Cape Legion team breaks its district title drought

Cape Girardeau's Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team had last won a district championship back in 1995, and the squad talked often about breaking that drought this season.

And during the District 14 Tournament that ended Friday in Chaffee, Cape certainly appeared to be a team on a mission.

After having a close call in its opening game against Sikeston -- Cape was fortunate to hold on for a 7-6 victory --Ford & Sons left no doubt in its other two contests, routing Dunklin County 16-7 and then 13-0 in seven innings to claim the title.

Ford & Sons' impressive tournament performance came on the heels of a bumbling finish to the regular season when the squad lost its final three games while committing a whopping 13 errors.

But Cape showed that momentum entering the tournament wasn't needed, and the team righted itself in a big way. In addition to receiving powerful offense -- featuring 34 hits in the two wins over Dunklin County -- and solid pitching, Ford & Sons had only two tournament errors and none in the final two games.

There is no doubt that District 14 was weaker at the top this season than it has been in some time -- perennial powerhouse Dunklin County was way down, and arguably Sikeston's top three players did not participate in Legion ball --but that doesn't diminish Cape's impressive run through the district's regular season and tournament.

Often it's toughest to win when you're supposed to. Cape entered the tournament as the heavy favorite and backed it up.

Now Ford & Sons will test itself against the St. Louis area's premier squads when the five-team Zone 4 Tournament is held Thursday through Saturday at Heine Meine Field in St. Louis. Cape will play the District 10 winner -- either Creve Coeur or Ballwin, who played for their tournament title Saturday night --at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

The zone champion earns a berth in the American Legion State Tournament, which Cape hasn't advanced to since 1995. It will be tough getting there, but if Ford & Sons keeps playing like it did in Chaffee, the team should have a fighting chance.

After being largely overlooked by Division I programs for the last few months, Ford & Sons standout shortstop Seth Hudson will be able to realize his dream of playing Division I baseball after all when he attends Murray State to compete for the Thoroughbreds.

The hard-nosed, speedy Hudson -- who led Cape with nine hits in the district tournament -- is probably as good a player as there is in the area but his lack of size no doubt scared off many recruiters.

Now Hudson will get the chance to prove many of the so-called experts wrong. After seeing him play most of the summer, I wouldn't bet against him.

After quite a few anguishing days of not knowing where they stood, the Craftsman Union Capahas finally received their 18th consecutive bid to the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan. They play their first tournament game Saturday.

And before leaving town, the Capahas will hold a youth baseball camp from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Capaha Field.

The cost of the camp, open to boys and girls ages 7 and up, is $35, which includes lunch Thursday. Capahas manager Jess Bolen and his players will do the instructing. Youngsters can sign up at Capaha Field prior to the camp Wednesday, or they can enroll by calling Bolen at 335-6644.

Southeast Missouri State University's football team already has been picked to win its first Ohio Valley Conference title by Street & Smith's magazine.

On Monday, the Indians will learn if the OVC people supposedly in the know -- the head football coaches and sports information directors -- also think they'll be the league's premier squad as the conference's annual media day is held in Nashville, Tenn.

No matter how the official OVC preseason poll turns out, expectations are sky-high surrounding Southeast football as the Indians return 19 starters from the program's most successful team since 1969.

I was saddened to learn of the death of Frank Osborn, and my sympathies go out to his family.

I got to know Frank fairly well over the years through his work as the official timekeeper for Southeast and Central High School football games at Houck Stadium -- a position he had held since 1978.

Frank was a great guy, and I always looked forward to talking sports with him prior to just about every Southeast or Central home football game I've covered. He will be sorely missed in the Houck Stadium press box.

Central High School product Craig Scheer was the first selection of the St. Louis Steamers during the Major Indoor Soccer League expansion draft held a few days ago.

Scheer, a 1994 Central graduate, played with the MISL champion Baltimore Blast this year.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.