CHAFFEE CAPTURES ZONE TITLE

SENATH, Mo. -- Chaffee Medicap Pharmacy is headed to the American Legion State Tournament for the first time, thanks to a wild victory here Sunday afternoon.

Chaffee built an 11-1 lead after four innings but had to hold off a furious Festus rally before prevailing 11-10 in the championship game of the five-team Zone Tournament.

By winning for the 35th time in its last 37 games, Chaffee improved to 47-10. The four-team state tourney begins Thursday in Columbia, Mo.

"It's exciting for our program," said Chaffee manager Jeff Graviett. "We're one of four teams left in the state. It's a pretty remarkable accomplishment for these kids."

For a while Sunday, it looked like Chaffee would roll into state. Chaffee scored three times in the bottom of the first inning, including G.P. Glueck's leadoff home run.

Justin Simpher's two-run homer in the third made it 5-0. Leading 5-1, Chaffee exploded for six runs in the fourth, the big blow being Todd Friend's three-run homer. It was Friend's second homer of the tournament.

But Festus (35-11) stormed back, scoring twice in the fifth, four times in the sixth and three times in the seventh.

Simpher, who had pitched all nine innings of a Friday win, came through with three scoreless frames for a well-deserved save, allowing two hits and striking out four.

"Justin was the man today," said Graviett. "He threw nine great innings Friday and he came back with three more today."

Matt Stroup was the winner. In five-plus innings, he allowed seven runs (three earned) and six hits, with five strikeouts and four walks.

Adam Friga replaced Stroup in the sixth as Festus was rallying and got three big outs but he ran into trouble during a three-run Festus seventh as Simpher took over.

Chaffee had 14 hits. Simpher led the way with three hits and four RBIs. Friend had two hits and four RBIs while John O'Rourke, Jon Heuring and Garrett Cook all added two hits.

"Festus is a great team and they kept coming," Graviett said. "We showed a lot by being able to hold on."