CAPE LEGION SWEEPS BLUFF, WINS DISTRICT

POPLAR BLUFF -- Cape Girardeau's Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team put the finishing touches on a regular-season District 14 championship here Saturday afternoon.

Ford & Sons continued its recent roll by sweeping a doubleheader from Poplar Bluff, winning the opener 13-1 in five innings and taking the second game 9-6.

Cape finishes the regular season with a 36-12 overall record and a 20-4 district mark. Ford & Sons earns the top seed for the District 14 Tournament that will be held Wednesday through Saturday in Sikeston.

"We're really playing good ball now," said Cape's first-year manager, Ron Michel, whose squad receives a first-round bye and will play at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in a semifinal game of the seven-team district tourney. "Everybody has stepped it up. Going 20-4 (in district play) is pretty impressive."

Ford & Sons romped in the opener Saturday as Ross Bennett had three hits, including a homer, and scored three runs. Cape finished with 10 hits.

Jeff Michel pitched the first three innings, allowing one hit and one run. Jeff Lappe hurled the final two frames in scoreless and hitless fashion.

Cape had 13 more hits in the nightcap, led by Dan Wittenborn, who went 4-for-5 and also made a brilliant diving catch at shortstop. Michel and Tatum Kitchen both added two hits while Trent Summers scored three times.

Chris Canfield pitched the first four innings, allowing all six runs. Jeff Beasley hurled a scoreless inning while Lanson DeBrock finished up with two scoreless frames.