Cape's season ends in zone tournament

The Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons Post 63 American Legion baseball team made a solid run in the Zone 4 tournament after dropping its first game.

But Cape had no answer for Eureka, so Post 63's season is over.

Eureka handed Cape both its tournament losses, including Sunday's 11-6 decision in the losers bracket final of the five-team, double-elimination event at Capaha Field.

Cape began the tournament with Friday's 10-0 loss to Eureka. Post 63 bounced back Saturday to rout American Veterans 19-6 and beat Dunklin County 5-3 in a contest that didn't end until after midnight.

"Losing that first game makes it tough. We had a long way to go," Cape coach Todd Pennington said. "We played our hearts out last night and we just couldn't pull it out today."

Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons Post 63 American Legion shortstop Jimmy Obermark reacts to the umpire's call at second as Eureka Post 177 base runner Stephen Leuthauser steadies himself after his slide Sunday during the Zone 4 tournament at Capaha Field. (Laura Simon)

Festus (24-3) went on to repeat as zone champion, beating Eureka (35-9) 7-2. Defending state champion Festus, which finished the zone undefeated, advances to this week's state tournament in Sedalia.

Cape finished with a 39-13 record, placing third in the zone for the second straight season after winning District 14 titles both years.

"We had a good bunch of guys, and I enjoyed all of them," Pennington said. "They played their hearts out this year. That's all you can ask."

Post 63 fell behind 8-1 on Sunday before scoring four runs in the top of the seventh inning. Cape still had the bases loaded with one out but a double play allowed Eureka to avoid further damage.

Down 9-5, Cape scored an eighth-inning run and had the bases loaded with two outs.

Jimmy Obermark then nearly put Post 63 ahead as his fly ball that went over the left-field fence was ruled foul. Obermark then grounded out.

"We were all hoping it was going to go fair," Cape's Blake Smith said.

"It was close," Pennington said.

Eureka added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to end the scoring.

"We played hard. It just didn't go our way today," Smith said.

Cape had a chance to grab an early lead as it placed runners on second and third with nobody out in the first inning. But Post 63 failed to score.

"We had our chances," Pennington said.

Eureka took advantage of a second-inning error to plate two unearned runs.

It was 5-0 before Cape finally got on the board in the fifth inning, but a brilliant defensive play prevented Post 63 from perhaps having a big rally.

A walk, two singles and an outfield error made it 5-1 and left runners on first and third with one out.

Ryan Grigaitis then drilled a ground ball up the middle that looked like it would reach center field for another hit.

But shortstop Stephen Kohler made a diving stop behind second base. He stepped on the bag for a force and fired to first to complete the double play.

"We just couldn't catch a break," Grigaitis said. "We hit balls hard all day."

Smith and Jake Pewitt both had three of Cape's 13 hits. Grigaitis had two hits and two RBIs. Skylar Cobb added two hits.

Logan Morris took the loss, allowing eight hits and eight runs (six earned) in 5 1/3 innings.

Brandon Weir and Adam Driggs both had three of Eureka's 13 hits. Phil Bodenschatz pitched 6 1/3 innings for the victory. Austin Lewis finished up for a save.

Post 63 came up with perhaps the defensive play of the tournament in defeat.

In the fifth inning, third baseman Dustin Crowden reached over the fence in front of the Post 63 dugout to catch a foul pop fly right before he tumbled over the fence.

Crowden, upon getting to his feet, was immediately met by a congratulatory bear hug from assistant coach Steve Williams.

Cape holds off Dodgers

Saturday's late contest saw Post 63 build a 5-1 lead and then hold on to eliminate District 14 rival Dunklin County (38-10).

Cobb notched the victory. Cape's ace left-hander allowed an unearned run and three hits in six innings. He struck out 10, walked four and hit two batters. Cobb fanned eight over the first three innings.

Trenton St. Cin, who has seen only spot pitching duty this year, earned a save by finishing up with three strong innings.

St. Cin allowed two seventh-inning runs on wild pitches as Dunklin County pulled within 5-3. But he blanked the Dodgers over the final two frames. He gave up four hits, struck out four and walked three.

Cobb had three hits and two RBIs. Grigaitis also had three of Cape's nine hits.