CHAFFEE IN NEED OF ONE MORE WIN

SENATH, Mo. -- The Chaffee Medicap Pharmacy American Legion baseball team evidently likes making things interesting.

With a chance to win the Zone Tournament, Chaffee suffered a 6-4 loss to Festus Saturday night in the championship round as Medicap Pharmacy suffered its first tourney loss.

Chaffee and Festus will square off at 1 p.m. today in the if-necessary title contest of the five-team, double-elimination event. The winner earns a berth in the American Legion State Tournament in Columbia, Mo.

Last weekend, during the District 14 Tournament that was also played here, Chaffee also had a chance to win the title without a loss but ended up having to go to the if-necessary Sunday game before capturing the crown.

"I guess we like to do it the hard way," said Chaffee manager Jeff Graviett. "Hopefully this tournament will end up like the last one for us."

Chaffee, which beat Festus 10-5 in Thursday's zone opener, saw its record dip to 46-10. Festus, which has bounced back with four tournament victories after that initial defeat, is 35-10.

Festus, playing in the finals just a short time after eliminating host Dunklin County 5-4 in 14 innings in the loser's bracket final, jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings and then held off Chaffee.

Josh Thomas pitched all nine innings for Festus, allowing eight hits and striking out nine.

"We had opportunities all game long but we couldn't capitalize," Graviett said. "They made the plays and their pitcher did a great job."

Chaffee starter G.P. Glueck suffered the loss. In six innings, he allowed all six runs and six hits, with four strikeouts and three walks. Scott Eftink hurled one-hit, shutout ball over the final two frames.

Perry Rice and Andrew DePeder each had two hits for Chaffee, which scored three fourth-inning runs to pull within 4-3. Festus went up 6-3 in the sixth and Chaffee could manage only a final run in the seventh.

Late Friday night, Chaffee knocked off Dunklin County 11-5 in the winner's bracket final despite falling behind 4-0 in the first inning.

Chaffee rallied with two in the first and one in the second, then exploded with seven in the third to take control.

Justin Simpher survived the shaky beginning and pitched all nine innings, fanning nine and allowing just five hits.

"Justin settled down and threw real well," said Graviett.

Matt Stroup had three of Chaffee's 10 hits while Rice added two.

Stroup, Chaffee's ace hurler who beat Festus Thursday, will get the nod today, just as he did during the if-necessary game of the district tourney.

"That's why winning Friday was so big, so we'd have Matt ready in case we had to go to the if-necessary game," said Graviett. "We feel good with Matt on the mound."

But Graviett knows things won't be easy.

"Festus has a very good team and we know it's going to be a battle," he said.