CHAFFEE JUNIOR LEGION CLAIMS REGIONAL OPENER

CHAFFEE -- Chaffee Junior American Legion manager Jeff Graviett thought his team would do extremely well in the Mid-States Regional that features seven state champions along with Chaffee, the host squad.

Based on Friday's opening round of the eight-team event, Graviett could be right on the money.

Chaffee, in the final game of the night, pounded Kansas City (Kan.) 11-4. Chaffee improved its record to 41-3.

In other games, Germantown (Tenn.) beat Longmont (Colo.) 8-6, St. Joseph (Mo.) routed Searcy (Ark.) 14-4 and Minnetonka (Minn.) downed Yukon (Okla.) 8-2.

There will be four more games today, including Chaffee vs. Minnetonka at 8:30 p.m.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first, Chaffee broke the game open with 10 in the bottom of the frame. There were seven hits in the rally, two by both John Wipfler and Lance Amick. Wipfler drove in two runs.

Josh Eftink had three of Chaffee's 10 hits on the night. Tommy Stidham joined Amick and Wipfler with two apiece.

Jason Glastetter started and pitched the first three innings, allowing three runs. Brian Obermann hurled the final four innings, allowing one run.

Senior Legion Zone

SIKESTON -- Host Sikeston was putting on an impressive show during the early rounds of the Senior American Legion Zone 4 Tournament.

Sikeston, which finished only third in districts, won its first two zone games and was playing Chesterfield in the winner's bracket final of the five-team tourney as the Southeast Missourian went to press Friday night.

Sikeston beat Festus 8-3 on Thursday and Anheuser-Busch 6-5 earlier Friday.

Also Thursday, Chesterfield beat Dunklin Co. 7-3. Friday, Festus eliminated both Dunklin Co. 5-1 and Anheuser-Busch 13-7.

There will be a 1 p.m. elimination game today between Festus and the Chesterfield-Sikeston loser, followed by the finals at 7. The if-needed final game is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.