loss even though he allowed just one run on three hits in three innings.

Brown and Tyler Wengert each had two of Perryville's seven hits, with Brown delivering two RBIs.

Jon Meisner notched the victory with 2 2/3 innings of shutout relief, allowing two hits. Starter Wengert gave up six hits and five runs in 4 1/3 innings.

"We battled all night and at this point, with us playing different combinations, that's all I can ask," said Cape manager Tom Reinagel, whose squad has a 1-3 record.

Ford & Sons will be back in action Wednesday when Festus visits Capaha Field for a 7:30 p.m. single game.