CAPE LEGION SWEEPS BLUFF

The Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team picked up a much-needed sweep Wednesday evening -- but it was far from easy.

Ford & Sons won both games of a doubleheader from visiting Poplar Bluff by a run, prevailing 7-6 and 6-5 at Capaha Field.

Cape improved to 9-10 overall and 4-4 in District 14 play. Poplar Bluff fell to 3-7 overall and 0-4 in the district.

"We really needed these two," said Cape manager Ron Michel. "It was tough, probably tougher than it needed to be. But we'll definitely take 'em."

Coming off a non-district doubleheader sweep at the hands of host Imperial Tuesday night, Ford & Sons was trying to break a three-game losing streak Wednesday.

Cape had to rally in both games after falling behind early. Poplar Bluff led 3-0 in the opener and 5-1 in the nightcap.

Garrett Broshuis was one of the main stars in the first game. He entered the contest in the fifth inning and had an RBI single during a three-run frame.

Then, in the sixth, with the score tied 6-6, Broshuis drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the eventual winning run.

And Broshuis, a basketball and baseball star at Advance High School, made sure personally that the lead would hold up.

After starter Dustin Glastetter walked the first two batters in the seventh, Broshuis moved from shortstop to the mound. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out the next three batters to earn a save and preserve the win for Glastetter.

Glastetter allowed five earned runs and eight hits in 6-plus innings. He fanned six and walked five.

In the second game, Cape used a five-run fifth to wipe out a 5-1 deficit.

Steve Fowler pitched all seven innings for the win. He allowed only five hits while fanning five and walking two. Four of the five runs he gave up were earned.

Cape had 23 hits in the twin bill, including 13 in the opener.

Nathan Essner had a big night with three hits in each game, including two doubles.

Broshuis, Mark Fisher and Mike Sullivan all added three hits in the doubleheader.

Mark Kiester had three of Poplar Bluff's 13 hits in the two games.

Cape will return to action this weekend in the Paducah (Ky.) Tournament, playing a two games both Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday, Cape will face Anheuser-Busch at 12:30 p.m. and Mt. Vernon, Ill., at 5:30 p.m.

During Tuesday's doubleheader at Imperial, Cape lost 8-7 and 8-4.

One of the highlights of the evening for Ford & Sons was another home run from Josh McIntosh, who belted his sixth round-tripper of the season.