Cape Legion tops tournament host

The Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons American Legion baseball team rebounded from a Friday loss to beat host Blytheville, Ark., 2-1 on Saturday in the Cason Classic.

Cape (6-11), which committed seven errors in a 10-7 loss to Marissa, Ill., in the tournament opener, finishes the four-team event today with two games, against Marissa at 2 p.m. and Dunklin County at 4 p.m.

Lee Essner posted his second complete-game victory of the week. He allowed just one hit in seven innings, striking out three and walking two. The only hit he gave up was a leadoff double in the fourth inning as Blytheville scored an unearned run.

Scott Brueckner had three of Cape's eight hits, including a double. Cory Huskey drove in both runs, on RBI singles in the first and fifth innings. Patrick Slattery also added two hits.

"It was a really good game for us, and Lee pitched great," Cape coach Michael Minner said.

Dunklin County is 2-0 in the tournament, Cape and Marissa are both 1-1, and Blytheville is 0-2.