Cape rolls past Jackson 9-3

Ford and Sons runs winning streak to eight games.

By Jeremy Joffray ~ Southeast Missourian

Cape Girardeau Ford and Sons Senior Legion team put on an early fireworks display of its own Wednesday night at Capaha Park by banging out 17 hits in a 9-3 district win over Jackson.

The win was Cape's eighth straight and improved its record to 15-8 and 5-1 in the district. Jackson fell to 18-12 and 0-3 in the district.

"Cape's definitely in the driver's seat," Jackson coach Mark Lewis said.

While Ford and Sons coach Tom Reinagel wasn't pleased with his team's five-error performance, the team excelled in pitching and hitting. Cape got the bats going early using a four-hit two-out rally to jump ahead 3-0 after one inning.

Cape starter Blake Urhahn took the early lead and ran with it, striking out six hitters through three innings. Urhahn didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning, but a walk and an error allowed Jackson to get back in the game with two runs in the fourth.

Urhahn said a few walks aside, Wednesday's start was one of his best of the summer.

"I felt like it was up there with the one-hitter in Arkansas," he said. "I felt like I had pretty good control."

After Jackson closed the lead to three, Cape's offense went back to work. Ford and Sons added a run in the fifth and two more runs in the sixth to stretch the lead to 7-3.

"We've been hitting the ball well," Urhahn said.

While Cape's offense outhit Jackson 13-2 through six innings, Urhahn calmly went about his work on the mound. Urhahn settled down after a shaky fourth inning, struck out five more batters over the next three innings and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth to pick up his fifth win. Urhahn allowed only four hits -- one earned run -- and struck out 11.

John Thies came on in the eighth for Ford and Sons and pitched the final two innings to seal the win. Thies didn't allow a hit, struck out five and walked two. Cape pitchers combined for 16 strike outs in the game.

"We were getting John up for this weekend," Reinagel said. "We want to get these guys more work."

Jackson starter Austin McDowell lasted only 3 1/3 innings. McDowell allowed eight hits and five runs.

"We've been streaky," Lewis said. "We haven't been able to put it together. One day we're good, one day we're bad."

Chris Conrad led Cape's offense with a 3-for-5 performance. Patrick Slattery added three hits for Cape, and Wayne Essner and Matt Wulfers each had two hits. Cape leadoff batter Seth Hudson added a double and an inside-the-park home run.

"We ran into a hot club that's definitely swinging the bats well," Lewis said.

Reinagel said picking up a win against rival Jackson is always a plus.

"These kids play each other in high school, and it carries over," he said. "It's good to win. This was not our A game, but it's still a win."

Cape will take its winning streak to the Ballwin tournament over the weekend, while Jackson's next action will be a district game against Chaffee on Saturday.

"We need to get Chaffee," Lewis said. "We need to turn it around and get that first district win."

jjoffray@semissourian

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